What is a substitute teacher and how to become one

Q: Are substitute teachers in demand?

Yes, substitute teachers are in demand. The need for substitute teachers was already an issue before the pandemic, and now it has only worsened. In the face of COVID-19, many schools now grapple with a labor shortage, and many substitutes may be wary of returning to in-person instruction.

Q: Can anyone become a substitute teacher?

Yes, anyone can become a substitute teacher, as long as they are able to pass a background check. There are some states that also require potential substitute teachers to complete a drug test as well, but this varies state to state. You also need to hold a bachelor's degree in any subject.

Q: How can I be a substitute teacher?

To become a substitute teacher, you'll need at least a high diploma, the ability to pass a background check and have the flexibility to work as needed. However, requirements to become a substitute teacher vary by state and school district.

Q: How hard is it to become a substitute teacher?

It is not very hard to become a substitute teacher, you just need to meet the requirements for where you live. Substitute teachers need to pass background checks. There are some states that require potential substitute teachers to complete a drug test as well, but this varies state by state. You also need to hold a bachelor's degree in any subject.

Q: How long does it take to get a substitute teacher license?

It can take anywhere from 20 hours to four years to get a substitute teacher license. Substitute teacher license requirements vary from state to state and from school district to school district.

Q: Is being a substitute teacher worth it?

Yes, being a substitute teacher is worth it. This is true whether you are just starting a career in teaching or thinking about a career in teaching and want to learn more or for those just looking to make some extra money with a flexible part-time job.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Carolyn Dekker

Substitute teachers are temporary educators who stand-in for regular teachers in the classroom when they are absent. Substitute teachers are responsible for maintaining a safe and productive learning environment, following the lesson plans left by the regular teacher, and ensuring that students stay on task. They may work in multiple schools or districts and must be able to easily adjust to new environments. Communication skills are important as substitute teachers often interact with school administrators, parents, and other staff members.

What general advice would you give to a Substitute Teacher?

Carolyn Dekker

Assistant Professor, English, Finlandia University

The Coronavirus pandemic is changing workplaces and job searches. Since many workplaces continue to operate remotely, students who wish to work in writing and communication roles while remaining in this small, rural community may find unique opportunities, thanks to the unhinging of work from geography.

Many of our recent English graduates want to become teachers. As school re-opening plans reveal themselves to be unsafe (mainly for teachers in at-risk age and health demographics), schools are anticipating a wave of teacher retirements and an elevated need for substitute teachers. Recent graduates may want to sit for teaching certification exams. Many states, including Michigan, have an alternate-route teaching certificate path that will issue a temporary certificate so that you can work as a teacher while pursuing a Master's in Education part-time.

ScoreSubstitute TeacherUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $32,904

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

4.5

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.50%

Asian 7.70%

Black or African American 11.84%

Hispanic or Latino 16.04%

Unknown 5.86%

White 58.07%

Gender

female 72.84%

male 27.16%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress Level

4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

5.4

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Substitute Teacher?

Pros

Flexibility in scheduling
Opportunity to work in different schools and classrooms
Ability to choose which assignments to accept
Chance to positively impact students' lives
Variety of subjects and grade levels

Cons

Difficulty in establishing relationships with students and staff
Uncertainty about daily assignments and locations
Limited control over curriculum or teaching style
No guarantees of regular work or income
Limited ability to provide long-term support or continuity for students

Key steps to become a substitute teacher

Explore substitute teacher education requirements

Most common substitute teacher degrees

Bachelor's

67.4 %

Associate

12.9 %

Master's

12.8 %

Start to develop specific substitute teacher skills

Skills	Percentages
Kids	19.33%
Math	14.99%
Help Support	14.12%
Language Arts	12.41%
ESL	12.17%

Research substitute teacher duties and responsibilities

Manage the classroom environment and help students to learn in the absence of the regular teacher with grades levels k-5.
Manage substitute teaching responsibilities in elementary and secondary school including ESL and bilingual programs.
Lead classroom management activities including attendance while coordinating lesson plan delivery for consumer science, physics and mathematics classes.
Maintain effective classroom management contracts and apply advanced math teaching strategies in middle and high school align with common core standards.

Prepare your substitute teacher resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your substitute teacher resume.

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Choose From 10+ Customizable Substitute Teacher Resume templates

Build a professional Substitute Teacher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Substitute Teacher resume.

Apply for substitute teacher jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a substitute teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do substitute teachers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Substitute Teacher reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022

Pros

Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days

Cons

Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Pros

Ability to share knowledge and guide students in learning new things.

Cons

Some students' non-challant attitude towards learning.

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020

Pros

To experience a new scope of life.

Cons

Slow response to my quest for work as a value quick response for my result oriented mind.

What is a substitute teacher and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Substitute Teacher?

What are the pros and cons of being a Substitute Teacher?

Substitute Teacher career paths

Key steps to become a substitute teacher

Explore substitute teacher education requirements

Most common substitute teacher degrees

Start to develop specific substitute teacher skills

Research substitute teacher duties and responsibilities

Prepare your substitute teacher resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Substitute Teacher Resume templates

Apply for substitute teacher jobs

How Did You Land Your First Substitute Teacher Job

Average substitute teacher salary

How do substitute teachers rate their job?

Substitute Teacher reviews

Substitute Teacher FAQs

Are substitute teachers in demand?

Can anyone become a substitute teacher?

How can I be a substitute teacher?

How hard is it to become a substitute teacher?

How long does it take to get a substitute teacher license?

Is being a substitute teacher worth it?

Search for substitute teacher jobs

Substitute Teacher jobs by state