Indiana Mandatory Teacher Training Requirements

Four Trainings Stand Between You and Your License

Indiana educator applications may involve four state-mandated safety and health trainings. The exact set depends on the credential and whether you are applying, renewing, or converting: human-trafficking training is required for all initial licenses and permits, while child-abuse training also applies to initial credentials, renewals, and conversions. For an initial application, have the applicable certificates ready before submitting through LVIS 360.

The four are: CPR/AED/Choking Response, Suicide Prevention, Human Trafficking Recognition, and Child Abuse and Neglect Detection. Each has specific provider requirements and documentation rules that trip up applicants regularly.

CPR, AED, and Choking Response (the Hands-On Trap)

This is the training that causes the most rejected LVIS applications. Indiana does not accept standard online-only or video-only CPR certifications. Under state rules, your CPR certification must include a documented, in-person, hands-on skill practice session on a mannequin, issued by an IDOE-approved provider.

That means your Red Cross online-only card, your workplace first-aid refresher, or your community center video course will be rejected when you upload it to LVIS. The IDOE maintains a specific list of approved CPR providers on their website.

Approved providers include the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross (in-person or blended courses only), and several Indiana-specific training organizations. Expect to pay anywhere from free (through some school district partnerships) to $100 for a hybrid online-plus-in-person skills session.

The certificate must be valid at the time you submit your LVIS application. Most CPR certifications expire after two years, so if you earned yours early in your preparation program, check the expiration date before applying.

Suicide Prevention Training

Indiana requires all educator license applicants to complete an approved suicide prevention training of at least 60 minutes. The two most widely accepted programs are the Jason Foundation's training modules and Youth Mental Health First Aid.

The Jason Foundation offers free, self-paced online modules that satisfy the requirement. This is the path most applicants take because it's fast, free, and generates a downloadable completion certificate.

Upload your completion certificate to the designated training slot in LVIS 360.

Human Trafficking Recognition and Reporting

Mandated under IC 20-28-5-12.3, this training is required for all initial licenses and permits. The IDOE does not accept promissory notes or pledges to complete the training later — you must have a completion certificate in hand before submitting your LVIS application.

The state provides approved training options through the IDOE educator licensing portal. Most options are free and available online, taking approximately 30 to 60 minutes.

Child Abuse and Neglect Detection and Reporting

Mandated under IC 20-28-3-4.5 and IC 20-28-5-12.5, this training is required for all initial credentials, renewals, and license conversions. Human-trafficking training is required for initial licenses and permits, while child-abuse training also applies to initial credentials, renewals, and conversions.

Free online courses are available through the IDOE-approved provider list. Completion typically takes 60 to 90 minutes.

The Smart Completion Order

For an initial application, you can complete all four trainings before you even start your LVIS application — and you should. Here's why: LVIS uses interactive validation. If you try to submit an application without the applicable training certificates uploaded, the system blocks you from advancing. Each certificate must be individually uploaded to its designated attachment slot.

The most efficient order:

1. Suicide prevention — free, online, 60 minutes. Do this first because it's the easiest win.
2. Human trafficking — free, online, 30–60 minutes.
3. Child abuse and neglect — free, online, 60–90 minutes.
4. CPR/AED/choking — requires scheduling an in-person session. Book this early because provider availability varies by region, and you don't want it to become the bottleneck when you're ready to submit.

Total cost: $0 to $100, depending on your CPR provider. Total time: one afternoon for the three online courses plus a separate two-to-three-hour in-person CPR session.

Renewal and Conversion Rules

For conversion or renewal, child abuse and neglect training is specifically identified as required. Check the applicable LVIS requirements for CPR, suicide prevention, and human trafficking before submitting, because the full set depends on your credential and stage.

The Indiana Teacher Certification Guide maps exactly which trainings are required for each license type and includes the direct links to approved free providers.

See more Indiana guides →