Special Education Licensing Information

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Traditional Route to Special Education Licensure at Hanover College

Hanover College Educator Preparation Program offers a dual certification program for our undergraduate students which is completed alongside the preparation for elementary or secondary certification. The Teaching Diverse Learners Program/Mild to Moderate Interventions (P-12) requires six additional courses which are typically scheduled in the early evenings and online during the summer sessions for ease and versatility of scheduling with their other classes. Senior candidates will complete an integrated student teaching experience in both the general education classroom and a special education classroom. Licensure exams required are the ETS Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching - Grades P-12 (#5625) and Praxis Special Education (#5355 - NEW TEST IN 2024).
The candidate's other Praxis test will be based on the content area major - see the Licensing Exams tab at left. Both licenses can be applied for simultaneously if all criteria is met for both licenses. This saves another license processing fee to apply for both at once!

The Hanover College EPP also allows for educators licensed in Indiana to take the special education courses to become certified in SpEd. These teachers will not have to complete the student teaching requirement and again, the courses are offered in the evenings and online in the summer sessions. They would then pass the ETS Praxis exam #5355 and apply for a license addition via LVIS using the Hanover College transcript and Praxis scores.

EFFECTIVE 7/1/2025 - ALL ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION LICENSES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE COURSEWORK IN THE SCIENCE OF READING AS WELL AS A SCIENCE OF READING CONTENT AREA EXAM RESULTING IN A SCIENCE OF READING ENDORSEMENT.

2025 COHORT AND BEFORE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS CHANGE TO LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND ENSURE THEY HAVE THEIR LICENSE APPROVED BEFORE 6/30/2025!!

THESE CHANGES ARE BUILT IN FOR THE 2026 COHORT AND BEYOND IN THE MAJORS.

Effective in the 2022-2023 year, Indiana will no longer grant emergency permits for Special Education teachers. There are a number of ways for teachers to remain in their classroom while they meet the requirements for a SpEd license.

Alternate Route Special Education License

The Alternative Special Education License is available as of July 1, 2022, for applicants who hold a bachelor's degree and who are enrolled in a post-baccalaureate approved alternative preparation program for initial special education licensure or for a special education addition to an existing license. An application for this license must be submitted through the applicant's online LVIS account.

Applicants for this license must be employed in Indiana as a classroom teacher in the special education area of the preparation program.

This license is also available to applicants who hold a bachelor's degree, are employed in Indiana as a special education teacher, and have completed an approved special education licensure program but require additional time to pass the required licensure tests.

The new Alternative Special Education License is valid for three years and is non-renewable. Holders of this alternative license are eligible to serve as the Teacher of Record (TOR) in the area displayed on the license. Here is a link to approved special education preparation programs: https://www.in.gov/doe/educators/special-education-licensure/.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college/university
Special Education preparation program (one of the following)
- Completed a special education program and need required licensure testing
- Enrolled in an approved alternative special education licensure program
Employed in Indiana as a classroom teacher in the special education area matching the preparation program

Required Documents:

Official bachelor's degree transcript
Verification of enrollment in an approved alternative-route SPED licensure program OR verification of completion of an approved special education licensure program (letter from program provider)
Employer letter verifying employment as a special education teacher in the content area matching the preparation program
CPR/AED Training Certificate
Suicide Prevention Certificate

Licensing Fee Information: Click here.
Step-by-Step Instructions: Click here.

The addition of this license follows feedback from Indiana educators who identified an existing gap between Indiana's practice of issuing one-year emergency special education teaching permits and federal regulations in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDOE proactively collaborated with stakeholders across the state to develop shared solutions to align with federal requirements, while also supporting the growth of Indiana's special education educator pipeline.

The application path for the special education alternative license will be open in the Licensing Verification and Information System (LVIS) on Friday, July 1.

If you are a Hanover College EPP special education certified completer teaching special ed on an emergency permit in 2021-2022, you MUST apply for this alternative license with the IDOE!

Those who have not been certified in special ed but desire adding special education to their license may also apply for this alternative route license in special education, which will be valid for three years, requires an educator to hold a bachelor's degree, be employed by an Indiana school, and be enrolled in an approved alternative special education program. Over these three years, the educator will work to complete all requirements for professional licensure. Individuals who hold the three-year license are eligible to receive financial assistance through the I-SEAL program and are also able to serve as the special education teacher of record.

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There is also a program for teachers licensed in other areas to add Mild or Intense Interventions to their licenses with the ASSET Program.

The ASSET is approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE) for anyone with an active Indiana teaching license in any content area who is interested in adding mild interventions, intense interventions, or both to their existing teaching credentials.

The no-cost, 11-month program is aligned with the standards from the Council for Exceptional Children and leverages field expertise to ensure candidates are well-prepared to meet the needs of students with disabilities and to pass the state licensure exam after completion of the program. Participants are required to maintain a small caseload of students with disabilities to meet ASSET program requirements. Summer training will be held Tuesday, July 19, through Thursday, July 21, at Franklin High School in Franklin. Online sessions will occur the first Tuesday of each month from August through May of the 2022-2023 school year. Contact Dr. Jay Arthur, director of the Indiana ASSET program, via email or phone (317-759-2895) with any questions.

These programs follow feedback from Indiana educators who identified an existing gap between Indiana's practice of issuing one-year emergency special education teaching permits and federal regulations in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDOE proactively collaborated with stakeholders across the state to develop shared solutions to align with federal requirements, while also supporting the growth of Indiana's special education educator pipeline.