How to Become a Teacher in Indiana

Indiana certification requirements, step by step

Each requirement below is stated as Indiana Department of Education — Office of Educator Licensing publishes it, with the governing source cited.

1. 1

   Complete an Indiana educator preparation program

   Finish a teacher preparation program at an Indiana college or university. Your institution's licensing advisor recommends your license after graduation—do not apply before your graduation date.

   Source: in.gov

2. 2

   Pass required Praxis content and pedagogy tests

   Pass both content and pedagogical Praxis assessments for each license area before receiving a Professional Educator License (PEL). IDOE publishes license-area test requirements on its educator testing page.

   Source: in.gov

3. 3

   Complete mandatory trainings

   Submit valid CPR certification from an IDOE-approved provider, Suicide Prevention Training, Human Trafficking Training, and Child Abuse and Neglect Training with your LVIS application.

   Source: in.gov

4. 4

   Receive an Initial Practitioner license (2 years)

   In-state completers typically receive a two-year Initial Practitioner license first. After at least two years of experience in the content area, convert to a five-year Practitioner license.

   Source: in.gov

5. 5

   Convert to Practitioner (5-year) and renew

   Convert Initial Practitioner to Practitioner by earning 40 Professional Growth Plan (PGP) points (or via IMAP or other approved options) plus two years of experience. Five- and ten-year licenses renew with 90 PGP points.

   Source: in.gov

Indiana's two-tier Practitioner structure—Initial (two years) then full Practitioner (five years)—creates a defined conversion checkpoint that many neighboring states lack. Initial Practitioner holders need at least two years of experience in their content area plus 40 Professional Growth Plan points (or an approved alternative such as IMAP) before upgrading. That conversion is separate from the 90-point PGP required to renew five- and ten-year licenses, so educators track two different point systems depending on career stage.

Mandatory trainings sit alongside examinations as hard gates. CPR from an IDOE-approved provider, suicide prevention, human trafficking, and child abuse/neglect certificates must accompany LVIS applications for in-state completers and recur at renewal/conversion. Career changers comparing Indiana to states with fewer statutory training bundles should budget time for these modules before expecting license issuance.

Indiana completed a major assessment vendor transition from Pearson to ETS Praxis, with IDOE publishing current license-area test mappings on its educator testing page. Content and pedagogy tests are both required for the Professional Educator License—passing content alone is insufficient. IDOE's 'Free After 3' retest policy (effective January 1, 2026) may reduce retake costs for candidates who exhaust initial attempts.

Reciprocity is test-forward. Out-of-state applicants must pass Indiana content tests in every area that will appear on the license, with a one-year temporary reciprocal permit available in some cases while testing remains incomplete. Seven areas—including English Learners, Exceptional Needs, and Elementary Generalist—cannot be added by testing alone and require approved coursework, a constraint that surprises experienced out-of-state teachers.

Required exams and fees

Indiana uses ETS Praxis content and pedagogy assessments (Indiana transitioned from Pearson to Praxis). Fees and cut scores appear only when published by the cited source (as of August 2026).

Moving a license to Indiana

Out-of-state applicants with a valid license who completed a CAEP/AAQEP-accredited or state-approved program must pass a content test in every content area on the Indiana license. A one-year temporary reciprocal permit may be available while meeting testing requirements. Seven endorsement areas require approved coursework plus testing and cannot be added by exam alone.

Official Indiana reciprocity guidance