The Indiana University programs for the preparation of teachers and other public school personnel meet the standards of the Rules for Educator Preparation and Accountability (REPA), the policies of the Office of Educator Effectiveness and Licensing (OEEL), and the Indiana Department of Education. These programs are also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Higher Learning Commission. This provides added benefits to students and graduates in terms of transfer of credit, recognition of degrees, and reciprocity of teacher licenses.

Any teaching assignment as a professional teacher in a state-approved school requires a teaching license based upon the recommendation of the teacher preparation institution. An institutional recommendation is based upon meeting the REPA standards, OEEL policies required for the licensure program, and successful performance on all required assessments. Under the Licensure Framework of OEEL, the teaching license will reflect the standards for which the candidate has demonstrated competency through the completion of a degree program. The license will state the content area(s) that the candidate is licensed to teach and the school setting(s) in which the candidate is licensed to teach. Individuals may add/select content areas to their license by completing specified testing requirements.  See the Indiana Department of Education website for specific information.

Students should apply for the Indiana instructional license through the Indiana Department of Education’s Licensing Verification and Information System (LVIS) no earlier than the completion of all academic requirements and always after the completion of all licensing examinations. Applicants for teacher licensing in other states requiring the recommendation of Indiana University must submit such forms to the Office of Teacher Education.

According to Indiana statute, candidates for licensure must provide evidence of current CPR/AED certification (through state approved agencies) and documentation that they have completed suicide prevention training (through state approved agencies) prior to license recommendation.

The Initial Practitioner license issued by the OEEL is valid for two years in Indiana. The beginning teacher must successfully complete the Indiana Residency Program or 40 professional growth points (PGPs) after verifying two years of full-time teaching experience.

At that time, a Proficient Practitioner license is awarded, which is valid for five years. Renewal of the Proficient Practitioner license and awarding of the Accomplished Practitioner license is achieved through a program of continuing professional development based on the OEEL standards or six hours of course work at an accredited institution.

A student who has earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and who wants to be recommended for a teaching license by IUB, or to add a teaching area to a license, must be evaluated and advised for admission to a postgraduate program by the Office of Teacher Education and must meet the requirements of the approved university teacher education program. More information on graduate-level initial teacher licensing can be obtained from the Secondary Transition to Teaching Program or the Secondary Community of Teachers Program.