How to become a substitute teacher in NYC Public Schools
New York City Public Schools asks for a bachelor's degree, English proficiency and authorization to work in the U.S., and a school principal has to nominate you before you can apply. Nominees fill in the employment forms online, are fingerprinted, pass a background clearance and take the Substitute Teacher Online Training Course. Uncertified candidates also take four NYSED workshops and create a TEACH profile. The appointment is renewed yearly.
Checked November 5, 2026 on the New York City Public Schools's own pages. Districts change their rules each school year; the district's page has the last word. We read it again by March 5, 2027.
At a glance
| Where | the five boroughs of New York City |
|---|---|
| Least schooling | A bachelor's degree, or equivalent education approved by the New York State Education Department |
| Background check | Fingerprinted and photographed (at any IdentoGO location) and cleared by the DOE's Office of Personnel Investigations. Some people already fingerprinted by the schools or NYSED need not be again. |
| Training | The Substitute Teacher Online Training Course for everyone. Without New York teacher certification, also four NYSED-approved workshops (Child Abuse Identification, School Violence Prevention, the Dignity for All Students Act, Autism) and a TEACH profile. |
| To stay on the list | The appointment must be renewed every year. |
| Daily pay | $232.70 a day, effective September 14, 2026 (as of 2026-11-05). No benefits. |
How to apply
- Get nominated by the principal of a New York City public school. Without one, fill in the General Substitute Teacher Interest Survey on the district's page; it does not guarantee a nomination.
- Complete the mandatory employment forms online, and the I-9 check if it applies to you.
- Be fingerprinted and photographed. The instructions come after the employment forms.
- Attend a processing event.
- Take the Substitute Teacher Online Training Course. Without New York certification, also take the four NYSED workshops and create a TEACH profile.
- Once cleared by the Office of Personnel Investigations, you get an email with how to start.
What New York asks first
The district's rules sit on top of the state's. In New York the least schooling the state sets is: set by each district. New York substitute teacher requirements has the state's part, from the New York State Education Department, Office of Teaching Initiatives.
Ready for the first day
Sources
- NYC Public Schools: Substitute Teaching (opened November 5, 2026)
This page explains a district's published rules in general and is not legal advice. Peabody is not part of the district. Nothing you do here is sent to us. No sign-in, no ads.