A Brief History of Continuing Education
In 1984, both the Indiana General Assembly and the Indiana State Board of Education discussed two critical teacher licensing issues - the need to provide an alternative to the required master's degree and the need to change from a system of life licensing to a system of lifelong learning. The result of these and other discussions is a license renewal process that requires all Indiana teachers who do not hold life licenses to complete continuing education experience to maintain their teaching licenses.
Teachers or prospective teachers with specific questions about how they may obtain or renew an Indiana teaching license must contact the Indiana Professional Standards Board's Division of Teacher Licensing or the licensing advisor at an Indiana college or university that offers teacher preparation programs.
Individuals who do not hold life licenses must renew their licenses by completing six (6) semester hours of approved college courses every five (5) years. A professional license will be issued to teachers who complete certain experience and educational requirements, including a master's degree. The professional license is initially valid for ten (10) years. After the initial term, the professional license must be renewed every five (5) years.
After educators earn a master's degree or complete thirty-six (36) semester hours of approved academic credit, they may renew their licenses with Continuing Renewal Units (CRUs). CRUs are earned by completing approved experiences that do not result in the award of college credit.
Continuing Renewal Unit (CRU) programs may be sponsored by:
- an accredited college or university;
- a school corporation or combination of school corporations;
- an educational service center organized under IC 20-1-11.3;
- a joint program organized under IC 20-5-11;
- an interlocal agreement program organized under IC 36-1-7;
- or the State Board of Education through the Department of Education;
- Indiana Professional Standards Board
- professional educator organization organized under Indiana law.
Prospective sponsors must submit an application to become an approved sponsor prior to offering programs for CRU credit and must submit the names of attendees and appropriate program description to the Division of Assessment within 30 days of completion of the program.
A list of approved program providers can be found here. (To be furnished)
In 1984, both the Indiana General Assembly and the Indiana State Board of Education discussed two critical teacher licensing issues - the need to provide an alternative to the required master's degree and the need to change from a system of life licensing to a system of lifelong learning. The result of these and other discussions is a license renewal process that requires all Indiana teachers who do not hold life licenses to complete continuing education experience to maintain their teaching licenses.
Teachers or prospective teachers with specific questions about how they may obtain or renew an Indiana teaching license must contact the Indiana Professional Standards Board's Division of Teacher Licensing or the licensing advisor at an Indiana college or university that offers teacher preparation programs.
Individuals who do not hold life licenses must renew their licenses by completing six (6) semester hours of approved college courses every five (5) years. A professional license will be issued to teachers who complete certain experience and educational requirements, including a master's degree. The professional license is initially valid for ten (10) years. After the initial term, the professional license must be renewed every five (5) years.
After educators earn a master's degree or complete thirty-six (36) semester hours of approved academic credit, they may renew their licenses with Continuing Renewal Units (CRUs). CRUs are earned by completing approved experiences that do not result in the award of college credit.
Continuing Renewal Unit (CRU) programs may be sponsored by:
- an accredited college or university;
- a school corporation or combination of school corporations;
- an educational service center organized under IC 20-1-11.3;
- a joint program organized under IC 20-5-11;
- an interlocal agreement program organized under IC 36-1-7;
- or the State Board of Education through the Department of Education;
- Indiana Professional Standards Board
- professional educator organization organized under Indiana law.
Prospective sponsors must submit an application to become an approved sponsor prior to offering programs for CRU credit and must submit the names of attendees and appropriate program description to the Division of Assessment within 30 days of completion of the program.
A list of approved program providers can be found here. (To be furnished)