Alternative Teaching Certification in Indiana
Alternative teaching certification in Indiana covers several approved paths to a teaching license, including Transition to Teaching, the Advanced Degree program, Indianapolis Teaching Fellows, and Teach For America. Each lets candidates without an education degree start teaching while completing pathway-specific coursework, testing, CPR/AED certification, and suicide prevention training.
Sponsored School(s)
The Indiana Department of Education recognizes that not all prospective teachers are traditional applicants, meaning recent college graduates of Indiana teacher preparation programs. For candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, the state has approved several alternative paths to teacher licensure. If you’re already certified in another state, check whether Indiana’s teacher reciprocity agreements offer a faster path than starting an alternative certification program from scratch.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Indiana.
These include Transition to Teaching, Advanced Degree, Indianapolis Teaching Fellows, and Teach for America. Alternative licensure programs let you work as a teacher while completing a teacher licensure program.
Alternative Certification Requirements
Education Requirements
Transition to Teaching
To enroll in a Transition to Teaching program at an Indiana college or university, you must meet one of the following prerequisites for elementary or secondary education licensure:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA in your major, overall
- Hold a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 GPA in your major, and overall, plus five years of professional experience
Advanced Degree
You must hold at least a master’s degree in the content area in which you wish to become licensed to enroll in the Advanced Degree program. Candidates must also pass the required Praxis content and pedagogy exams, including the Principles of Learning and Teaching test (PLT #5624) where applicable, and complete CPR certification, Suicide Prevention Training, Human Trafficking Training, and Child Abuse and Neglect Training. Career and Technical Education content areas additionally require 4,000 hours of related non-teaching industry work experience.
Indianapolis Teaching Fellows
For enrollment in Indianapolis Teaching Fellows, you must hold a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher. However, exceptions are often granted to candidates with at least a 2.5 GPA plus five years of relevant professional experience, or a graduate degree.
Teach for America
Enrollment in Teach for America requires a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 2.5.
Examinations
Indiana moved from Pearson’s CORE testing system to ETS Praxis exams for licensure testing. Applicants must complete the Praxis content and pedagogy exams required for their specific licensure pathway and subject area, as listed on ETS’s Indiana test requirements page.
Experience
Transition to Teaching
If you do not have a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA, you must have five years of professional experience, plus a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 GPA. To receive the Transition to Teaching permit, you must be enrolled in a Transition to Teaching college program and employed by an Indiana school district. The Transition to Teaching permit is a three-year, non-renewable permit, and the timeline to a full license depends on completing your program and testing requirements.
Advanced Degree
You must have at least one year of experience teaching students in a middle school, high school, or college environment. Licensure is only available at the middle and high school levels. This alternative licensure path leads directly to an Initial Practitioner License.
Indianapolis Teaching Fellows
No experience is necessary for enrollment in the Indianapolis Teaching Fellows program. To receive a Transition to Teaching permit, you must be enrolled in an Indianapolis Teaching Fellows college program and employed by an Indiana school district. The timeline to a full license depends on completing your program and testing requirements.
Teach for America
No experience is necessary for enrollment in the Teach for America program. Once enrolled, you will be placed in a traditional or charter public school in the Indianapolis area under a Transition to Teaching permit, based on available openings and local requirements. The timeline to a full license depends on completing your program and testing requirements.
Required Training and Certifications
All applicants for alternative teaching licensure in Indiana must document certification in CPR, airway obstruction (Heimlich/choking rescue), and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Courses may be taken through an approved provider. Candidates must also complete a Suicide Prevention Training Certificate, along with Human Trafficking Training and Child Abuse and Neglect Training, all required documents on the Indiana Department of Education’s licensing checklist.
Criminal History Background Check
Applicants must satisfy Indiana’s required criminal history and background check requirements. The specific screening process is administered through the employing school corporation and/or educator preparation program and may vary by pathway.
Contact Information
For more information on the Transition to Teaching program, contact one of the Indiana colleges and universities offering these programs.
For more information on the Advanced Degree program, call the Indiana Department of Education at 317-232-9010.
For more information on the Indianapolis Teaching Fellows program, email [email protected].
For more information on Teach for America, use the Teach for America contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the alternative teaching certification options in Indiana?
Indiana approves several alternative pathways to teacher licensure, including Transition to Teaching, the Advanced Degree program, Indianapolis Teaching Fellows, and Teach for America. Each lets you begin teaching while completing the coursework and testing required for a full Indiana teaching license.
Do I need a teaching degree to qualify?
No. Alternative certification is built for candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education. Requirements vary by program, ranging from a 2.5 GPA with five years of professional experience to a 3.0 GPA with no experience required. Once you’re licensed, you can compare pay by district and experience level on our Indiana teaching salaries and benefits page.
What exam do I need to pass?
Testing requirements depend on your specific pathway and licensure area. Most alternative candidates complete content and pedagogy exams through Indiana’s approved testing system before earning a full license.
How long does it take to earn a full Indiana teaching license through an alternative path?
Timelines vary by pathway and depend on how quickly you complete the required coursework and testing. Some pathways, like Advanced Degree, can lead directly to an Initial Practitioner License, while others involve a multi-year permit period while you finish program requirements.
What background checks are required?
Applicants must satisfy Indiana’s required criminal history and background check requirements. The specific screening process is administered through the employing school corporation and/or educator preparation program and may vary by pathway.
- Several approved pathways: Transition to Teaching, Advanced Degree, Indianapolis Teaching Fellows, and Teach for America all lead to a valid Indiana teaching license.
- No education degree required: most paths only require a bachelor’s degree outside education, though GPA and experience thresholds vary by program.
- Testing requirements are pathway-specific: content and pedagogy exams differ depending on your licensure pathway and subject area.
- Suicide Prevention Training is required: alongside CPR and AED certification, candidates must complete this training as part of their licensing checklist.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Indiana, including alternative and traditional pathways, application requirements, and licensing timelines for your certification path.
