Teacher licensure is a complicated process, but nobody needs to navigate this system alone. Licensure is a necessary step for verifying eligibility to work with children and young adults safely and effectively, yet it can be a stressful barrier to working as a teacher. In this article, we will clarify the steps for math teacher credentialing in Indiana.
Teacher Certification Overview
To become licensed teacher in any content area the process looks something like this:
Licensure is not entirely a linear process, and there are exceptions, differences, and other requirements that may apply for specific types of licenses.
Teacher Certification for Math in Indiana
In Indiana there are technically 2 types of mathematics licenses available for teachers.
- Mathematics for grades 5-12
- Middle school mathematics certification as a second license
The second option is only available for those with an existing license in another content area, pairing particularly well with an elementary license. There is no current pathway available in Indiana for teachers who want to get licensed to teach middle school mathematics only. In this article we will focus on the first and primary option for mathematics licensure, grades 5-12.
Step 1: Complete a Bachelor's Degree
In Indiana a bachelor's degree is one of the pre-requisite requirements for licensure. The cost of a 4 year bachelor's degree can vary depending on the institution or program you select. Learn More Indiana has great tools for better understanding the costs associated with university enrollment.
If you are selecting a bachelor's program specifically to meet teacher licensure requirements, choosing an education degree path will save you time later in the process. However, not all education degrees are compliant with every type of license. You'll want to look for a program that is regionally accredited and covers secondary education training, but it does not have to be math-specific.
For those finishing an existing degree, or who already hold a completed degree, don't worry, you shouldn't have to get a completely new bachelor's degree to become a teacher. Any bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institute of higher education, with a minimum GPA of 2.5, should count for this step of the process. Verifying if your degree is from a regionally accredited institution can usually be done by checking your university's website. There are a number of organizations, such as the Higher Learning Commission, that manage accreditation for universities. You can also do an online search using "[institution name] and accreditation" to find this information.
For help checking if a specific degree program counts towards Indiana mathematics licensure requirements you can contact us at MathTrack, or reach out to the IDOE.
Step 2: Complete an Alternative Teacher Preparation Program
Alternative teacher preparation programs are designed to cover the required standards for training teachers in Indiana that would have been included in an education bachelor's degree. If your degree is in education, you can skip this step.
In Indiana, these alternative pathways are widely known as Transition to Teaching programs, often shortened to T2T or TtT, and typically takes 2 years to complete. Like a bachelor's degree, the costs associated with these programs can vary. The IDOE provides resources like this one to help you compare the costs of available programs. Scholarship, or state funding opportunities may be available to help cover the cost of this step towards licensure.
There are two key components that T2T programs must include:
- Teacher training coursework
- For many programs this component looks like multiple courses covering pedagogy topics and theory. Programs can choose how they design these courses and assess for comprehension, but the standards they cover are mandated by state and national teacher accreditation. Some programs align with a more traditional university approach, including semesters and synchronous classes, others may be more flexible, offering primarily an asynchronous and online experience. The MathTrack Transition to Teaching program offers these courses in an online, and self-paced format.
- Residency (In-class experience)
- In a traditional program you may have heard this referred to as student-teaching. This component is managed differently by each program, but similar to coursework, there are standards and practices for this component that are mandated by the state. Some programs may require you to complete residency at one of their specific school partners, others, including the MathTrack Transition to Teaching program, allow for more flexibility, making it possible to complete this requirement at the school you potentially already work at.
Candidates enrolled in a T2T program are often working in schools while they are pursuing full licensure, meaning they must obtain some kind of temporary licensure in the meantime. In Indiana, most commonly candidates work under an Emergency Permit, or a Transition to Teaching License during this step.
Step 3: Pass Teacher Licensure Tests
There are 2 tests required for Indiana mathematics licensure grades 5-12.
- Praxis 5165 (Mathematics content)
- Praxis 5624 (Pedagogy)
The Praxis 5165 content exam can be challenging because it covers all the mathematics content that aligns with the license area, which includes all grade levels between 5th and 12th grade. It is common for educators to need 2-3 attempts to reach the minimum passing score of 159 on this test.
The Praxis 5624 pedagogy exam covers pedagogical vocabulary and teaching techniques. The minimum score to pass this exam in Indiana is 157.
Both tests are scheduled and managed by the Praxis Education Testing Service (ETS) and can cost between $100-$200 per attempt. Candidates can choose to take exams in person at a testing center, but they also offer a remote option if you have compliant technology at home. There can be limited availability for scheduling both options so it is important to plan ahead for these tests.
Some Transition to Teaching programs actually require one or both of these tests to be passed before enrollment, others encourage candidates to take them after the program. In both cases generally preparing for and passing these two tests is up to the educator. The MathTrack Institute Transition to Teaching Program includes preparing for these two exams as part of the program experience, including several supports and tutoring services designed to help candidate pass successfully.
Step 4: Apply for Full Teacher Licensure
Once you have successfully completed the previous steps you should be ready to apply for full licensure. The previous steps above are managed by higher education providers, the actual license will be issued by the state. In Indiana you apply for licensure on the LVIS (Licensing Verification and Information System) website. This is the same database that you would use to renew your license later on and is how schools will verify your licensure status for employment.
Other Licensure Considerations
Is it possible to skip residency or student teaching with proof of teaching experience?
Unfortunately, because of how state requirements work for teacher preparation programs, previous employment or classroom experience cannot be applied to residency requirements.
How does a master's degree help me pursue licensure?
Master's degrees can definitely speed up the time it takes to get licensed, as long as the master's degree is in the content area you are hoping to get licensed in. For example, if you hold a mathematics master's degree you would be able to skip the alternative teacher preparation program and go straight to preparing for and taking the Praxis exams.
Still have questions?
MathTrack Institute is a leading expert in teacher licensure and is here to help you navigate your specific situation and certification needs. To get personalized support with licensure you can contact us.
