How to apply to be a substitute teacher.

With a nationwide teacher shortage, substitute teachers are in more demand than ever. Not only do they positively impact young students, but they also help students continue learning when their teacher is absent. 

If you’re considering becoming a substitute teacher, we encourage you to apply. Over the past 25+ years, Kelly Education has helped tens of thousands of substitute teachers enter classrooms across the country. So, we’re the experts in helping candidates through every step of the application process. 

Understanding substitute teacher requirements.

You’ll need to know the guidelines for becoming a substitute in your state and school district. Each state has its own substitute teacher requirements to become a substitute teacher. For example, some states require you to have a bachelor’s degree, while others require only a high school diploma. Some school districts may require specific onboarding training, certifications, or teacher shadowing. 

The state requirements are on the state department of education’s website or you can check this article to find minimum requirements in your state. You may want to contact your local school district to discover any district-specific requirements which can be higher than the state minimum. 

Below are the most common application methods. 

Apply through the school district.

Local school districts usually post substitute teacher jobs on their website. Often times it includes a job description with specific job duties spelled out. They can also tell you where to apply to be a substitute teacher.  

If you meet the basic state-level requirements, the school district may ask for additional information, including: 

• Standard application 

• Employment eligibility verification 

• Mandated Reporter Training (to ensure proper reporting for suspected child abuse) 

• Payroll paperwork 

• Criminal background checks 

• Verification of substitute training 

Find substitute teacher jobs on job boards.

The internet has replaced the local newspaper as the place to find a job. School districts now not only post open substitute teaching opportunities on their website, but also on social media pages and online job boards or aggregators.  

Examples of online job boards include Indeed, LinkedIn, and our favorite (our own) myKelly. Some districts also hire outside companies, like Kelly Education, to hire and train substitute teachers. More on that application process below. 

Do an internet search.

You can search for “substitute teaching jobs near me” or “substitute teaching jobs in Maryland” or the state where you want to work. A few other good search terms include; education jobs, special education jobs, and Kelly sub. 

Here are few more tips to get the best results when searching the internet: 

• Use quotation marks around your search topic to get more specific results. 

• Use a minus sign to exclude words in your search. “Substitute teaching jobs-high school.” 

• Use parenthesis to search for multiple jobs at the same time. “Substitute teaching jobs (science OR elementary).” 

Attend a community job fair.

Community job fairs are an excellent resource for anyone looking to substitute teach. They present an opportunity to meet the school’s hiring team and make a great first impression. You can do many things to ensure you make the best impression and complete most of them before the teacher job fair begins: 

• Research the hiring district before you go to the job fair so you can know what they may expect. 

• Write down your questions, so you don’t forget to ask them. 

• Choose an outfit that is professional and appropriate for substitute teaching so recruiters can see you will follow school dress code policies, usually found on the school district’s website. 

• If you have prior teaching experience or experience working with youths, bring references. 

• Create a brief statement to introduce yourself and practice it before you go. 

• Create a resume and make multiple copies to give to recruiters. Resumes should include accomplishments, certifications, experience related to substitute teaching, and anything else showcasing your abilities. 

Note that you don’t necessarily need a formal resume to apply to become a substitute teacher. However, it is still a good idea to create one. It gives the recruiter an easy way to conduct a brief review of your experience and skills. 

When attending a teacher job fair, have a positive attitude and be confident. You have likely already accomplished many outstanding professional achievements worthy of confidence. Be proud of yourself for taking this next step! 

Inquire with an education staffing agency.

Your local school district may work with a recruiting and hiring company to help them find the best substitute teachers. Recruiters are experts in uncovering the qualities of the people with the most potential for success. You can contact them directly for guidance and information on how to apply to be a substitute teacher. 

For example, at Kelly Education, we will have you fill out an online form. Then a recruiter will contact you to walk through the entire application and hiring process. 

Our onboarding specialists will help you complete the application correctly and efficiently so you can get to work soon after you apply. Remember that there are steps to the process that involve third parties that provide documentation. So you’ll want to get started as it can take a few days to a few weeks to have background checks completed and receive your transcripts. 

Apply now with Kelly Education.

Substitute teaching is a great way to start a career in education. It gets your foot in the door with the school district where you want to work while you gain experience and new skills.  

If you’re wondering, “Where are substitute teacher jobs near me?” go ahead and fill out our brief interest form. One of our recruiters will contact you to answer your questions and share more about opportunities to become a substitute teacher with one of our school district partners.