Indiana Teacher License Renewal

Indiana's License Tiers and Renewal Structure

Indiana's teaching licenses follow a progression from Initial Practitioner to Proficient Practitioner, each with its own renewal mechanism. Understanding which license you hold determines exactly what you need to do.

Initial Practitioner License — a two-year credential issued to new teachers who've completed all testing and preparation requirements. To advance from this license, you complete either the Indiana Mentor and Assessment Program (IMAP) or accumulate Professional Growth Plan (PGP) points. You're converting, not renewing — the Initial Practitioner License transitions to a Proficient Practitioner License.

Proficient Practitioner License — the standard five-year renewable license for career teachers. Renewal requires 90 PGP points or 6 graduate credit hours completed during the five-year window.

Professional Educator License — this was Indiana's legacy credential. If you still hold one, the renewal pathway depends on when it was issued and what content areas are listed. The IDOE's conversion rules let you move to the current Proficient Practitioner framework.

Converting Your Initial Practitioner License

New teachers have two options to move from the two-year Initial Practitioner to the five-year Proficient Practitioner:

Option 1: IMAP mentorship. The Indiana Mentor and Assessment Program pairs you with an experienced mentor teacher for a structured induction during your first two years. Your district assigns the mentor, and the program includes classroom observations, reflective practice, and performance evaluations. IMAP completion is documented in LVIS by your school corporation.

Option 2: Professional Growth Plan (PGP). Accumulate 40 PGP points over your two-year Initial Practitioner period. Points come from professional development activities, graduate coursework, conferences, and approved training programs. Your building administrator or corporation licensing advisor verifies and signs off on your PGP points in LVIS 360.

Most new teachers use IMAP because their school corporation handles the logistics. PGP is the fallback for teachers whose districts don't have a formal IMAP structure in place.

Renewing Your Proficient Practitioner License

The five-year Proficient Practitioner License renewal is straightforward — you need 90 PGP points or 6 graduate credit hours. Here's what counts:

Graduate coursework at an accredited institution. Six graduate credits cover the full 90-point requirement.

Professional development workshops, conferences, and in-service training. Points vary by activity type and duration. Your district's professional development coordinator can help you map out which activities carry PGP credit.

Approved online training modules. Many teachers accumulate points through the IDOE's approved provider network for specific content areas or mandated training updates.

All PGP activities must be documented and verified in LVIS 360. Your building principal or corporation licensing advisor signs off on the points — the IDOE doesn't accept self-reported activities without administrative verification.

The 2027 Literacy Endorsement Deadline

This is the renewal requirement most likely to catch current teachers off guard:

Under Senate Enrolled Act 1 (2024), K-5 and special education teachers whose licenses expire on or after July 1, 2027 must hold the Early Literacy Endorsement to qualify for standard renewal. This requires completing approved Science of Reading coursework and passing the Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary exam (minimum score: 159, $156 per attempt).

If you don't have the endorsement by your renewal date, the IDOE may issue a temporary one-year waiver extension on a case-by-case basis — but there's no guarantee.

The state is funding free Keys to Literacy coursework through June 1, 2027, with enrollment open from July 1, 2026. This is the most cost-effective way to earn the endorsement. If you're a K-5 or special education teacher with a license expiring in 2027 or later, start this coursework now — the free window won't last.

Fees and Processing

License renewal through LVIS 360 costs $35 (non-refundable). The processing timeline depends on current LVIS backlogs, but standard renewals typically process faster than initial applications because there's no transcript evaluation involved.

Submit your renewal application well before your license expires. Teaching on an expired license — even by a few days — creates complications with your employer's compliance records.

Common Renewal Mistakes

Waiting until the last month. LVIS processing delays can push your renewal past your expiration date. Start the process at least 90 days early.

Assuming PGP points carry over. Each renewal cycle starts fresh. Points earned during one five-year window don't roll over into the next.

Ignoring the literacy endorsement. If you're K-5 or special education and your license expires on or after July 1, 2027, the endorsement isn't optional — it's a hard gate for renewal.

Missing the PGP verification step. You can complete all 90 points of professional development, but if your administrator hasn't signed off in LVIS 360, the system treats them as unverified and your renewal will be delayed.

For a complete walkthrough of the renewal process — including a PGP tracking worksheet and a timeline for the literacy endorsement requirement — the Indiana Teacher Certification Guide covers everything from Initial Practitioner conversion through five-year renewals.

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