Substitute teacher requirements by state
What each state asks before you can substitute teach: the least schooling, the license or permit and its name, the background check, and how to apply. Every page is read from the state's own education department and carries the date we checked it. Districts often add their own steps, so check with the district that will hire you.
Pick your state
| State | Least schooling | Credential |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | A high school diploma or an approved equivalent | Substitute License |
| Alaska | Set by each district for short-term subs | No state license for short-term subs; districts hire directly |
| Arizona | A high school diploma, GED or associate degree (Emergency Substitute Certificate); a bachelor's degree for the Substitute Certificate | Substitute Certificate or Emergency Substitute Certificate |
| Arkansas | Ask the hiring district (long-term subs need a bachelor's degree or an Arkansas license) | No state sub license on DESE's pages; districts hire subs and request long-term subs from DESE |
| California | A bachelor's degree | Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit |
| Colorado | A high school diploma or equivalent, plus experience working with children | Substitute Teacher Authorization (1-year, 3-year or 5-year) |
| Connecticut | A bachelor's degree, or a district waiver for someone without one | No license for daily subs; districts hire directly (waiver for subs without a degree) |
| Delaware | Set by each district | No state license; districts hire directly |
| District of Columbia | 60 or more college credit hours (DC Public Schools) | No license; OSSE stopped issuing substitute licenses in 2016 |
| Florida | A high school diploma or its equivalent | No state substitute certificate; each district school board hires and sets its own rules |
| Georgia | A high school diploma or GED | No state substitute certificate; each district keeps a substitute teacher list |
| Hawaii | No bachelor's degree needed for Class I, with an approved substitute certification course | Substitute teacher certification (Class I, II or III) |
| Idaho | Set by each district | No state license; districts hire directly and the state keeps a statewide sub list |
| Illinois | An associate degree or 60 semester hours (short-term); a bachelor's degree (substitute) | Substitute Teaching License or Short-Term Substitute License |
| Indiana | A high school diploma or high school equivalency | Substitute Teaching Permit |
| Iowa | An associate degree or 60 semester hours | Substitute Authorization |
| Kansas | See the state's page | See the state's page |
| Kentucky | A high school diploma or equivalent | Emergency Certificate for Substitute Teaching (one year), or the five-year or ten-year Certificate for Substitute Teaching |
| Louisiana | Set by each school system | No state substitute license found; school systems hire directly |
| Maine | Not set on the state's page; ask the district | No state substitute license; the Maine DOE issues a CHRC (criminal history) approval |
| Maryland | Set by each school system | No state substitute license; local school systems hire directly |
| Massachusetts | Set by each district | No state license for a temporary substitute; districts hire directly |
| Michigan | 60 semester hours of college credit (grade C or better) or an associate degree | Daily Substitute Permit |
| Minnesota | A bachelor's degree (or teacher prep enrollment with student teaching done) | Short-Call Substitute Teaching License |
| Mississippi | See the state's page | See the state's page |
| Missouri | 36 semester hours of college credit, or 20 clock hours of approved sub training | Substitute Certificate (Content Substitute) |
| Montana | A high school diploma or a passing GED score | No separate sub license named; districts hire under ARM 10.55.716 |
| Nebraska | 48 semester credit hours of college | Local Substitute Permit |
| Nevada | 60 semester credits of college, or an associate degree | Substitute Teaching License |
| New Hampshire | Set by each district | No state license for day-to-day subs; districts hire directly |
| New Jersey | 30 semester-hour credits of college | Substitute Credential |
| New Mexico | A high school diploma or equivalency | Substitute License (Pre K-12) |
| New York | Set by each district | No state certificate; districts hire directly |
| North Carolina | Set by each district | No state license; districts hire directly |
| North Dakota | 48 semester hours of college, or a high school diploma or GED plus online training | Substitute License |
| Ohio | A bachelor's degree for the Substitute License; the employing district's own education rules for the Temporary Non-Bachelor's Substitute License | Substitute License (or Temporary Non-Bachelor's Substitute License) |
| Oklahoma | Not set on the state pages we read; ask the hiring district | No separate substitute certificate on the state's pages; districts hire directly |
| Oregon | A bachelor's degree for the Substitute and Restricted Substitute licenses; no degree for the District Substitute license, which a district sponsors | Substitute Teaching License (also Restricted Substitute and District Substitute Teaching Licenses) |
| Pennsylvania | A bachelor's degree (or foreign equivalent) | Emergency permit (day-to-day substitute), requested by the school |
| Rhode Island | An associate's degree, or at least two years of college on track to a four-year degree (a bachelor's degree also qualifies) | No certificate for day-to-day subs; long-term subs need a Rhode Island certificate for the assignment |
| South Carolina | See the state's page | See the state's page |
| South Dakota | Not set on the state pages we read; ask the hiring district | No separate substitute certificate on the state's pages; districts hire directly |
| Tennessee | Not set on the state pages we read; ask the hiring district | No state license for subs up to 20 days in a row; districts hire directly |
| Texas | Set by each district | No state substitute certificate named on TEA's pages; districts hire directly |
| Utah | Not set in state law; ask the district | No license required; districts hire licensed or non-licensed substitutes |
| Vermont | A high school diploma | No state license; districts hire under local school board policy |
| Virginia | A high school diploma or an approved high school equivalency exam | No state license; temporarily employed teachers are hired by local school boards |
| Washington | No degree listed for the emergency certificate; a bachelor's degree for the regular one | Emergency Substitute Teacher certificate (or Substitute Teacher certificate) |
| West Virginia | A bachelor's degree | Short-Term Substitute Permit |
| Wisconsin | An associate degree | Three-Year Short-Term Substitute Permit |
| Wyoming | A high school diploma or GED (alternative path); 60 college hours or an associate degree (college path) | Classroom Substitute Teacher Permit |
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