Authored by Katharine Foust in Teaching and Learning
Published on 10-11-2009

So you’re thinking about becoming a teacher in Indiana. The first thing you should know is that though licensure requires a certain amount of schooling, there are tons of programs available to pay for it. This is due to the great need for teachers in certain areas in Indiana, both demographically and geographically. These areas are called high need areas. Now that you know that and finances are no longer a concern, let’s talk about the details of how to become a teacher in Indiana.

There are actually two ways to become a teacher in Indiana. One way involves obtaining a bachelor’s degree with an educational major and educational background. The degree involves some in-class observations, eight weeks of student teaching and the possibility of other classroom activities depending on where you actually attend school at for the educational degree. Students in the educational program will also need to obtain a national background check to do the in-class observations and student teaching. Students will take two Praxis exams and a teacher certification exam before licensure is granted. The first Praxis exam is given before the junior year in the educational program begins. The second Praxis exam is given before the bachelor’s degree is granted.

The other way to obtain a license to teach in Indiana is known as the fast track to teaching. Basically anyone with a bachelor’s degree in any educationally related field make essentially apply for teacher’s licensure. Those seeking to obtain a teaching license in Indiana using this method will be required to take an 8 week course to prepare them for the actual teaching of a subject and passing the licensure test. This license is sometimes called an emergency license to teach and is readily accepted in areas of extreme need for teachers as well as most other educational venues.

Essentially, any teacher who is licensed in Indiana must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in some field. They will also be required to take a licensure exam as well as submit to drug screening and a background check. Indiana teachers must also keep their CPR and First Aid certification up to date at all times.

There are a multitude of benefits to being a teacher in Indiana. Teachers in Indiana are not the highest paid teachers in the United States, but they do have the ability to have wage increases as they increase the amount of education they have. They also have optional ways of being paid in most schools in Indiana. For instance, you may be able to receive a paycheck year round whether you work in the summer or not.

Before deciding on becoming a teacher in any state, one should ask themselves if they are prepared for the job. Can you report a parent for suspected child abuse? Can you avoid discussions about God or sex? Can you base most of your curriculum on tests? Many teachers do not ask themselves these questions and find themselves reconsidering their career choice.