Path to Licensure

Our approach to teacher preparation is designed with the understanding that the first year is the most important of a teacher's career. We see year one as a critical window of opportunity to help teachers develop essential skills and chart a path to a promising education career. If you successfully complete all program requirements and meet our performance standards by the end of your second year in the classroom, you will be eligible to apply for an Initial Practitioner License in the state of Indiana.

Step 1: Get Your Permit

It can be helpful to think about the licensure process similar to the way you would as a new driver. Before you will be able to receive your full license, you must spend some time working on a learner's permit. There are three kinds of permits (temporary licenses) you are able to receive prior to applying for your license: the Transition to Teaching (T2T) permit, the Alternative Special Education License (SPED teachers only), and the Emergency Permit. (We recommend the T2T/Alternative Special Education License when you are looking for positions, because it helps identify you as "highly qualified." You can speak with the manager about which would be best for you.)

Click Here to learn more about the permit requirements for your grade level and subject area.

During your first two years as a full-time teacher, you will complete certification coursework through our licensing partner, Marian University. In addition to completing the Transition to Teaching (T2T) coursework, you will also earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. The T2T program is specifically designed to meet the needs of alternate route teachers. In fact, the Indianapolis Teaching Fellows/Marian University partnership creates a unique experience for you as a student: you are able to journey through your Masters program with the other members of your ITF cohort!

Below are a few steps you will need to complete in preparation to apply for your T2T permit.

Marian University Admission

Your participation in ITF is contingent upon your admission to Marian University as our licensing partner. Be sure to complete all necessary admission steps to receive an acceptance letter. Let us know if you have any questions.

Praxis® Content Area Exam

The Praxis Content Area Exam is one of two exams you will take for your initial license. There are certain GPA and subject area requirements that will determine when you need to take and pass this exam. Please reach out to discuss with us.

State Required Certifications

The state of Indiana requires all teachers to complete both suicide prevention and CPR training in order to apply for any preliminary licenses (T2T permit, Alternative Special Educator License, or Emergency permit) in July 2025. The IDOE requires completion of suicide prevention and CPR trainings.

Ideally, you should complete all necessary steps in order to apply for your T2T permit by July 2025. No later than July 1, you will receive a letter from the licensing department at Marian University verifying which permit you may apply for.

Step 2: Assessment of Classroom Effectiveness

You will begin teaching under a Transition to Teaching Permit, an initial certification issued by the Indiana Department of Education. The T2T permit allows you to teach full-time while working towards your Initial Practitioner License.

During your first year of teaching, we will use the Assessment of Classroom Effectiveness (ACE) to ensure that you remain on track to become a great teacher. Through ACE, we will strive to create the fullest possible picture of your performance using multiple measures such as principal evaluations, classroom observations, and student surveys.

It takes fellows two years to complete their licensure coursework and apply for their professional license. At the end of your first year, you must meet ACE performance standards to remain in the program.

You will receive much more information about ACE along with a detailed guidebook at an ACE orientation session during summer training. Read more about ACE in the TNTP publication, Leap Year.

Please Note: ACE is not an official requirement of the Indiana Department of Education. It is indirectly related to licensure as it is a requirement for all Indianapolis Teaching Fellows candidates.

Step 3: Take License Exams

There are two Praxis® exams that you will need to take and pass in order to apply for your initial practitioner license:

(1) The Content Area Exam This test is specific to the content area you will be teaching. Though this is a required exam for all teachers, certain circumstances will dictate when you should take the Content Exam. The timing for this exam is highly specific to each fellow, so please reach out to the ITF manager to help determine your personal timeline.

(2) The Pedagogy Assessment This test is required for all licensure areas and is based on the "Principles of Teaching and Learning" for the specific grade level(s) you will be working with. It is recommended that you schedule this exam at some point during your second year of teaching, since you will have taken some T2T coursework by that point.

Click Here to learn more about the content and pedagogy exams.

Step 4: Apply for your License (and Graduate!)

During your second year in the program, you will receive more information on how to apply for your Initial Practitioner License through the Indiana Department of Education. May 2027 is the projected graduation date for all Masters degree candidates from the 2025 ITF cohort. Congratulations in advance! 🎓

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