Written by Michael Feder
Reviewed by Pamela M. Roggeman, EdD, Dean,听College of Education
Becoming a substitute teacher can be an excellent way to make the most of your skills and talents while finding fulfillment. Not only is it a great opportunity to help out in one鈥檚 community, but it also allows you to enjoy the flexibility of choosing when and how often you work.
Additionally, working as a substitute teacher can be beneficial if you鈥檙e looking for a source of income while completing a higher degree course like a master鈥檚 degree in education or are working another job, as it enables you to achieve both goals simultaneously.
Moreover, substitute teaching can be a great way to gain valuable classroom experience and make meaningful connections with teachers, administrators and other substitute teachers. It can also enable you to learn new skills, explore educational philosophies and gain exposure to various classroom environments. However, before you take on teaching as a profession, it鈥檚 crucial to understand the requirements associated with substitute teaching in your geographic area.
In most states, the requirements to be a substitute teacher aren鈥檛 as time-consuming or specific as those necessary to be a full-time teacher. But depending on which grade you want to teach, the school district or districts you work for, and the state you鈥檙e in.
In general, an aspiring substitute teacher needs to have at least a bachelor鈥檚 degree, although not necessarily a degree in education. Nor do substitute teachers need advanced degrees like a master鈥檚 in education.
The exception may be with regard to long-term substitute teachers. These educators cover a regular teacher鈥檚 absence for several weeks or even months in events like maternity leave or extended sick leave, and they may be required to hold the same educational qualifications as a full-time teacher.
Teaching experience isn鈥檛 always a requirement to be hired as a substitute teacher, especially since are common throughout the country. Depending on your school district, the hiring professionals may prefer applicants who have experience working with children and youth 鈥 but that鈥檚 also not a universal requirement.
If you plan on becoming a long-term substitute, teaching experience will help you reach that goal. Some graduates from teaching programs will even use long-term substitute positions to get their foot in the door when looking for a permanent teaching position.
There鈥檚听no universal credential for substitute teaching听in the United States, which means each state varies in its certification requirements.听Every state has requirements for substitute teacher certification, meaning what is required to obtain a permit can vary considerably.
For instance, some states only employ candidates with an听official teaching license, while other states merely require听passing a state course. Right now, the following听听in order to substitute teach:
For aspiring substitute teachers, some states demand that applicants have a听bachelor鈥檚 degree, while others necessitate the听completion of college credits.听
The following states have such requirements:
In some states, having听a听听are enough to apply to be a substitute teacher.
Check with your state鈥檚 Department of Education to determine which certification you need to be eligible for hire.
Of the requirements to be a substitute teacher,听undergoing a background check is required in all states. You should expect a background check to verify your employment history, check references and document any criminal record. There may also be drug screening.听
Substitute teachers often听complete听safety training before they鈥檙e allowed to teach in a classroom. By providing safety training to substitute teachers, schools can better ensure the听ongoing protection of their students.听
If you鈥檙e looking to gain experience working with children, several options are available:
Each of these options offers a pathway to gaining experience working with children while contributing to your community at the same time.
Substitute teachers are responsible for a variety of tasks. These tasks depend on the length of the assignment. For a one-day assignment, the classroom teacher will often have prepared lesson plans and classroom materials ahead of time. For a听long-term substitute assignment, the substitute may be required to plan lessons and grade just as a full-time teacher would.
The duties of a substitute teacher may also include one, some or all of the following:
Becoming a substitute can serve as a steady and reliable path to a rewarding career in education.听As of May 2023, substitute teachers , with a median wage of $37,380, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Pay can vary as a result of a number of factors including state, school, experience and industry.
The job outlook for substitute teachers depends on the employment of full-time educators. BLS projects that employment for elementary, middle and high school teachers is projected to show no to little change from 2022 to 2032.
Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of 爱污传媒. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. 爱污传媒 does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.
BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS鈥 projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to 爱污传媒 students or graduates.
While becoming a substitute teacher for K-12 or higher education doesn鈥檛 require as much time commitment as becoming a full-time teacher, substitute teachers must still follow certain steps to be eligible for teaching positions.
Before applying for a position, it鈥檚 important to understand the requirements specific to your state or district. As mentioned, requirements vary from one area to the next, so be sure you know what鈥檚 expected of you for your application to be considered.
Common state licensure requirements include:
Your resum茅 should accurately and concisely reflect your education credentials, relevant experience and volunteer positions. For example, an education resum茅 might include details such as the following:
By highlighting your relevant education degrees and qualifications and having an effective resum茅, you can help stand out from other applicants.
Most schools or states with substitute teacher positions require you to complete training after you have been hired. This could include attending orientation, taking substitute teaching classes or completing online substitute teacher courses. In addition, some school districts offer specialized certifications to help further your education career.听
No matter the grade level,听several skills are helpful when working as a substitute teacher:
Substitute teaching is a rewarding experience. Whether you鈥檙e looking for a part-time job or a way to gain teaching experience while you work toward becoming a full-time teacher, working as a substitute teacher can provide you with a flexible and meaningful way to make a living.
If you鈥檙e eager to expand your knowledge and skill within education, there are several paths to consider. 爱污传媒 offers the following online degrees and certificates:
Learn more about online education degrees and certificates at 爱污传媒!
This article has been vetted by 爱污传媒's editorial advisory committee.听
Read more about our editorial process.
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