How to become a substitute teacher in Nevada.

As one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S., there’s a high demand for people to become substitute teachers in Nevada. Are you interested in flexible work that makes a difference in students’ lives?

Kelly Education partners with school districts in Nevada and across the country to hire substitute teachers. That means we’re experts in helping candidates understand state requirements. 

Below are the minimum substitute teacher requirements in Nevada. Keep in mind that individual districts and charter schools can have additional qualifications listed in their job description. 

Minimum Nevada state requirements, at a glance*:

• Certification: Nevada substitute license OR Emergency substitute license 
• Education: Associate degree or 60+ college credits OR High school diploma for emergency certification 
• Age: 18 years old
• Employment verification to work in the U.S. 
• Fingerprinting 

In addition to Nevada state requirements, Kelly Education requires:

• Background check 
• Pre-hire training 
• New hire orientation 

A deeper dive into substitute teacher requirements. 

There are two paths to becoming a substitute teacher in Nevada. One is a more traditional route, and the other is for emergency district needs. Either way, you must meet a few requirements—and also be patient as you work through the timeline of gathering your application materials. Let’s take a closer look. 

Certification. 

In most cases, you must obtain a Substitute Teaching License issued by the Nevada Department of Education. Applicants must have an associate degree or at least 60 semester credit hours from an accredited college or university. You can check the Nevada Department of Education website for a list of all institutions that meet this criterion.  

This substitute teacher certification is valid for five years, allows you to teach all subjects in all grade levels from Pre-K to 12th, and allows you to teach for an unlimited number of days.  

To apply for this license, you must create an OPAL account. The application and supporting documents are submitted electronically. It can take 4 – 8 weeks for an application to be processed, and you’ll receive text notifications as it moves through the process. The license fee is $180, with a $50 military discount for all active duty, retired veterans, and their spouses. 

In special cases, the Department of Education can authorize a school district to hire an emergency substitute teacher and waive the college credit requirement. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent. It is valid for one year, and there are limitations on how many days a substitute teacher can work. 

Education verification.

Transcripts must be submitted for each school or institution attended. Sometimes, there’s a small fee to request the transcripts. It can also take a few days to a few weeks. 

Employer 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.

Nevada requires fingerprint screening for all applicants, and fingerprints go through the Nevada DOE during the application process. They can be submitted using a fingerprint card (generally available at any police station) or electronically via Livescan. Check here to find a Livescan location near you. 

Although Nevada does not require a background check, Kelly Education runs a National Sex Offender registry check and county criminal check on our applicants. 

Training.

Nevada doesn’t require extra training to become a substitute teacher. 

Kelly Education, however, requires that all substitute teachers complete a pre-hire ClassSmarts online training that covers topics such as classroom management techniques, legal obligations of educators, and ethics of teaching. It takes about 60-90 minutes.

New hires must also complete our New Hire Orientation module. This paid, online orientation acquaints new teachers with Kelly Education and district-specific procedures and policies. 

Getting started with Kelly Education and our school district partners. 

Kelly Education is excited to help you become a substitute teacher. If you’re interested in teaching in one of our partner schools in Nevada, we’d be more than happy to help guide you through the steps to reach your goal. 

Simply fill out our interest form, and a Kelly Education recruiter will reach out to discuss the process in more detail, answer any questions you have, and let you know what opportunities are available near you. We’re eager to help you embark on a new and exciting career! 

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