Indiana Substitute Teaching License
Indiana school districts, not the state, decide who receives a Substitute Teaching Permit, though every applicant must meet baseline standards set by the Indiana Department of Education. You need a high school diploma, must be at least 18, and must pass a criminal history check before your district recommends you through LVIS.
Sponsored School(s)
School districts in Indiana, called school corporations, decide who gets recommended for a Substitute Teaching Permit. Requirements vary by district, but every applicant has to clear the same baseline standards the Indiana Department of Education sets before a district can put them in a classroom.
Use the links below to jump to permit requirements, the LVIS application process, and what changes if you already hold a teaching license.
- Indiana substitute permit requirements
- How to apply through LVIS
- If you already hold an Indiana teaching license
- Contact your school district
Indiana Substitute Teaching Permit Requirements
Education and Age Requirements
Indiana requires substitute permit applicants to hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. You must also be at least 18 years old. Some school corporations set additional requirements, like 60 or more college credit hours or a bachelor’s degree, so check directly with the district where you plan to apply.
Criminal History Background Check
You must pass a criminal history background check before Indiana issues a substitute teaching permit. Your school district arranges this check through the school corporation’s required screening process, which commonly includes an expanded criminal history check reviewing state, county, and national records along with sex offender registries. As the applicant, you pay all fees associated with the background check.
Want to learn how to earn a professional teaching certification? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Indiana.
How to Apply for an Indiana Substitute Permit
Applying Through LVIS
Once you meet your district’s requirements, you apply through the Indiana Department of Education’s Licensing Verification and Information System, known as LVIS. Your school district recommends you for the permit and verifies your employment through the same system. Individual school corporations may have additional hiring requirements, so check with the district where you plan to work.
Permit Fees and Validity
LVIS charges a $15 permit fee plus a $0.70 processing fee to submit your substitute permit application. Once issued, an Indiana substitute permit is valid for three years and cannot be renewed. When it expires, you’ll need to submit a new application and meet the current requirements again.
If You Already Hold an Indiana Teaching License
Educators who already hold a valid Indiana educator license, such as an Initial Practitioner or Proficient Practitioner license, generally don’t need a separate substitute permit. Placement still depends on the hiring district’s own employment practices, but the state licensing requirement itself is already satisfied. If you’re licensed in another state and haven’t converted your license yet, check Indiana’s teacher reciprocity requirements before applying as a substitute.
Contact Your School District
Each school corporation sets its own screening steps and evaluation tools for substitute candidates, and the final decision on whether to recommend you always rests with the district you apply to. Contact your local school corporation directly to confirm its specific requirements before you start the LVIS application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching degree to substitute teach in Indiana?
No. Indiana’s baseline requirement for a substitute permit is a high school diploma or equivalent. Some school corporations ask for college credit or a bachelor’s degree, but that varies by district rather than being a statewide rule.
How old do you have to be to substitute teach in Indiana?
You must be at least 18 years old to apply for an Indiana substitute teaching permit.
How long does an Indiana substitute teaching permit last?
An Indiana substitute permit is valid for three years. It’s non-renewable, so you’ll need to submit a new LVIS application once it expires.
Does every Indiana school district have the same substitute requirements?
No. The Indiana Department of Education sets baseline standards, like the high school diploma minimum and age requirement. Still, each school corporation can add its own screening steps and preferences on top of those.
Can a licensed Indiana teacher substitute without a separate permit?
Generally, yes. If you already hold a valid Indiana educator license, you don’t need a separate substitute permit. However, your placement as a substitute still depends on the hiring district’s own employment practices.
- Districts decide, not the state — the Indiana Department of Education sets baseline standards, but your local school corporation makes the final call on your permit.
- Minimum requirements are a high school diploma and age 18 — some districts add college credit or degree requirements on top of this floor.
- Permits last three years and don’t renew — you’ll reapply through LVIS once yours expires.
- You pay for your own background check — the required criminal history check runs through your school corporation’s screening process.
- Licensed teachers skip the separate permit — an existing Indiana educator license lets a district place you as a substitute directly.
Ready to move beyond substitute teaching? Visit our Indiana teaching certification guide to compare initial licensure paths, or apply for your substitute permit directly through the Indiana Department of Education’s LVIS portal.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Indiana if you’re ready to move from substitute teaching toward a full teaching license.
