Statistically, it is both a good and bad time to enter the field of substitute teaching. According to research from the Institute of Substitute Teachers at Utah State University, nearly 10% of all certified teachers in school systems across the country are absent on any given day. That amounts to well over 310,000 substitutes being needed. (2004 NEA Estimates of School Statistics) This equals out to each student spending a full year with a substitute by the time they graduate high school. It can be a burden trying to run a school efficiently if they do not have enough substitutes to fill this gap. These schools need helpful people like you willing to come in as guest educators.
The rise of teacher absences without proper replacements is the leading cause of low test scores. Many times the absences result in nothing more than a free period for the students instead of a day of learning. Without a teacher or replacement, students may be left with nothing but “quiet time”. Too much “quiet time” and you have students falling behind in the classroom. Because of this trend, many states are relaxing their substitute teacher requirements. In the United States, only one state requires full teacher certification for their substitutes. More often, states are just trying to fill gaps any way possible. This is shown by the 28 states that simply require an applicant to be over the age of 18 and hold a high school diploma or GED. This lax of education policy is why the national pay average for a substitute teacher is a mere $65 per day. They receive no health insurance (unless they join a national substitute organization), and no other benefits. They will pay for their own lunches while at the school. Many times they will be called out during an assignment to help in another school project. There are simply too many absences for too few substitute teachers.
Substitute teaching is a difficult and low paying career. However, it does reward the applicant by sheer flexibility of schedules and the knowledge of helping a child learn. Many subs develop a ‘bag of tricks’ with puzzles and stickers to keep children engaged while still having fun. The limit of your substitute teaching career is set by you alone. You will always be in demand if you keep a good outlook and a pleasant disposition.
Do’s
Be fair
Be consistent
Be positive Keep kids busy
Keep your cool
Follow lesson plans
Stop disruptions early
Talk to kids individually if there is a disruption
Move around class
Learn each child’s name
Be on time, even better-be early
Be self-confident
Know the Emergency procedures
Introduce yourself, even better-write it on board
Leave the room picked up and clean
Greet class as they enter
Dress appropriately
Lock doors when you are gone from the classroom
Don’ts
Scream or lose control of yourself
Threaten any child
Embarrass the disruptive child
Ignore the rule breakers
Leave class unattended
Punish all the class for one child’s disruption
Assign “lines” to be written, or any other mindless distraction
Sit at the desk all day
Put an angry hand on a child
Criticize anything about the absentee teacher
Get offended easily
Tell students if the lesson plans are poor
Make things up-if you don’t know, tell them so
Discuss your school kids outside of class
Discuss your personal life
Use negativity
States have different requirements for substitute teaching. Below are the general state requirements for substitute teaching. You will need to contact your individual state to see if other requirements are in place at a local level.
Alabama
Title: Substitute Teacher License
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: High School Diploma/GED
Initial Validity Period: 5 years
Renewable: No
Subsequent Validity Period: 5 years
Renewal Requirements: Must reapply
Other Info: Some school districts may require fingerprinting or background checks
Alaska
Initial Validity Period: 20 days
Other Info: Varies by school district
Arizona
Title: Substitute Certificate
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: BA
Initial Validity Period: 6 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 6 years
Renewal Requirements: Valid fingerprint clearance card and renewal form
Arkansas
Other info: Varies by school district
California
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: BA
Initial Validity Period: 1 year
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 1 year
Other Info: C-BEST and fingerprinting
Colorado
Title: 1 year Substitute
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: High School Diploma
Initial Validity Period: 1 year
Renewable: No
Subsequent Validity Period: 1 year
Renewal Requirements: Reapply
Other Info: Successful Experience around children
Title: 3 year Substitute
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Initial Validity Period: 3 years
Renewable: No
Subsequent Validity Period: 3 years
Renewal Requirements: Reapply
Other Info: Pass Colorado basic skills test and an oral English Proficiency Test
Title: 5 year Substitute
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Initial Validity Period: 5 years
Renewable: No
Subsequent Validity Period: 5 years
Renewal Requirements: Reapply
Other Info: Hold valid certificate or license, or previously held a Colorado certificate or license and meet 3 year requirements
Connecticut
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: Can get a waiver on BA based on background check and experience with children
Other Info: Over 40 days may apply via district
Delaware
Title: Permit
Initial Validity Period: No limit
Other Info: Varies by district
Title: Class A
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: Must hold or be eligible to hold a standard Delaware Teacher Certificate
District of Columbia
Title: Substitute License
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: BA
Initial Validity Period: 2 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 2 years
Renewal Requirements: Submit renewal form
Other Info: Background check
Title: Limited Substitute License
BA Needed: No
Academic Background Required: 60 hours
Initial Validity Period: 2 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 2 years
Other Info: Background check
Florida
Other Info: Varies by District
Georgia
Other Info: Varies by District
Hawaii
Title: Substitute Teacher Certificate
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: 12 hours in Department of Education
Initial Validity Period: 5 years
Renewable: Yes (each year)
Subsequent Validity Period: 5 years
Renewal Requirements: May need to retake course
Other Info: Training program, background checks, fingerprinting, and interview with a school principal
Idaho
Other Info: Varies by district, background checks
Illinois
Title: Substitute Certificate
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: No
Initial Validity Period: 4 years
Renewable: No
Subsequent Validity Period: 4 years
Renewal Requirements: Reapply
Other Info: Need temporary Employment Authorization, a regular certificate, BA or 2 years Experience
Indiana
Title: Substitute Teacher Certificate
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: No
Initial Validity Period: 3 years
Renewable: No
Subsequent Validity Period: 3 years
Renewal Requirements: Reapply
Other Info: By district, criminal background checks
Iowa
Title: Substitute Teacher License
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: Regular Teachers Certificate required
Initial Validity Period: 5 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 5 years
Other Info: Complete Approved Teachers Preparation Program or eligible for the Provisional License
Kansas
Title: Substitute Certificate
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: Teacher Education Program
Initial Validity Period: 5 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 5 years
Renewal Requirements: 5 hours of credit or 100 in-service points or equivalent of both
Title: Emergency Substitute Certificate
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: 60 hours in Education
Initial Validity Period: 1 year
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 1 year
Other Info: Only 60 days
Kentucky
Title: Certificate for Substitute Teaching
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: Teacher Education Program
Initial Validity Period: 5 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 5 years
Renewal Requirements: Must reapply
Other Info: Issued by State
Title: Emergency Substitute Teacher
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: Yes
Academic Background Required: 64 semester hours
Initial Validity Period: 1 year
Renewable: No
Other Info: Varies by district
Louisiana
Other Info: Varies by parish
Maine
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: No
Other Info: Varies by district, fingerprinting, Only 60 days
Maryland
Other Info: Varies by district
Massachusetts
Other Info: Varies by district
Michigan
Title: Substitute Permit
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: Yes
Academic Background required: 90 hours consolidated at a 4-year accredited college or university
Initial Validity Period: 1 school year (150 days)
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 1 school year (150 days)
Other Info: Apply to school district, background check
Minnesota
Title: Short call
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: BA
Initial Validity Period: School year
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: School year
Other Info: Apply to district
Title: Long call or Full Time
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: Yes
Academic Background Required: BA in Education
Initial Validity Period: School year
Subsequent Validity Period: School year
Title: Limited Permit
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: Yes
Academic Background Required: BA
Initial Validity Period: School year
Mississippi
Title: Long term
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: Yes
Academic Background Required: No
Other Info: 20 days only
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: No
Other Info: By district
Missouri
Title: Substitute Certificate
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: 60+ semester hours of credit
Initial Validity Period: School year
Renewable: No
Renewal Requirements: Reapply
Other Info: Apply by district, background check
Montana
Other Info: Varies by district (only 30 consecutive days)
Nebraska
Title: Substitute Teacher Certificate
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: BA in Education
Initial Validity Period: 5 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 5 years
Other Info: Fingerprint Clearance Card (unless a Nebraska resident for 5+years)
Title: Local Substitute Teacher Certificate
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: Yes
Academic Background Required: 60 hours
Initial Validity Period: 1 year (40 days per year)
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 1 year
Nevada
Title: Substitute License
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: 62 hours, 6 must be in Education
Initial Validity Period: 3 years
Renewable: No
Subsequent Validity Period: 3 years
Renewal Required: Granted By State Department of Education
Other Info: Fingerprinting
New Hampshire
Other Info: Varies by district
New Jersey
Other Info: By Country
New Mexico
Title: Substitute Teacher License
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: Yes, for initial substitute
Academic Background Required: High School Diploma/GED
Initial Validity Period: 3 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 9 years
Renewal Requirements: Renewal Form
Other Info: 18 years of age to teach K-8; 21 years of age to teach 9-12; fingerprinting
New York
Initial Validity Period: Max 40 days per year
Other Info: by district
North Dakota
Title: Certified
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: Teaching Certificate
Initial Validity Period: 2 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 2 years
Renewal Requirements: Renewal Application
Other Info: Fingerprinting
Title: Emergency
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: Yes
Academic Background Required: BA
Initial Validity Period: 1 year
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 1 year
Other Info: BA in content area
Ohio
Title: Short term (less than 5 days)
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Initial Validity Period: 5 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 5 years
Renewal Requirements: Recommendation by district superintendent
Title: Long term (more than 5 days)
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: 20 hours or 12 hours in Education
Initial Validity Period: 5 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 5 years
Renewal Requirements: Recommendation by district superintendent
Oklahoma
Title: No Certificate
Other Info: by district, only 20 consecutive days
Oregon
Title: Substitute License
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: Teachers Certificate, BA in area content
Initial Validity Period: 3 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 3 years
Title: Restricted Substitute License
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: Yes
Initial Validity Period: 3 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 3 years
Renewal Requirement: by district
Other Info: 60 days per school year only
Pennsylvania
Title: Certified
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: Yes to the school
Academic Background Required: Teachers Certificate
Initial Validity Period: 3 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 3 years
Renewal Requirements: by district
Other Info: background checks, fingerprinting
Title: Emergency
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: Yes
Initial Validity Period: 1 year
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 1 year
Rhode Island
Title: Certified
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: Teachers Certificate (approved teacher program) or previous certificate as professional educator
Initial Validity Period: 1 year
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 1 year
Title: Emergency
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: Yes
Academic Background Required: BA in content area
Initial Validity Period: 1 year
Renewable: by district
Subsequent Validity Period: 1 year
Renewal Requirements: if no Certified subs are available
Other Info: Must advertise for certified subs
Utah
Academic Background Required: High School graduate
Other Info: by district
Vermont
Academic Background Required: High School graduate
Other Info: by district
Virginia
Academic Background Required: High School graduate
Other Info: by district, 18 years of age (21 preferred), attend orientation by local school division
Washington
Title: Regular
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: Teachers Certificate
Initial Validity Period: No limit
Other Info: by district
Title: Emergency
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: Yes
Initial Validity Period: Up to 3 years or less
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 2 years
West Virginia
Title: Substitute Permit
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: BA with 2.0+ GPA
Initial Validity Period: 3 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 3 years
Renewal Requirements: 12 hours in-service
Other Info: by district, orientation, fingerprinting
Wisconsin
Title: Regular Teaching Permit
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: No
Academic Background Required: Teachers Certificate
Initial Validity Period: 5 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 5 years
Title: Substitute Permit
BA Needed: Yes
Verification Needed: Yes
Academic Background Required: BA
Initial Validity Period: 3 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 3 years
Other Info: Orientation Program
Wyoming
Title: Substitute Permit
BA Needed: No
Verification Needed: No Academic Background Required: 65 semester hours credit or 24 hours in service/10 hours mandatory in observation
Initial Validity Period: 5 years
Renewable: Yes
Subsequent Validity Period: 5 years
Renewal Requirement: 5 hours in Continuous Education, or Equivalent workshop hours
Other Info: Must take US/WY constitution or equivalent test, fingerprinting, or background check
Want to become a substitute teacher? Check your state’s Board of Education website for details:
Alabama
http://www.alsde.edu/html/home.asp
