Fast-Track Special Education License – Transition to Teach (Online)
Initial License in Exceptional Needs: Mild Intervention (P-12)
The online Fast-Track Special Education License (FT-SEL) program provides you with an alternative pathway to obtain an initial practitioner/teaching license in Exceptional Needs: Mild Intervention in P-12 school settings. The program can be completed in as few as four consecutive semesters (approximately 18 months).
The required coursework is integrated with clinical experiences (i.e., field experiences), which allows you to have structured opportunities to practice applying concepts from your courses in authentic school and community settings. You'll prepare to address the complex academic and social/behavioral needs of a diverse range of students with mild to moderate disabilities.
An added benefit is that your credits can also be applied toward an M.S.Ed. in Special Education and our new IDOE approved Dyslexia Graduate Certificate, in which you'll learn about the latest scientific research in reading and literacy, including best practices in identification, assessment, and intervention for students with reading difficulties and disabilities, such as dyslexia.
This program has the benefit of partnering with I-SEAL for course tuition reimbursement opportunities. Read more under the "Funding" tab below.
The FT-SEL program is intended for individuals who have access to a P-12 school setting with individuals with mild to moderate disabilities either through their employer OR through a clinical experience opportunity coordinated through the program.*
*All teacher candidates must complete field placements (6 hours/week during the fall and spring semesters in Year 1) and student teaching (5 days/week for 10 weeks in fall of Year 2).
Starting Semester
Deadline
Fall
Aug 1
Spring
Dec 1
Fall submission: free application review until June 1, 2024; free application review for IU alumni until July 1, 2024. Spring submission: free application review until September 1, 2024; free application review for IU alumni until October 1, 2024. Contact Lara Christoun at larachri@iu.edu with questions.
The Graduate Studies Office will accept unofficial transcripts and self-reported test scores for admission reviews. Any admission made with these documents would be conditioned on receipt of official documents, which should be provided as soon as possible.
If you are currently enrolled or have applied in the past year, you are eligible for a reduced application fee of $35. Learn more »
Due to the online nature of this program, it is available to domestic students only.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0
Completed online application that includes:
Resume
Two letters of recommendation (if the applicant is already working/teaching in a school, one letter of recommendation should be from administration in support of the applicant's field experience and student teaching placement)
Find more information and calculate your expected costs at Student Central.
Below is a list of potential resources for graduate students. Note: graduate assistantships are generally intended for students studying and working on the Bloomington campus.
Visit
Student Central for information about
financial assistance.
Consult your employer about the availability of
tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance
programs.
Active duty military, veterans, and military
families should visit the
Center for Veteran and Military Students
to take full advantage of available financial assistance and
educational benefits.
Applicants who have not earned a teaching license but have earned a non-education bachelor’s degree may receive a scholarship to enroll in a federally-compliant Transition to Teaching program. IU’s FT-SEL program is one of twelve (12) Transition to Teaching programs in special education currently available in Indiana.
The FT-SEL program leads to an initial practitioner’s license in Indiana in Exceptional Needs: Mild Intervention (Preschool – Grade 12). Teacher candidates must complete the required 24-credit hours of coursework (including field experiences and student teaching), earn CPR/AED/Heimlich certification, complete Suicide Prevention Training, and pass the applicable Praxis licensing exams:
Special Education: Core Knowledge & Mild to Moderate Applications (5543), and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades PreK–12 (5625)
