Special Education Teacher License in Indiana

<p>Special education teachers in the state of Indiana work with students who have learning, physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. To become licensed to teach special education in Indiana, individuals must meet education, testing, and training requirements. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Educational Requirements </td><td>Bachelor's degree and educator preparation program</td></tr> <tr><td>Exam Requirements </td><td>Indiana CORE: Developmental (Pedagogy) Area Assessment <br /> Indiana CORE: Exceptional Needs</td></tr> <tr><td>License Validity</td><td>Initial Practitioner: valid for 2 years<br /> Proficient Practitioner: valid for 5 years</td></tr> <tr><td>Advancement</td><td> 2 years full-time teaching <b>and</b> IMAP or PGP</td></tr> <tr><td>Average Indiana Salary (2018) </td><td>$53,570 (kindergarten and elementary)<br /> $50,880 (middle school)<br /> $53,540 (high school)*</td></tr> <tr><td>Estimated Job Growth, Nationwide (2016-26)</td><td>7% (kindergarten and elementary)<br />7% (middle school)<br />7% (high school)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---EducationRequirements">Education Requirements</h3> <p>Indiana requires that teachers hold a bachelor's degree and complete a state-approved teacher preparation program. Students can find Indiana Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) at a variety of regionally accredited universities throughout the state. Programs may emphasize special education in a certain grade level, such as elementary or secondary. Other programs apply to all grades. Field experiences and student teaching are fundamental aspects of EPPs. </p> <h3 id="section---CertificationExams">Certification Exams</h3> <p>The next step is passing Indiana's certification exams. Students are no longer required to take the CORE Academic Skills Assessment (CASA) as part of their certification, but some EPPs require passing a CASA for admission. The CASA is a competency/basic skills test. </p> <p>Candidates must pass the Indiana CORE: Developmental (Pedagogy) Area Assessment in the grade level they wish to teach (or P-12). They must also pass a content area assessment. Future special education teachers will need to take at least one of the five Indiana CORE Exceptional Needs assessments based on the specific special education area(s) they wish to be certified to teach: </p> <ul><li>Blind or Low Vision </li><li>Deaf or Hard of Hearing </li><li>Intense Intervention </li><li>Mild Intervention </li><li>Mild Intervention: Reading Instruction </li></ul><h3 id="section---EmergencyPreparednessRequirements">Emergency Preparedness Requirements</h3> <p>Indiana stipulates certain emergency preparedness requirements. To earn initial licensure, applicants must possess CPR certification, Heimlich Maneuver certification, and automated external defibrillator (AED) certification. Future teachers must also undergo training in child suicide awareness and prevention. Finally, they will need to deliver a background check to schools where they intend to train or work. </p> <h3 id="section---LicensingApplication">Licensing Application</h3> <p>Indiana EPPs facilitate the process of licensure recommendation provided that candidates have completed all requirements. Nonetheless, the applicant is expected to provide a current CPR card and suicide prevention certificate. If any documents are missing, such as test scores, these also must be collected. The Indiana Department of Education currently charges a $35 evaluation fee and a $35 issuance fee. Applicants can submit their documents and fees via the Licensing Verification and Information System (LVIS) website. </p> <h3 id="section---OfficialLicensing">Official Licensing</h3> <p>Once approved, new teachers are issued an Initial Practitioner License, which is good for two years. Teachers are expected to upgrade their Initial Practitioner License into a five-year Proficient Practitioner License after they teach full time for two years. </p> <p>Converting the license requires they go through the Indiana Mentor and Assessment Program (IMAP) or complete a 40-point professional growth plan (PGP). The Initial Practitioner License may be renewed twice if the requirements for advancement are not met. If the teacher requires a third renewal, they must complete a 90-point PGP or pass an Indiana CORE content assessment.</p>