Can a substitute give a student medicine?
No. Send the student to the school nurse or the office. New Jersey's education department lists who may give medicine to students: the school physician, a school nurse, a substitute school nurse, the parent, the student when approved, and staff who volunteer and are trained for specific emergency medicines. A substitute teacher is not on that list.
Checked October 30, 2026 against the sources below.
New Jersey's memo says some emergency medicines, such as epinephrine or glucagon, may be given by school staff who volunteer and are trained and designated by the school nurse. That is a formal role set up in advance. It is not something a sub picks up on the day.
Rules differ by state and district, but the safe step for a sub is the same everywhere. Do not hand out any pill, inhaler, cream or cough drop, even one a student or parent hands you. Call the nurse or the office.
Read the teacher's health notes when you arrive. Warren Township says a sub should use any medical information the teacher left to help decide what help a student may need from the nurse or main office, and to keep it confidential.
Go deeper on Peabody Teach
Sources
- New Jersey Department of Education, Delegation of Medication Administration in School Settings (13 December 2023) (opened October 30, 2026)
- Warren Township Schools (NJ), Substitute Teacher's Handbook 2022-2023 (opened October 30, 2026)
More on safety and rules
This answers a common question in general. Your district, school and state may differ, and their word wins. Up: All questions · Substitute teachers
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