High Ability Licensure

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Amplify the effectiveness of your teaching

The High Ability Licensure is a credential that provides educators who are certified to teach in Indiana with the professional preparation to support and serve high ability students in K through grade 12. With the online High Ability Licensure program from Purdue University, you can stretch and improve your higher ability students’ talents. It is a fast-paced way for you to broaden your professional skillset and gives you confidence to meet your students’ needs and to maximize your students’ potential.

For educators outside of Indiana, the Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies Certificate Program (GCT) provides professional preparation to support and serve gifted, creative, and talented children and youth. Not only can you receive the additional licensure, a graduate certificate is available!

If you are looking for a teacher professional development program that can take you to the next level. This Indiana licensure program will enable you to meet the needs of K-12 gifted youth. This talent development program is approved by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) as an additional licensure program

Purdue quality. Flexible schedule.

Online students enjoy the same rigorous academic programs as on-campus students, but with a much more flexible class schedule. Assignments, discussions, and other coursework are posted each week in the virtual classroom.

The High Ability Licensure program consists of four 3 – credit hour courses. This can be completed in just two semesters. Courses are eight weeks long and 100% online. Educators must also successfully pass the Indiana CORE Assessment for High Ability (testing fee applies)

Purdue University believes in stackable credentials. The High Ability Licensure program provides a pathway to the MS in Curriculum and Instruction with a Concentration in Gifted Education. Once you complete the licensure program only 18 credit hours are needed to complete the next level.
Also, students who complete the licensure program are eligible for the Graduate Certificate in Gifted, Creative, and Talented.

For more information, view the:

Request Information - High Ability

This program leads to an addition to an existing Indiana Instructional license. Applicants must possess a valid Indiana Instructional license for program admission. Non-Indiana applicants are not guaranteed licensure in Indiana or any other state. Contact the College of Education Office of Teacher Education and Licensure (OTEL) at licensure@purdue.edu before continuing with program application if you have questions about licensure. For those not seeking licensure, the Teaching English Language Learners Graduate Certificate consists of the same courses, but does not lead to Indiana licensure.

Please visit the Graduate Licensure Program page for information about license eligibility requirements.

Career Outlook

High ability educators frequently work with other classroom teachers to develop assignments for advanced students in regular classrooms. High ability teachers must strive to create a learning environment that is academically challenging for advanced students while remaining appropriate to students’ behavioral development. Because of the special needs of their students, gifted and talented teachers may meet more frequently with parents and administrative teams to measure student progress and achievement as part of each student’s individual talent development plan.

Job Titles

Gifted Education Specialist
High Ability Educators
Gifted Teacher
Master Teacher
Talented and Gifted (TAG) Teacher
Gifted Resource Specialist
Children Talent Developer
Gifted Educator
Talented and Gifted Educator

Courses

Students spend an average of 15 hours a week on homework. All courses are 100% online and 8 weeks long.

12 Credit Hours of Coursework

EDPS 54000: Gifted, Creative, and Talented Children

This course is an introduction to intellectual, social, and emotional characteristics of gifted youth and philosophies of gifted education. Multi-talent conceptions of giftedness, including intellectual, academic, creative, artistic, and leadership are addressed. Criteria for selecting instructional materials and methods are discussed, including the design of learning experiences for gifted, creative, and talented youth.

EDPS 54200: Curriculum and Program Development in Gifted Education

This course introduces curriculum development and program design for meeting the needs of gifted, creative, and talented students. Students will be exposed to established program and curriculum models, as well as the nuts and bolts of developing curricular plans, materials, and specialized programs that support the advanced learning needs of gifted students.
Prerequisite: EDPS 54000 and EDPS 54500

EDPS 54500: Social and Affective Development of Gifted Children

This course focuses on the social and emotional development of gifted, creative and talented students. An overview of the characteristics and needs of gifted subpopulations, diversity issues, and family/parenting concerns is provided, along with an introduction to current educational approaches and counseling interventions.
Prerequisite: EDPS 54000

EDPS 69500: Practicum in Gifted Education

The practicum in gifted education is offered through an asynchronous distance learning independent study format in order to facilitate individualization of assignments and relevance to students’ instructional settings. Students complete a variety of structured, self-directed activities that require students to develop more advanced skills and knowledge for supporting gifted, creative, and talented students. The practicum experience develops reflective practitioners who set goals for professional growth, evaluate their progress toward those goals, and continuously improve their ability to provide talent development opportunities to their students. This course requires students to work with high-ability children in an educational setting.
Pre-requisites: EDPS 54000, EDPS 54500, and EDPS 54200

Cost

The High Ability Licensure program is affordable and competitive in cost.

	In-State	Out-of-State
Total Cost Per Credit	$425	$563
Credit Hours	12	12
Total Costs	$5,100	$6,756

_{*Tuition and fees are charges on a per credit hour basis and are subject to annual increase.
*Textbooks and course materials are not included}

Admissions

The program offers rolling admissions admitting new students in fall, spring, and summer.

Program deadlines

Semester	Completed Application Deadline	TREC Request Deadline
Fall	August 1	July 1
Spring	December 15	November 15
Summer	May 15	April 15

Admissions requirements

Certified Indiana educators who wish to earn the GCT Certificate are eligible for High Ability Licensure upon completion of the program through the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). To do so they must complete the following:

Successfully pass the Indiana CORE Assessment for High Ability (testing fee applies)
Contact Purdue’s Office of Teacher Education and Licensure at licensure@purdue.edu or (765) 494-2345 especially if you are out of state to find out how your license will be applicable in your state. Purdue University has reciprocity in 49 states, but you should always contact your state licensure office for full details.
An initial instructional license is needed to apply for the additional license in High Ability. A Transcript Evaluation and Credential Review must be requested to start the process. The evaluation can take 4 – 6 weeks. The cost is $35.

You will need the following for your admissions application

Official transcripts
Statement of Purpose – 300- 500 word essay articulating how the program will help you obtain educational and professional goals
Resume
English proficiency for international students
No Application fee

For more information please see Purdue’s full application instructions and the Admissions Application Checklist

This program is subject to our Licensure Disclosure

The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions to publicly disclose to prospective and currently enrolled students whether certain programs meet the education requirements for licensure or certification in the state or territory in which they reside. “Programs Leading to Professional Licensure” is defined as programs represented to prepare students for an occupation for which, at completion of the program, a local, state or federal license, or nongovernmental certification is required (i) as a precondition for employment, (ii) to perform certain functions, or (iii) to meet additional conditions that are generally needed to secure employment.

The Purdue University Teacher Education Program is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the State of Indiana. However, not all undergraduate and graduate programs lead to an educator licensure in the State of Indiana. If your Teacher Education program includes field experience(s) and a student teaching or internship component, it may lead to an educator license in the State of Indiana, if you meet the licensure requirements. Contact your academic/faculty advisor and/or the Office of Teacher and Licensure at licensure@purdue.edu to verify your program enrollment and whether or not it leads to a license in the State of Indiana.

The State of Indiana has reciprocity agreements with other states, the District of Columbia, and territories. For licensing information contact information for individual state departments of education or visit the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) or email a Purdue University licensing officer/advisor at licensure@purdue.edu.

Visit this page to view the Licensure Program Agreement

Testimonials

The program at Purdue challenged the misconceptions I had toward gifted learners and allowed me to learn about this intriguing group of learners. I was able to understand the characteristics of each students and how to differentiate instruction to meet their needs academically. I was able to learn strategies and techniques to put to use in my classroom to create valuable learning opportunities for these students and push them to reach their potential.
MEGAN ENGELBERTH
7th Grade English Teacher
Whitley County Consolidated Schools

I enjoyed the program and challenges it presented. The only drawback I perceived was the amount of time spent on identification. I think this should be directed to general education teachers and administrators. I am already in a gifted classroom, so students are already identified. It makes me wonder how many fall through cracks because other teachers don’t know how/unwilling to properly help high achieving students.
DAVID SMYTH
5th Grade Teacher
Avon Community School Corporation

I have learned much about gifted students this year in the GCT Program. I have learned things I otherwise would not have known, had it not been for this GCT Program. It seems basic now. But I had never heard of twice-exceptional students, specific SEL curriculum for gifted students, nor the mal effects of not challenging students with gifts and talents. To say the least, I learned a great deal of valuable education about GT students.
TERESA PAUL
First Grade Teacher
MSD Wayne

The High Ability Licensure program from Purdue gave me the understanding to develop a way to reach students with high ability in more than the standard differentiation that happens in the classroom. I now know, with greater emphasis, the need to build relationships with these students and their families and to provide students with a safe community in which to thrive. Even as an online course, I was able to connect with my professors and peers daily, receive feedback in a timely manner, and have my questions answered quickly. Thank you for the experience!
MELVA A TRIPLET
Teacher
Pleasant Hill Elementary School

Questions?

Admissions:
edgrad@purdue.edu
Course Content Information:
gifteded@purdue.edu or by phone at 765-494-7241.
Course Registration, payment, drops/withdraws, and removing holds:
Purdue Online purdueonline@purdue.edu
Career accounts:
ITaP (765) 494-4000