How do you become a teacher in Indiana?
Indiana is a great state in which to work as an educator. The certification process for in-state teachers is overseen by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and is outlined below to help individuals learn how to become a teacher in Indiana.
In order to be eligible for Indiana teacher licensing, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, complete an approved teacher preparation program, and pass the state-required tests.
Candidates must also earn CPR/AED/Heimlich certification and complete suicide prevention training, programs which are typically included in teacher preparation curricula in the state.
Indiana uses a tiered system with two levels of teaching licensure: Initial Practitioner and Proficient Practitioner. The Initial Practitioner is a renewable two-year license for first-time teachers. While teaching under the Initial Practitioner license, teachers must complete the Indiana Mentoring and Assessment Program (IMAP), a two-year mentored internship. The Proficient Practitioner license is a renewable five-year license issued to working teachers who have successfully completed the IMAP.
Although these two levels of licenses are representative of the Indiana educator certification process, there are also alternative pathways to become a teacher in Indiana.