Becoming Certified to Teach

Corps members who are not traditionally trained will be certified under a temporary Transition to Teaching (T2T) permit. You may be required to pass an Indiana CORE assessment in order to acquire this permit. Please do not register for any assessment before communicating with regional staff.

The T2T permit is valid for three years from the date that you submit your application and is non-renewable. You will be recommended for a practitioner’s license upon teaching for two years in the classroom with the T2T permit, completion of Relay coursework, and passing both a content area exam and a pedagogy exam. This will be a five-year teaching license and is renewable. This license can also be transferred to most other states via the reciprocal license process (which varies depending on the state you are transferring to).

You will qualify for the T2T permit because you will be enrolled in Relay Graduate School of Education's master of arts in teaching (MAT) program. This program is only offered to individuals who are not traditionally trained teachers (non-certified education majors). There will be yet to be determined out-of-pocket cost for this program. As long as you maintain good standing with Relay, you will have earned your MAT degree by the end of your second year. 

Graduate School 

Master's degree, Relay Graduate School of Education: Beginning with the 2020 cohort, corps members who are not traditionally trained will enter the master's program track at Relay for an MAT degree during their two years in the corps. You will be recommended for a practitioner’s license upon teaching for two years in the classroom with the T2T permit, completion of Relay coursework, and passing both a content area exam and a pedagogy exam.

Advanced licensure (master's degree options): Corps members who are already traditionally trained may pursue an advanced degree on their own time. Please contact Ryan Calvin, Managing Director of Talent, to learn more.

Teach For America Training

Please note: The current COVID-19 pandemic impacts logistics and specifics regarding corps member training. Please contact our region directly for more information pertaining to your corps year.

Members begin transitioning to the Indy corps through induction, an introduction with programming that covers Teach For America's core tenets, values, and theory of change; initiates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training; informs on the Indy historical and education landscape; provides opportunities to connect with current corps members and alumni in various career sectors; and prepares corps members for summer training.

During summer training, you'll gain integral development through co-teaching, collective learning, and self-reflective practices. 

Corps members will also participate in orientation through Relay and TFA that provides the opportunity for them to learn more about Relay, unpack their summer training experience, and prepare to apply their learning to their Indy experience. During this time corps members will continue DEI training, review expectations and logistics for the coming year, and meet their coach and coaching cohort for the year.

Leadership and development coaches at TFA Indy provide ongoing 1:1 and small group mentorship and coaching throughout corps members' two-year commitments.

In addition to support from their leadership and development coach, corps members will receive professional development from their schools; teacher training through Relay Graduate School of Education (if not traditionally trained) culminating in a master's degree; diversity, equity, inclusion training, and vision-setting through all-corps professional development days; ongoing differentiated programming within cohorts; and optional alumni mentorship. We strive to provide an abundance of support and development for corps members to provide an excellent education for their students and to develop as systems change leaders.