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Follow these five steps to learn how to become a PE teacher in Indiana:
Indiana’s Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT) is a tool used to assist state and regional education agencies, school districts, and schools when assessing their physical education curricula to ensure it is aligned with national standards, guidelines, and best practices.
The PECAT was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a way to create or select physical education curriculum that is effective in turning out students who will engage in physical activity throughout their lives. The PECAT is based on national standards for physical education. It details the appropriate actions that need to be taken in the four main areas to ensure a high quality physical education program:
- Curriculum
- Policies and environment
- Instruction
- Student assessment
Step 1. Pass the Indiana CORE Academic Skills Assessment
Before you can be accepted into a teacher preparation program in Indiana you must take and pass the Indiana CORE Academic Skills Assessment (CASA).
The CASA is an Internet-based, multiple-choice and construction-response question examination that consists of the following:
- Reading: 40 multiple-choice questions
- Mathematics: 40 multiple-choice questions
- Writing: 42 multiple-choice questions and 1 constructed response assignment
You can take the CASA by appointment, on a year-round basis, at testing centers across Indiana. You must receive a minimum passing score of 220 on each subtest to qualify for licensure. You can view test fees and payment information here.
Note: If you have a master’s degree or have received a minimum score on one of the following examinations, you may be exempt from taking the CASA:
- ACT: Minimum score of 24 based on math, reading, grammar, and science
- SAT: Minimum score of 1100 based on critical reading and math
- GRE: Minimum score of 1100 based on verbal and quantitative (before 8/1/11)
- GRE: Minimum score of 301 based on verbal and quantitative (on or after 8/1/11)
Step 2. Complete an Indiana-Approved PE Educator Preparation Program
There are two routes to teacher licensure in Indiana, both of which require the completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
Approved Teacher Preparation Route
To become a physical education teacher in Indiana, you must complete a teacher preparation program in physical education, which consists of a bachelor or graduate degree that includes all necessary components for licensure, including a student teaching component. There are currently 26 approved teacher preparation programs in physical education in Indiana.
Alternative Teacher Preparation Routes
Transition to Teaching –Indiana has a number of alternative PE teacher preparation routes, one of which is the Transition to Teaching, a two-semester program designed for career professionals who already possess bachelor degrees from regionally accredited institutions. If you qualify for the Transition to Teaching program, you will enroll as a non-degree candidate at an approved institution of higher education and pursue a program of courses and experiences in physical education. There are currently 25 Transition to Teaching programs in Indiana. All accredited institutions within the Transition to Teaching program consist of 18 hours of secondary and 24 hours of elementary education coursework.
Advanced Degree Licensing Option – If you hold a master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited post-secondary educational institution in a major related to physical education and you have at least one year of academic experience teaching students in a middle school, high school, or classroom setting, you may qualify for licensure in Indiana by completing all required testing (See Steps 3, 4, and 5).
Step 3. Complete all Necessary Physical Education Content and Pedagogy Assessments
Upon completion of an approved PE teacher educator preparation program, you must take and pass the Development/Pedagogy Assessment: P-12 Education (007) examination.
The P-12 Education examination is a computer-based test that consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. You can take the test by appointment, on a year-round basis. You can find a test center here. You must receive a minimum score of 200 to qualify for PE teacher licensure in Indiana. You can view test preparation materials for the P-12 Education examination here.
There are currently no content examinations for physical education in Indiana.
Step 4. Complete Trainings and Apply for your Indiana PE Educator License
CPR Training
To qualify for initial PE teacher licensure in Indiana, you must successfully complete training in:
- Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Heimlich Maneuver
You may be exempt from the above training if you already possess a valid certification in each of these procedures from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or another approved provider. Approved providers can be found here.
Suicide Prevention Training
All applicants for initial PE teacher licensing in Indiana must successfully complete education and training in child suicide prevention and recognizing signs that a student may be considering suicide. You can find a number of suicide prevention training opportunities here.
Apply for your Indiana Educator License
All applicants for initial PE teacher licensure and license renewal are now completed through the Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE) Licensing Verification and Information System (LVIS). This new application system can be accessed here, along with information manuals and quick-start guides.
Step 5. Renew Your Indiana PE Educator License
Your initial educator license in Indiana is valid for a period of two years. You must show completion of an Indiana Mentor and Assessment Program (IMAP), a two-year mentorship that culminates in a specific assessment piece. Once you have completed the IMAP, you are eligible for your five-year Proficient Practitioner license.
To renew your license, you must submit all materials from your IMAP and have your school email the IDOE the School IMAP Approval Form to verify your completion of the program.
To renew your standard Indiana 5-year license, you must complete at least six semester hours at an accredited Indiana institution and submit a Professional Growth Plan.
All licensure renewals are completed through the Licensing Verification and Information System (LVIS).
Phys Ed Teacher Salary in Indiana
According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s labor market site,Hoosiers By The Numbers, the average yearly Indiana PE teacher salary is $58,590. Data retrieved from the U.S. Department of Labor reveals that starting wages for PE teachers in Indiana are around $31,040, which is the bottom 10th percentile, but the median among all PE teachers statewide is just 6% less than the average at $55,050. For PE teachers with experience, the salary can be as much as $71,510 (top 25%) and $91,130 (top 10%).
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development also reported an average among PE teachers in the Indianapolis and Carmel areas of $58,580. The starting salary in those areas was around $30,840 while the median was just minimally lower than the average at $57,290. At the experienced level, PE teachers were reported to average $73,640 (top 25%) and $90,890 (top 10%).
The following salary table of PE teacher salaries in Indiana is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor: