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How to become a certified teacher in Indiana. Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required. Primary exam: Indiana CORE Assessments for Educator Licensure - Pedagogy Assessment. Government fees: $293. Substitute requirements: Bachelor's degree (standard substitute permit); associate's degree or 60 college credit hours (emergency substitute permit in shortage areas). Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Teacher / Substitute Teacher · Indiana
Everything you need to become a certified teacher or substitute teacher in Indiana. Education, exams, fees, and application steps — verified against Indiana Department of Education (IDOE).
Last verified: 2026-03-21
Degree Required
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Primary Exam
Indiana CORE Assessments for Educator Licensure - Pedagogy Assessment
Total Gov Fees
$293
Initial Cert
2 years
| Minimum Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution |
| Teacher Prep Program | Required |
| Student Teaching | Required |
| Background Check | Required |
| Fingerprinting | Required |
| GPA Requirement | 2.5 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S. |
pedagogy
Passing score: 220
Assessment of pedagogical knowledge for beginning teachers. Covers instruction, assessment, and classroom management.
content knowledge
Passing score: 220 (varies by subject area)
Subject-specific content knowledge exam required for each content area endorsement.
Issued to beginning educators who have completed an approved preparation program and passed required assessments. Valid for 2 years and convertible to the Practitioner License.
Issued after completion of a residency/induction program and demonstration of proficiency. Valid for 5 years and renewable. Replaces the former Professional Educator License.
Highest tier license available for educators who hold National Board Certification or meet other advanced criteria. Valid for 10 years.
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree (standard substitute permit); associate's degree or 60 college credit hours (emergency substitute permit in shortage areas)
Certificate Required
Substitute Teacher License or Emergency Substitute Permit
Background Check
Required
Permit Fee
$35
Validity
5 years
Indiana requires a Substitute Teacher License for substitute teaching. The standard substitute license requires a bachelor's degree. An emergency substitute permit may be issued by districts in shortage areas for individuals with at least 60 college credit hours. All substitutes must pass a background check. Districts may have additional requirements.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee$35 evaluation fee + $35 license application fee | $70 |
| Fingerprint FeeIndiana State Police and FBI fingerprint processing | $48 |
| Exam Fees (Total)Includes Pedagogy Assessment ($105) and one Content Area Assessment ($105). Additional content areas are $105 each. | $210 |
| Initial CertificateCombined evaluation and license fee | $70 |
| Renewal FeeLicense renewal fee | $35 |
| Substitute Permit | $35 |
| Total Government FeesIncludes application, fingerprinting, and exam fees for one content area. Actual total depends on specific exams required. | $293 |
Graduate from an Indiana-approved or nationally accredited teacher preparation program.
Pass the Indiana CORE Pedagogy Assessment and the Content Area Assessment for your endorsement field.
Fee: $210
Submit fingerprints for Indiana State Police and FBI criminal background checks.
Fee: $48
Submit the license application through the Indiana Licensing Verification and Information System (LVIS) with official transcripts, test scores, and institutional recommendation.
Fee: $35
Upon approval, receive the Initial Practitioner License valid for 2 years. Complete the required residency program to advance to Proficient Practitioner.
Indiana offers the Transition to Teaching (T2T) program as a primary alternative certification pathway for individuals with a bachelor's degree and content expertise. Candidates must pass the Indiana CORE content area test, enroll in an approved T2T program, and teach while completing the program. The program typically takes 2 years and leads to a standard Initial Practitioner License.
Available Programs:
CE Required
Yes
Hours per Cycle
90
Renewal Cycle
5 years
Indiana requires 90 Professional Growth Points (PGP) for renewal of the Proficient Practitioner License every 5 years. Professional Growth Points can be earned through college credit, professional development workshops, conferences, mentoring, and other approved activities. An Individual Professional Development Plan must be on file.
Reciprocity Type
Case-by-case
Interstate Agreement
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
Indiana evaluates out-of-state licenses on a case-by-case basis. Applicants holding a valid, unexpired license from another state may be eligible for an Indiana license with comparable endorsements.
Additional requirements: Out-of-state applicants must submit official transcripts, test scores (or pass Indiana CORE if not previously tested), and complete an Indiana background check. Additional coursework may be required for certain endorsements.
Unique to Indiana: Indiana's licensing system features one of the shortest initial license periods (2 years) and one of the longest advanced license periods (10 years for Accomplished Practitioner). The state also uses Professional Growth Points (PGP) rather than traditional credit hours for renewal, and has its own state-specific assessment system (Indiana CORE) rather than using Praxis.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Indiana.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#35 of 51
Cost
#5 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021)
Entry Level
$47,840
25th percentile
Median
$58,370
-6% vs. national avg ($62,340)Experienced
$63,540
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
28,510 employed in this state
Note: BLS category covers elementary school teachers only. Secondary, special education, and other teaching specializations have separate SOC codes with different wage data.
Source: BLS OEWS – Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
0%
Below AverageNew Jobs
-500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
103,200
per year (avg.)
1.4M currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Source: Indiana Department of Education - Educator Licensing
Estimated total: 216–234 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Indiana Department of Education - Educator Licensing
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Indiana Department of Education - Educator Licensing
Study guides for Praxis Core and subject-specific teacher exams.
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Indiana requires completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program to earn your teaching certificate. Explore approved programs and alternative certification routes.
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