If becoming a teacher in Indiana is your goal, then you have some easy steps to take to make it happen. The first thing you can do is attend an accredited college or university in Indiana with an approved teacher training program. If you go this route, you can then receive a recommendation from your school for certification.

To get your Standard certification in Indiana, in addition to your Bachelor’s degree, you will need to pass the Praxis I Test of Basic Skills exam and the Praxis II Content Test in your area of specialty. You will also need to submit to a criminal background check and complete a course on CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. Beginning teachers in Indiana will also take part in the Indiana Mentoring and Assessment Program (IMAP).

Once you’ve gotten your certification, you will need to find a teaching position in Indiana. Indianapolis Public Schools has created an outstanding urban environment for learning. With a combination of Montessori schools, magnet schools, option schools, small schools within large campuses, single gender schools, and vocational schools, many of the problems seen in urban areas have disappeared from Indianapolis. Fort Wayne Community Schools is the second largest district in Indiana, and they offer solid education with traditional schools, magnet schools, and school choice. Evansville and South Bend both have school districts that are actually corporations, providing not only high standards for education, but fiscal responsibility to the districts.

After you have been teaching a while, you will need to renew your certification. Renewing the Standard certification is done every five years. In order to renew your certification, you must have completed six semester hours of approved courses. Once you have gained a Master’s degree or completed 36 semester hours, you can then renew your license by using Certification Renewal Credits.