Can I work as a substitute teacher while in college?

No matter your age or degree major, substitute teaching while in college offers many benefits. It can help to pay for tuition, living expenses, student loans, or simply provide extra spending money. If you love working with students, now is the time to apply to be a substitute teacher. 

The good news is that most states allow college students to work as substitute teachers. In fact, many give preference to those candidates who have college credits. 

Let’s dig into some considerations for working as a substitute teacher while in college. 

Do I meet the substitute teaching state requirements?

Every state has its own requirements. Some even want substitute teachers to have a license or permit. So, you’ll want to review your state’s requirements to become a substitute teacher. Here are a few examples of state minimum requirements: 

• Florida requires you to be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent. 

• New Mexico requires a high school diploma, but then asks for two other requirements if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree. 

• Wisconsin requires substitute teachers to obtain a substitute teaching certification and at least an associate degree from an accredited program, but then it makes emergency exceptions for college students. 

In all states, fees are typically associated with becoming a substitute teacher. This includes background checks, fingerprinting, and transcript requests. 

Note that school districts also have different hiring processes and may have additional requirements for choosing substitute teachers. The district website should have more details about the job description and application process. 

Can I perform the substitute teacher duties and responsibilities?

College is a busy time—especially depending on your course load. Can you split your focus to give both the appropriate attention? 

Here’s some of the more common substitute teacher duties: 

• Implement lesson plans following the teacher’s instructions. 

• Manage and report conduct problems following a school district’s policies and procedures. 

• Communicate information and assignments to students. 

• Hall or recess monitoring, when not teaching in the classroom. 

• Provide notes and progress information to the teacher. 

Which type of substitute teaching jobs can I work?

One of the best reasons to become a substitute teacher is the flexible options you have. The following are different types of substitute teaching opportunities: 

• Short-term substitute teachers often fill in for a teacher for a day or two, maybe a week. 

• Long-term substitute teachers cover class for weeks or months. 

• Special education substitute teachers work with students with special needs. 

• Subject matter-specific substitute teachers focus on one subject. Note that math, science, and special education focused experts are in high demand. 

• Paraprofessionals or paraeducators assist classroom teachers. 

There are also other roles in schools that need substitutes, such as counseling, nursing, custodial, cafeteria, librarian, or administrative support. If you have skills in these areas, we encourage you to apply as well. 

Can I get a scholarship to work in education?

An added benefit of working as a substitute teacher while going to college is that there are educator-specific scholarships. 

To help with the national teacher shortage, some foundations and organizations create scholarships to help those who want to work in K-12 school districts. 

So, if you’re majoring in an education-related field you can not only get your foot in the door with substitute teaching experience, you may also have a better shot at getting scholarships by showing your commitment while in school. 

Check out this article to learn more about college scholarships for educators. 

Apply to be a substitute teacher while in college.

Whether you just started college after high school or went back later in life as an adult, substitute teaching is a great way to earn money while getting valuable experience. 

Wondering where are the Kelly Education substitute teacher jobs near me? Fill out our brief interest form and one of our recruiters will contact you to answer your questions and share more about opportunities to become a sub teacher with one of our school district partners. 

If your district doesn’t work with Kelly Education to hire substitute teachers, check out your local school district’s website. It should have an employment section that includes how to apply and a job description. If not, reach out to their human resources team.