Educational Licensing
The Office of Professional Development and Educational Licensing offers the following options:
Initial Licensure
The IWU Graduate School and the School of Educational Leadership provide several programs and opportunities for candidates to obtain their initial state educator license. Programs are designed to provide the necessary training and skills needed to be a proficient teacher, administrator, or school counselor. Initial licensure programs include:
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education (Indiana)
- Transition-to-Teaching Certificate programs in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education (Indiana)
- Master of Science Degree and Certificate program in School Administration (Indiana and Ohio)
- Education Specialist Degree in District Level Leadership (Indiana)
- Master of Arts Degree in School Counseling (Indiana and Ohio)
Licensure Renewal
Courses offered through the School of Educational Leadership and PLS 3rd Learning are designed to further develop the skills of teachers, administrators, and school services personnel. Theory-to-practice approaches to educational challenges are major goals of the program.
All courses have been approved through a rigorous IWU approval process and may be used to renew an Indiana instructional, administrative, or school services license. Renewal requires the accumulation of ninety (90) Professional Growth Points and submission of a Professional Growth Plan for verification. Professional Growth Points must be earned between the point when the license is issued and the point when renewal of the license takes place. These points can be earned through a variety of means, including the completion of coursework from an accredited institution with each semester hour equaling fifteen Professional Growth Points.
Professional Licensure
The requirements for professionalizing an educator license vary according to academic discipline. All professionalization applications, regardless of academic discipline, will require completion of an advanced degree (i.e. Master’s degree or higher). Applicants seeking to professionalize an instructional license will also be required to provide proof of two years of teaching experience in accredited schools as well as have held a Proficient Practitioner/Standard/Provisional license for five years.
Applicants seeking a professional administrator license will be required to provide proof of completing sixty hours of graduate coursework from accredited institutions in Administration and related areas (advanced degree work can count towards these hours), and five years of administrative experience in an accredited school.
Those seeking professional licensure in School Counseling will be required to prove two years of experience as a school counselor in an accredited school and hold a Proficient Practitioner or Standard license for five years.
Licensure Additions
Several licensure programs offered through the School of Educational Leadership offer opportunities for teachers, administrators, and school services personnel to advance their careers. These programs will allow an educator to add a new licensure content area to their existing Indiana or Ohio educator license. Programs include:
- Early Childhood Education (P-3) - Indiana
- Elementary Education (K-6) - Indiana
- Secondary Education (5-12) – Indiana
- Secondary Education (P-12) - Indiana
- Mild Intervention (P-12) – Indiana
- Mild/Moderate Intervention Specialist (K-12) – Ohio
- Building-Level Administrator (P-12) – Indiana
- Principal Licensure Program (K-6) (5-9) (5-12) – Ohio
- District-Level Superintendent (P-12) – Indiana
- English as a New Language (P-12) – Indiana
Most content area licenses offered through the Indiana Department of Education can be added to a valid instructional license by simply passing the corresponding Indiana CORE Assessment content exam. However, select content areas cannot be added by testing alone; candidates must complete an approved licensing program before adding the area. Programs that cannot be added by testing alone include:
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- Select P-12 Education areas:
- High Ability
- Visual Arts
- Theater Arts
- Music – Vocal
- Music – Instrumental
- English as a New Language
- School Counseling
- Special Education
- School Administration – Building-Level and District-Level
Licensure Renewal Requirements
Applicants must have a valid Proficient Practitioner/Standard/Provisional license from the State of Indiana. Applicants must have obtained ninety Professional Growth Points and received verification of a completed Professional Growth Plan from a School Administrator (if employed in a school system) or Department of Education (if not employed in a school system).
Applicants must complete the online application for renewal of their Indiana Instructional, Administration, or School Services License. Instructions for this process are provided on the Indiana Department of Education’s web site.
The Indiana Department of Education advises license holders to NOT begin a renewal process until forty-five (45) days prior to the license expiration date.
If renewal requirements are not completed prior to the expiration of the license, there is no penalty imposed by the Indiana Department of Education; however, the license will not be renewed until the requirements have been met.
All licensure renewals for the state of Ohio are conducted directly through the Ohio Department of Education.
