Professional Growth Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
- I thought I had to establish three goals and match them with standards for my PGP. Why has this changed?
- Who is eligible to use the Professional Growth Plan for license renewal?
- Is it true that once I use the PGP for renewal, I ALWAYS have to use this option for renewal?
- Can Professional Growth Experiences be used to renew an inactive license?
- Can I renew all of my licenses with one Professional Growth Plan?
- Can I use the same Professional Growth Plan to renew licenses with different expiration dates?
- What if I am unable to complete enough professional growth experiences to earn 90 points within the appropriate five year period?
- I have well over 90 professional growth experiences points. Can I hold some of the experiences back and use them for a future Professional Growth Plan?
- When can I submit my Professional Growth Plan for evaluation?
- What feedback will I receive about my Professional Growth Plan licensing renewal report?
- What happens if I submit my Professional Growth Plan after my license expiration date?
- What happens if I become employed by another school district, I am no longer teaching, or my employment situation changes in another way?
- What if I receive a denial certificate?
- How do I obtain my license(s)?
- Can I earn Professional Growth experience points for serving on my school district's teacher contract negotiating team, sponsoring my school's Spell Bowl Team, Academic Team, Chess Club, etc.?
1. I thought I had to establish three goals and match them with standards for my PGP. Why has this changed?
Educators attend a variety of workshops and participate in a variety of activities for professional development. In most cases, the activities can not fit neatly into three goals. Rather than "tie the hands" of educators to design their professional development experiences around three goals, we felt it more appropriate to match each activity with an INTASC principal. This will allow educators to participate in a variety of activities that will enhance their teaching experiences.
2. Who is eligible to use the Professional Growth Plan for license renewal?
If you are licensed under Rules 2002, you must always submit a Professional Growth Plan License Renewal Report for renewal. Even if you have six (6) credit hours and/or the equivalent of ninety (90) CRU's, you still must complete a Professional Growth Plan.
For individuals with a renewable license issued under prior rules, (Rules 46-47, Bulletin 400) the Professional Growth Plan is an option for license renewal.
3. Is it true that once I use the PGP for renewal, I ALWAYS have to use this option for renewal?
If you have a Rules 2002 license, then yes, you must always use a PGP for license renewal. Individuals with renewable licenses issued under prior rules, (Rules 46-47, Bulletin 400) may choose a PGP or another renewal option. This is a change from past procedures.
4. Can Professional Growth Experiences be used to renew an inactive license?
Professional Growth Experiences can be used to renew an inactive license as long as the experiences occurred during the five years immediately preceding the renewal of the license.
5. Can I renew all of my licenses with one Professional Growth Plan?
Yes, you may renew all of your licenses using one Professional Growth Plan. Keep in mind that you will need to complete separate applications and pay the licensing fee for each license you are renewing.
6. Can I use the same Professional Growth Plan to renew licenses with different expiration dates?
As long as the professional growth experiences have occurred within either the five year period the license is active or within the five years immediately preceding the renewal of an inactive license, a single PGP can be used to renew licenses with different expiration dates.
7. What if I am unable to complete enough professional growth experiences to earn 90 points within the appropriate five year period?
Conversations with experienced teachers indicate that most can identify well over 90 points of creditable experiences within the time period allowed for completion. That is why it is important that you do not wait until the last minute to start working on your PGP.
8. I have well over 90 professional growth experiences points. Can I hold some of the experiences back and use them for a future Professional Growth Plan?
You will not be able to "bank" points toward a future Professional Growth Plan. You may only use experiences within the five year time span.
9. When can I submit my Professional Growth Plan for evaluation?
Professional Growth Plans may be submitted when you have completed at least 90 Professional Growth experience points and you have completed the PGP report. You are encouraged to submit your report prior to your expiration date of your license(s).
10. What feedback will I receive about my Professional Growth Plan licensing renewal report?
If you have met the appropriate established criteria for renewal, you will receive an approval certificate indicating successful completion of the report. In addition, the certificate will reflect an expiration date for submitting application materials needed to renew your license(s). Please note, since your report will not be returned to you, you should retain a copy of the entire submission for your files.
11. What happens if I submit my Professional Growth Plan after my license expiration date?
The educator is responsible for submitting their PGP in a timely matter. The PGP must be processed and then evaluated before the certificate is sent to you. This can take 10 days to two weeks or more depending on the time of year and the number of PGP's that are in the system at the time. It is recommended that you alert your superintendent or human resource staff to the possibility that there will be a delay in renewing your license(s).
12. What happens if I become employed by another school district, I am no longer teaching, or my employment situation changes in another way?
The Professional Growth Plan belongs to the individual and can be submitted regardless of one's employment situation for the purpose of renewing both active and/or inactive licenses.
13. What if I receive a denial certificate?
You will have a specific time period, as indicated on the denial certificate, for addressing any deficiencies. If you are unable to clear deficiencies prior to the date indicated on the denial certificate you may be required to submit a new Professional Growth Plan licensing renewal report for evaluation.
14. How do I obtain my license(s)?
Once you have received your certificate indicating successful completion of your Professional Growth Plan you will follow the instructions on the renewal checklist. Instead of submitting transcripts and/or obtaining a licensing advisor's recommendation for renewal, you will submit your approval certificate along with the other application materials (including the appropriate fee(s)).
IMPORTANT: Application must be made prior to the expiration date on your Professional Growth Plan certificate. Anyone submitting an application after the date indicated on the certificate may be required to submit a new Professional Growth Plan.
15. Can I earn Professional Growth experience points for serving on my school district's teacher contract negotiating team, sponsoring my school's Spell Bowl Team, Academic Team, Chess Club, etc.?
Negotiating a contract and any of the other activities listed above are not approved options for earning professional growth experiences points. Keep in mind that the experiences highlighted in your Professional Growth Plan must support the attainment of your goals. In addition, these experiences "must enhance your work in the profession or contribute to your area of specialization, and [be] documented as standards-based."
If after reviewing the information on the Professional Growth Plan, you have additional questions regarding this license renewal option or process, please contact us at licensinghelp@doe.in.gov for general licensing questions. For questions about the Professional Growth Plan, contact kmeriwet@doe.in.gov or krusso@doe.in.gov
