How to become a substitute teacher in Nebraska.

There are two different pathways to substitute teacher certification to become a substitute teacher in Nebraska. One requires some college credits, while the other requires a college/university degree. 

Following are the minimum state requirements for substitute teachers in Nebraska. 

Minimum Nebraska state requirements, at a glance*: 

• Certification: Local Substitute Permit or the State Substitute Permit  

• Education: At least 60 semester credits toward completion of an educator preparation program 

• Training: Completion of Human Relations Training Course 

• Employment verification to work in the U.S. 

• Background check 

• Fingerprinting 

A deeper dive into substitute teacher requirements.

The state of Nebraska provides two pathways to substitute teacher certification: the Local Substitute Permit and the State Substitute Permit.  

For the Local Substitute Permit, you must provide transcripts showing completion of at least 60 semester credit hours toward an educator preparation program. This permit allows you to teach a maximum of 90 days in a single school year. It expires on August 31 of the fifth year, following the date of issuance. 

The State Substitute Permit allows you to teach in all Nebraska schools, and you are employed to teach on a non-contractual basis. To obtain this permit, you must have completed a teacher preparation program, and transcripts should be submitted. (A teacher preparation program is a bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, or doctorate degree.)  

For both permits, you can choose an “All School Certificate” or a “Nonpublic School Certificate.” The nonpublic permit allows you to work only in private schools, while the all-school permit allows you to work in public, private, and charter schools. 

For both pathways, applicants who lived outside of Nebraska at any time in the five years preceding the date of submitting the application must submit fingerprints. Both pathways also require that applicants register and apply through the state’s TEACH system. 

Since hiring criteria for substitute teachers may vary from district to district in Nebraska, be sure to check the specific requirements listed in the job description. 

Education requirements.

The education requirements for substitute teachers in Nebraska depend on the type of permit. For a Local Substitute Permit, you need at least 60 semester hours toward an educator preparation program. For a State Substitute Permit, you must have completed a bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, or doctorate degree. 

You’ll need to request and submit official transcripts to verify your education. Most schools and institutions charge a small fee (less than $20). Transcript requests generally take under a week to complete. 

Background check and fingerprinting.

Applicants for substitute teaching in Nebraska must submit to a background check and fingerprinting if they lived outside of Nebraska at any time in the five years preceding the date of submitting the application. Note that if you attended an out-of-state college, that counts as living outside of Nebraska. 

Employment verification.

All teacher applicants in Nebraska must verify their employment eligibility and prove 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.  

Training. 

Anyone who holds an educator certificate or permit in Nebraska is required to take a Human Relations Training course. This course covers six skills deemed necessary for educators. It can be from two to eight weeks in length and is offered periodically at various colleges and universities. Expect to pay from about $100 to $400 for the course. 

Getting started as a substitute teacher.

Substitute teaching is a rewarding career. Check the Nebraska DOE’s website and your local school districts’ websites for more information. They should provide a job description and details about how to apply to be a substitute teacher.  

Want more information about the role of a substitute teacher? Visit our career advice webpage. From substitute teacher dress codes to what to bring on your first day, Kelly Education shares everything you need to know about substitute teaching. 

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