The standards and requirements for substitute teaching vary widely in the United States, not only from state to state, but from school district to school district within each state. In some states, the substitute teaching policies are governed by the state board of education, while others leave requirements for substitute teachers up to each individual school district. As a general rule, more populated urban areas require higher educational attainment, many of them requiring substitute teachers to hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, while smaller, more rural areas require only a high school diploma or GED. There are some states, or school districts within states, that don’t have any educational requirements at all.

While the pay rate for substitute teachers across the United States varies quite a bit, generally speaking, it is very low. In the majority of school districts in the United States pay for substitute teachers is barely above minimum wage. Substitute teachers in United States school districts can be paid anywhere from $35 to $140 per day. One rule that tends to hold true in all U.S. states is that those individuals who have obtained a Bachelor’s degree in any subject from an accredited institution can expect a higher pay rate than those people who have earned only a high school diploma or GED.

Additional requirements in each school district also vary, with some districts requiring a substitute training course, a training session on school policies and procedures, or some other formal instruction before a candidate can serve in the school system. Others require educational coursework in an accredited institution. Most states require at the very least fingerprinting and a complete criminal background check and some form of medical clearance, often in the form of a recent, negative Tuberculosis test.

In the vast majority of states, the hiring of substitute teachers and the maintenance of a substitute teacher pool is done at the local level, district-by-district. In order to be considered for a substitute teaching position, a candidate must contact personnel from the school district in which they would like to substitute. Someone at the local level will explain the process and help the candidate complete their application and submit all additional materials to become credentialed or licensed to serve as a substitute teacher in the district. In other states, licensing is done through the state board of education, and application and materials must be submitted directly to the board.

Substituting teaching pay is low and substitute teachers do not get the same benefits that are afforded permanent licensed teachers. Due to this, the United States is suffering a severe shortage of qualified substitute teachers all over the country. No matter what school district is near you, chances are they are in desperate need of a few dedicated substitutes. So if substitute teaching is something of interest to you, and it is a financially viable option, contact someone in your preferred school district to get started in the process of becoming a certified substitute teacher.