How to become a substitute teacher in New Jersey.

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Congratulations on your interest in becoming a substitute teacher in New Jersey. It’s meaningful work that makes a difference.

Kelly Education partners with nearly 25 school districts in New Jersey to recruit and hire substitute teachers. You will need to complete a few steps to become a certified substitute teacher in the state. The good news is that carefully following each step makes it relatively easy to start substitute teaching. If you want to work in one of our partner districts, our team will personally guide you through the steps so that the process runs smoothly.

Below, we share the credentialing requirements necessary to start substitute teaching. Remember that some school districts may require more steps beyond what New Jersey requires to become a substitute teacher. So, always look at the details of the posted job description.

Minimum New Jersey state requirements, at a glance*:

Certification: NJ teaching license or substitute certification
Education: 30 college credit hours
Employment verification to work in the U.S.
Fingerprinting
TB test

In addition to New Jersey state requirements, Kelly Education requires:

Background check
Pre-hire training
New hire orientation

A deeper dive into substitute teacher requirements.

There are several steps in New Jersey to secure a substitute teaching position. Therefore, it can take some time to be cleared to begin work once you apply for a job. You’ll need to stay on top of the process and follow up appropriately.

Let’s take a closer look at the requirements, including the estimated costs and timeframes to complete each item.

Certification.

New Jersey requires all substitute teachers to have a New Jersey Teaching License or Substitute Certification. You are eligible for a substitute teacher certification if you’ve completed at least 30 college credits.

You don’t need a substitute credential to become a substitute teacher if you hold a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS), an administrative or educational services certificate, an instructional Certificate of Eligibility (CE), or a standard instructional certificate.

Education verification.

To become a substitute teacher in New Jersey, candidates must have completed at least 30 college credit hours from a nationally accredited college or university.

Candidates will need to provide verification of enrollment or transcripts as part of the pre-employment process. Some colleges or universities charge a fee for transcripts, generally $10 to $15. Once requested, the transcripts are typically received in 3 to 5 days.

Employment verification.

Like most jobs, substitute teachers must provide proof that they can legally work in the U.S. To complete this step, you’ll submit an I-9 form with valid identification credentials. This form can be completed in just a few minutes. If working with Kelly Education, we’ll guide you through this process.

Background check and fingerprinting.

New Jersey requires a criminal history report (fingerprinting) for all substitute teacher applicants. The approval date of the background check must be within five months of the substitute teacher application for license issuance.

The total fee for the background screening is $77. Candidates who’ve been fingerprinted previously for New Jersey Public Schools, after March 2003, may be eligible to transfer or archive existing fingerprints. The cost for this would range from $6 – $30.

Additionally, Kelly Education runs an internal background check which includes the National Sex Offender Registry and 30-year criminal search.

New Jersey also requires all substitute teachers to get a TB test. The test must be administered within the last six months of the application date. You can get this test at your physician’s office, urgent care clinic, or most pharmacies. Both blood and skin tests are acceptable options. You should receive your TB results immediately following the test. Applicants must provide the test results with their application.

Training.

No statewide training is required to become a substitute teacher in New Jersey. However, it is Kelly Education policy that all prospective substitute teachers complete training to support their success on the job.

At Kelly Education, we value preparation and want our substitute teachers to feel confident one day one in our schools. That’s why we require candidates to complete a free online ClassSmarts training, a valuable resource that takes about 1.5 hours to complete. Additionally, our New Hire Orientation training is crucial to familiarize you with Kelly Education and district-specific procedures and policies.

Getting started with Kelly Education and our school district partners.

Kelly Education works with school districts throughout New Jersey to provide quality substitute teachers, and our team looks forward to working with you to launch your substitute teaching career. You can get started by filling out our interest form. From there, a Kelly Education recruiter will reach out to answer any questions you may have and explain the next steps to becoming a substitute teacher in New Jersey.

Are you ready to make a difference with flexible work that matters? Check out our substitute teacher jobs!

* Information subject to change. This is a general guideline. School districts may have more requirements, in addition to state requirements.