The Basics of Becoming a Substitute Teacher

Substitute teachers are vital for helping schoolshave an actual teaching license to be able to
run smoothly. Sickness, appointments, andsecure a substitute license, and teaching licenses
unexpected events often mean that teachersare most often earned by earning a Bachelor's
need to leave their classrooms at the last minute,degree in education. Also, in some states your
and if a school does not have a system in placesubstitute license is limited to strictly elementary
for hiring substitute teachers, administration,or secondary education.
clerical professionals, or teachers on their breaksTips for Becoming a Substitute Teacher
are left to cover the classrooms.If you are interested in becoming a substitute
The Job of a Substitute Teacherteacher, make sure you check the requirements
Substitute teachers fill in for teachers who needfor a substitute license with your state
to be absent during classroom hours. Substitutesdepartment of education. If your state requires a
only work on regular school days, and they maybachelor's or associate's degree, look into different
fill in for half a day, a whole day, or a longeronline or campus-based education programs to
period of time. Substitute teachers implement thesee what fits best with your schedule. Even if
teacher's lesson plan, manage the classroom, andyour state does not require a particular degree, it
help students with their work. Your earnings ifmight be a good idea to take a few education or
you become a substitute teacher mayl dependchild psychology classes, as these will help you
upon your school district, your level of experience,with classroom management, implementing lesson
and the length of your sub job. School districtsplans, and understanding how children learn.
pay wages as diverse as from $45 per day toIf you can, visit a classroom to observe the
$160 per day. Some schools pay substituteenvironment and see how you enjoy working
teachers more depending on how muchwith kids. Do you prefer younger children or
post-secondary education they have, and mostteenagers? Would you like to work in classrooms
school districts pay a higher per-day rate for jobswith a variety of subjects, or are you more
that last longer than two weeks.interested in particular subjects such as Language
Requirements for Becoming a Substitute TeacherArts or Science? Knowing your preferences can
While some states require only a high schoolshow you whether you should get certification to
diploma and background check to become asubstitute teach elementary or high school.
substitute teacher, more states and schoolIf you like working with kids, consider becoming a
districts are requiring that teachers have at leastsubstitute teacher. It's an excellent job for those
some college education. For example, in Nevada,who are thinking about pursuing a career in
substitute teachers must have either a bachelor'steaching, who need flexible schedules and want to
degree (in any subject) or a minimum of 62choose what days of the week they work, or
college credits, with at least six of those credits inwho simply enjoy the adventure of a different
education-related courses. In Iowa, you mustjob every day.