Become a Teacher in Indiana

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Teaching in Indiana Snapshot

$52,670Secondary School Teacher Salary

$50,310Elementary School Teacher Salary

$9,856Public School Spending Per Student

All career and salary information pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statisticspupil expenditure information was provided by Governing

INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

South Tower, Suite 600
115 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317)-232-6610

Explore Featured Degree Options in Education

Featured Online programs
University Name	Type of Program	Learn More	Program Description
University of Southern California	Master of Arts in Teaching	Learn more about USC Rossier	The online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education prepares you to become a transformative K–12 teacher. Through live online classes and enriching field experiences in your community, you can earn your MAT in less than 18 months without relocating.
Fordham University	Master of Science in Teaching	Learn more from Fordham University	The online Master of Science in Teaching program prepares aspiring teachers (grades 1-6) for initial teaching certification or dual certification in teaching and special education.
Vanderbilt University	Master of Education in School Counseling	Learn more about Vanderbilt Peabody	Vanderbilt University's Peabody College offers an online Master of Education in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling for students interested in becoming school counselors and making a meaningful difference in K–12 settings.

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Steps to Becoming a Teacher in Indiana

Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. Teach.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. (Last update: 01/07/2019)

Prerequisite Coursework in Indiana

A Bachelor’s degree is required in every state. Indiana has no specific credit hour requirements, but does require a minor in a content area along with the relevant major. Indiana requires a supervised field experience in the classroom with responsibility for direct student instruction in order to qualify for an Initial Practitioner certificate. Check with the Department of Education or your teacher preparation program for more information.

Indiana Teacher Certification Programs

To earn your teaching credential you will have to complete the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. A list of accredited teacher preparation programs in Indiana can be found on the Indiana Department of Education Educator Preparation Programs page.

Required Tests for Indiana

Teacher candidates in Indiana must pass the Core Academic Skills Assessment (CASA), which tests reading, mathematics and writing. In addition, he or she must pass Development (Pedagogy) Area Assessment(s) according to the desired grade and/or subject area.

Initial Teaching Certifications

To earn your Indiana teaching credential you will have to complete the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. Indiana has two levels of licensure: Initial Practitioner and Proficient Practitioner.

National Board Certification may be substituted for the portfolio and endorsement. Other license types are available for teachers educated and/or licensed out-of-state, and for other unusual situations. Learn more about earning your Indiana teaching credential through the Educator Testing.

Learn more about getting your teaching credential on Teach.com.

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Discover an 8-week Online Teaching Short Course from Harvard's Bok Center

Earn recognition of your ability to develop and deliver a memorable teaching experience when you receive a premier certificate from Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX, upon successful course completion.

Learn more about an 8-week short course from Harvard's Bok Center

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Alternative Certification in Indiana

All accredited teacher preparation programs in Indiana are required to offer Transition to Teaching, a program that helps professionals with the appropriate content knowledge join the teaching profession. Indiana also offers the Indianapolis Teaching Fellows program which offers training, support, and the opportunity to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching for teachers of math, science, Spanish and special education. For more alternative certification options, visit the Indiana Department of Education Office of Educator Effectiveness and Licensing. Veterans may also be eligible for the Indiana Troops to Teachers program.

Indiana Teacher Certification Information & Links

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Transferring Your Certification

Certification Reciprocity in Indiana

Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another state. To find out which other state teaching licenses can be used in Indiana, visit the Teach.com reciprocity page. Or, for more specific questions about your situation, contact the Indiana Department of Education.

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Jobs, Benefits, and Opportunities for Teachers in Indiana

Indiana Teaching Jobs

The Indiana Department of Education Job Site assists teachers in finding job opportunities. Aspiring teachers can use the new job search engine to find job openings throughout the state. Teacher shortages have made Indiana a popular state for highly qualified beginning teachers.

Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.

Indiana Teacher Salary and Incentives

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average teacher in Indiana makes $50,554 per year. Teacher salaries in Indiana are up to the discretion of the school district. More information on teacher salaries can be found on the Indiana Department of Education website.

Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

Indiana Teacher Benefits and Retirement

Teachers in Indiana are vested in the retirement system after 10 years of service. Retirement benefits are handled through the Teachers Retirement Fund, a division of the Indiana Public Retirement System. Indiana offers additional benefits for teachers, including health and dental benefits according to the county or school district.

Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.

Indiana Teacher Shortage Areas

The United States Department of Education defines a Teacher Shortage Area (TSA) as a subject matter or grade level within a state in which there is an inadequate supply of elementary or secondary teachers. The shortage may be caused by teaching positions that are unfilled or are filled by teachers who have temporary certification or teach in in academic subject other than their area of preparation. According to a report by the USDE Office of Postsecondary Education, Indiana has the following Teacher Shortage Areas:

Blind and Low Vision
Business Education
Career and Technical Education: Agriculture
Career and Technical Education: Business Services and Technology
Career and Technical Education: Occupational Family and Consumer Science
Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Mathematics
Technology Education
Mild & Intense Interventions
Science
World Languages
Early Childhood
Teachers of English Learners

Teacher Shortage information was provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Shortage Areas Nationwide Listings for 2017–2018, and was determined by examining the most recent data about unfilled teaching positions; positions filled by teachers certified by irregular, provisional, temporary, or emergency certification; and teachers teaching in subject areas other than their area of preparation.

Financial Aid in Indiana

Indiana residents are eligible for the Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship, as well as the TEACH Grant, which gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need school.

Learn more about how to finance your master's degree on Teach.com.

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Career Advancement

Professional Development for Indiana Teachers

Indiana offers a Professional Growth Plan, through which teachers attend conferences and workshops to gain Professional Growth Points (PGPs). Teachers must gain at least 90 PGPs, 6 credit hours of coursework or complete the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Certification program to renew their teaching license. Beginning teachers join the Indiana Mentorship and Assessment Program (IMAP), receiving 2 years of intensive mentorship to integrate them into their school.

Benefits of a Master's Degree in Indiana

It is no longer enough to just have years of experience for teaching. After No Child Left Behind and other academic quantification measures, the careers of teachers increasingly depend on their results in the classroom. A master's degree in the field of education will give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor.

After a Master's program, you will be able to achieve better results in the classroom and have more job security and higher pay. According to Indiana Public Media, in 2012, the average salary for a teacher in Indiana with a Master’s was $3,830 more than those with only a Bachelor’s.

Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.

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Explore Featured Program Options in Education

Featured Online programs
University Name	Type of Program	Program Description
University of Southern California	Master of Arts in Teaching	The online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares you to become a transformative K–12 teacher. Through live online classes and enriching field experiences in your community, you can earn your MAT in less than 18 months without relocating.
Fordham University	Master of Science in Teaching	The online Master of Science in Teaching program prepares aspiring teachers (grades 1-6) for initial teaching certification or dual certification in teaching and special education.
Harvard University's Bok Center	Advanced Certification in Teaching	The 8-week Teaching and Learning Strategies for Higher Education online short course is delivered by Harvard’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX. Students in this course will engage deeply with the most relevant research on effective teaching methods in the higher education context, while refining their own practices, portfolio, and teaching philosophy.
Vanderbilt University	Master of Education in School Counseling	Vanderbilt University's Peabody College offers an online Master of Education in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling for students interested in becoming school counselors and making a meaningful difference in K–12 settings.