I want to be a teacher and have a degree, but not in education.
Indiana Alternative Teacher Certification
Those who have already completed a bachelor’s degree but did not complete a teacher preparation program may be candidates for an alternative route to teacher certification in Indiana. Alternative routes can be a convenient way to begin a career as a classroom teacher, allowing you to gain experience while completing standard teacher certification requirements. Continue reading below to learn more about how this process works in Indiana.
Requirements for Alternative Certification
Those seeking an alternative route to teacher certification in Indiana must hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Candidates must meet the same qualifications as traditional pathway educators to become fully licensed but may receive additional time to fulfill the requirements while teaching in a classroom setting. Individuals following this pathway usually complete a post-graduate certificate or a master’s degree in education as part of an alternative teacher preparation program.
Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses in Indiana
If you hold a master’s degree or higher, Indiana offers an advanced degree pathway that leads to an instructional license at the secondary (grades 6-12) level. In addition to an advanced degree, you must earn one academic year of experience teaching in a middle school, high school, or college setting and complete the appropriate content exams for the subject for which you will be seeking endorsement. Like traditionally-prepared classroom teachers, you will also need to achieve CPR certification and complete suicide prevention training. After meeting these qualifications, you may apply for an instructional certificate.
Transition to Teaching Program
Individuals with a bachelor’s degree may become certified to teach in Indiana via Transition to Teaching. Transition to Teaching programs are two-semester curriculums that prepare those with bachelor’s degrees in specific content areas to become licensed. Note that Transition to Teaching programs can only qualify candidates to teach at the middle or high school level; those who wish to teach elementary grades must follow a traditional pathway or earn a master’s degree in early childhood or elementary education to gain the necessary credit hours in early childhood education. You can see a list of approved Transition to Teaching programs through the Indiana Department of Education.
Career Specialist Permit
Those who have already completed a bachelor’s degree but did not complete a teacher preparation program may be candidates for an alternative route to teacher certification in Indiana. Alternative routes can be a convenient way to begin a career as a classroom teacher, allowing you to gain experience while completing standard teacher certification requirements. Continue reading below to learn more about how this process works in Indiana.
Requirements for Alternative Certification
Those seeking an alternative route to teacher certification in Indiana must hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Candidates must meet the same qualifications as traditional pathway educators to become fully licensed but may receive additional time to fulfill the requirements while teaching in a classroom setting. Individuals following this pathway usually complete a post-graduate certificate or a master’s degree in education as part of an alternative teacher preparation program.
Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses in Indiana
If you hold a master’s degree or higher, Indiana offers an advanced degree pathway that leads to an instructional license at the secondary (grades 6-12) level. In addition to an advanced degree, you must earn one academic year of experience teaching in a middle school, high school, or college setting and complete the appropriate content exams for the subject for which you will be seeking endorsement. Like traditionally-prepared classroom teachers, you will also need to achieve CPR certification and complete suicide prevention training. After meeting these qualifications, you may apply for an instructional certificate.
Transition to Teaching Program
Individuals with a bachelor’s degree may become certified to teach in Indiana via Transition to Teaching. Transition to Teaching programs are two-semester curriculums that prepare those with bachelor’s degrees in specific content areas to become licensed. Note that Transition to Teaching programs can only qualify candidates to teach at the middle or high school level; those who wish to teach elementary grades must follow a traditional pathway or earn a master’s degree in early childhood or elementary education to gain the necessary credit hours in early childhood education. You can see a list of approved Transition to Teaching programs through the Indiana Department of Education.
Career Specialist Permit
- The Career Specialist permit is for those who meet one of the following:A bachelor’s degree in the subject to be taught with a GPA of at least 3.0, a passing score on the CORE content exam, and 4,000 hours of work experience in the past five years related to the content area to be taught.
- A bachelor’s degree in the subject to be taught with a GPA of at least 3.0 and at least 5,000 hours of work experience in the past seven years related to the content area to be taught.
- A passing score on the CORE content licensure exam plus 5,000 hours of work experience in the past seven years in the content area to be taught.
The Career Specialist permit, once issued, allows the holder to lead a classroom teaching in a specific subject while completing teacher training. Completion of a formal teacher training program is required in order to renew the permit.
Testing Requirements for Indiana Alternative Certification
Either before or during completion of a teacher preparation program, candidates for alternative teacher certification in Indiana must take and pass the appropriate Indiana CORE Academic Skills Assessment (CASA), which measures knowledge in the content areas to be taught. For more information on specific exams required by subject and grade level, consult the Indiana Department of Education teacher testing portal.
Testing Requirements for Indiana Alternative Certification
Either before or during completion of a teacher preparation program, candidates for alternative teacher certification in Indiana must take and pass the appropriate Indiana CORE Academic Skills Assessment (CASA), which measures knowledge in the content areas to be taught. For more information on specific exams required by subject and grade level, consult the Indiana Department of Education teacher testing portal.
Transferring Teaching Licenses from Another State
Those who already hold a teaching license in another state and hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited school may apply for a Reciprocal Permit, which is valid for one year and is not renewable. Applicants can begin teaching immediately once the permit is issued but must complete any deficiencies in order to become certified in Indiana within that year. Requirements for an Initial Practitioner Indiana teaching license include posting passing scores on the required tests and making up any educational deficiencies. For more information, contact the Indiana Department of Education.
Schools with Alternative Certification Programs in Indiana
In order to qualify for licensure in Indiana, you must complete a teacher education program that has been approved by the state. The following school-based alternative teacher preparation programs that lead to a certificate or master’s degree have been approved by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE):
- American College of Education
- Anderson University
- Ball State University
- Bethel University
- Calumet College of St. Joseph
- Goshen College
- Indiana University-Bloomington, East, Kokomo, South Bend, Southeast
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
- Manchester College
- Marian University
- Oakland City University
- Purdue University-West Lafayette, Northwest
- Relay Graduate School of Education
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
- Taylor University
- University of Evansville
- University of Saint Francis
Information from this page was provided by Teacher Certification Degrees.