Requirements For School Teachers in Indiana, IN
So, you want to become a teacher in Indiana, land of the ‘Hoosiers’. Need some help getting a push in the right direction? Well congratulations, you landed here and that’s a good start. Let’s begin by looking at the overview of the teaching industry in Indiana. As of last year there were approximately 1,010,811 students in the state. Indiana has 2,024 public schools, broken down into 1,158 elementary, 336 middle, and 348 high schools. Teachers in Indiana had an average salary of $47,683 in 2009-2010 (according to bls.gov), with incrementally higher salaries going to those with higher qualifications. Let’s take a look at what acquiring a teaching license takes.
Preliminary Requirements
Elementary Teaching Certificate in Indiana
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution
- Complete a State Approved Teacher Educator Program (SATEP)
- College coursework must be consistent with the Indiana Certification Requirements
- Pass the Praxis I Basic Skills Assessment
- Pass the Praxis II Content Knowledge Assessment
- Pass a criminal background check
- Some schools and districts may have additional requirements
Secondary Teaching Certificate
Same requirements as elementary with the addition of specific subject matter training and certification
Applying for Teaching Accreditation in Indiana
After satisfying these requirements, you must then fill out the Certificate packet and include any required fees, making sure to satisfy REPA (Rules for Educator Preparation and Accountability). Required information includes references as well as documentation and transcripts from accredited Universities. Some schools may require additional specific subject matter coursework and testing, so make sure to check with the individual district requirements.
What next?
Once you have fulfilled these requirements and submitted the appropriate paperwork, you should look into receiving national board teacher certification, as most schools offer financial incentive to those who have one.