How to become a substitute teacher in Virginia.

Whether you’re looking for a flexible and meaningful job or hoping to gain real world teaching experience, substitute teaching is an opportunity worth pursuing. 

Kelly Education is passionate about finding qualified people to lead classrooms when teachers are absent. In fact, we hire tens of thousands of substitute teachers each year for districts across the country. Let’s check out the requirements to become a substitute teacher in Virginia. Keep in mind that you should also read your district’s job description, as local schools can request additional qualifications. 

Minimum Virginia state requirements, at a glance*:

• Certification: None required  
• Education: High school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate 
• Experience: Two years of full-time postsecondary education or two years of work experience with children 
• Age: 18 years old 
• Employment verification to work in the U.S. 
• Background check 
• Fingerprinting 
• School district orientation program 

In addition to Virginia state requirements, Kelly Education requires:

• Pre-hire training 
• New hire orientation 

A deeper dive into substitute teacher requirements.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) does not require a license or certification to become a substitute teacher in Virginia. However, it can take several weeks to go through the process of verifying that you meet the basic qualifications. So you’ll want to stay on top of deadlines and be patient as you go through the process of getting all the documentation materials collected. 

Education verification.

Virginia substitute teacher candidates must possess either a high school diploma or a GED. In addition, Virginia’s administrative code for substitute teachers mandates either two years of full-time postsecondary education or two years of work experience with children (often verified by local districts through reference checks). Request your transcripts and contact your references early in the process to avoid delays. Note that there may be a fee associated with the transcript requests. 

Employment verification. 

Your employer will request a completed federal I-9 form confirming your legal eligibility to work in the United States. The I-9 requires copies of valid identification credentials. Substitute teaching candidates with Kelly Education will complete this step electronically with help from our team. 

Background check and fingerprinting.

The VDOE requires all substitute candidates to complete fingerprint screening through an identity management service called Fieldprint. Applicants can schedule an appointment online and visit one of their dozens of locations throughout the state. This must be completed during the onboarding process if working with Kelly Education. Our team will provide you with the district information and code needed to complete the correct fingerprinting. 

Substitute teachers must pass a state-level background check through the Virginia Department of Social Services. For this step, complete a Central Registry Release of Information form.  Candidates must get this form notarized and submit with a $10 processing fee. 

Beyond the VDOE background check and fingerprint screening, Kelly Education goes further to ensure student safety. We will run a National Sex Offender registry check on all our candidates. 

Training.

According to Virginia state law, all substitute teachers must attend orientation about the school’s policies and procedures. If working for a Kelly Education district, we also require all our substitute teachers to complete a free pre-hire ClassSmarts online training course. This course provides valuable content, including teaching ethics, the legal obligations of educators, and classroom management techniques. 

Before entering a classroom, Kelly Education substitute teachers complete a New Hire Orientation module. Available online, this session is a paid onboarding seminar that shares Kelly Education and district-specific procedures and policies. 

Getting started with Kelly Education and our school district partners.

Kelly Education recruits, supports, and develops exceptional substitute teacher candidates so they can focus on what matters most — making a positive impact on students. Sound like something you want to do?

If you’re interested in learning more about a substitute teaching opportunity at one of our districts, fill out our form. A Kelly Education recruiter will contact you to talk next steps in finding substitute teacher jobs near you! 

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