Can subbing lead to a full-time teaching job?

Subbing lets you see many schools, grades and principals, and lets them see you. Regular subs often get asked back by the same teachers and buildings. Long-term assignments, where you teach one class for weeks, are the closest thing to the real job and look strong on a resume.

The license is the gate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says states usually require a bachelor's degree, student teaching or an approved program, a background check, and passing tests. States run their own routes, including alternative ones for career changers, so the steps differ by state.

Ask your district's sub office or HR whether it has a sub-to-teacher program, tuition help, or a priority interview for subs. Ask your state education department which licensing routes are open to you. Keep a log of where you worked and what you taught; it becomes your evidence.