FAQ’s about Substitute Teaching

What are the = benefits of my becoming a substitute teacher?

The = most important benefit of becoming a substitute teacher is that you will be help= ing children and young people to continue their education in the absence of the= ir regular teacher. All education majors are encouraged to obtain substitute certification. Substitute teaching will give you = an opportunity to gain valuable experience at varying grade levels and in many different subject areas. A valid county substitute certificate is also an important bridge to obtaining a teaching position after graduation and prio= r to receiving the standard teaching license from the state.

Anot= her benefit is that the current rate of pay for substitute teachers in most sch= ool districts is between $70 and $75 per day.&= nbsp; Some districts are even higher.&nbs= p; Due to the current, extreme shortage of substitute teachers, if you = hold a valid substitute teaching certificate, you will be asked to frequently fi= ll in for absent teachers. The m= ore districts in which you apply to substitute teach, the more frequently you w= ill be called.

Why is there such a great demand for substitute teachers now?

Some of the reasons are:

§ &n= bsp; The economy is good and many people who were substitutes in the past have found full-time employment.

§ &n= bsp; New state requirements demand that teachers participate in more extensive staff development which often occurs during t= he school day.

§ &n= bsp; As the profession ages, illnesses tend to oc= cur more frequently.

But I’m a full-time/part-time student and cannot work everyday. How can I substitute?

If you are available even one day a week, especially a Monday = or Friday, school districts will be eager to employ you. When the college semester is over = or preceding/following a holiday you can contact the district and indicate that you are available on a daily basis. Keep in mind that you always have the option to decline to substitute teach on a particular day.

Am I eligible to beco= me a substitute teacher?

There are three major requirements:

§ The credits do not have to be for education courses; they may be in = any area.

§ You must not have been convicted of a felony.

§ (A simple test for tube= rculosis.)

What is the process for obtaining cou= nty substitute certification?

You = can contact the superintendent’s office or the human resources department= of your local board of education and request information about applying to be a substitute teacher in that school district. Within a day or two, you should re= ceive a packet of information which includes a district substitute teacher application, county substitute certification application information and cr= iminal background check forms.

You = will complete these forms and return them to your local board of education. The board will process the paperwo= rk locally and send the forms to the respective county/state offices. You may be interviewed by an administrator in the school district, be given a Mantoux test by a school nurse, and, if accepted, you will be recommended for approval by the board = of education to substitute teach in the district. Once your county substitute certification is issued (which may take as long as two months), your local board of education will inform you that you have been approved as a substit= ute teacher for the district. At = that point, you will be eligible to begin substitute teaching.

Are there any costs involved?

A fe= e of $75 is required to apply for your county substitute certification. In addition, a fee of $78 is due a= t the time you are fingerprinted. T= his fee covers the cost of the live-scan fingerprinting and the processing of y= our criminal history background check. There is also the additional cost(s) of obtaining an official copy of your college transcript(s).

If y= ou substitute just two to three days, you will earn back your initial investment. After that time, = you will quickly see the profit from your work as a substitute teacher.

What if I have questions about applyi= ng for substitute certification?

Cont= act your local Board of Education.

Teaching Performa= nce Center

Willis Hall 110

908-737-4185=

tpc@kean.edu