How to become a substitute teacher in Rhode Island
Rhode Island's certification rules, set by the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education and run by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), let districts hire day-to-day substitutes for fewer than 45 days in one assignment. You need a bachelor's or associate's degree, or two years of college toward a four-year degree. Past 45 days in a row in the same assignment, you need a matching RIDE certificate. State law requires national and state criminal background checks.
Checked October 30, 2026 on the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE)'s own pages. Rules change; the state's page and your district have the last word.
At a glance
| Least schooling | An associate's degree, or at least two years of college on track to a four-year degree (a bachelor's degree also qualifies) |
|---|---|
| Credential | No certificate for day-to-day subs; long-term subs need a Rhode Island certificate for the assignment |
| Background check | A national and state criminal background check, started before or within one week of starting work, unless you worked for a Rhode Island school in the past 12 months. |
| Who issues it | Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) |
How to get it
- Check that you have a bachelor's or associate's degree, or two years of college toward a four-year degree.
- Apply to sub with the school district; ask about its own rules.
- After a conditional job offer, start your national and state criminal background check.
- For a long-term assignment of more than 45 days in a row, get the right RIDE certificate.
Limits and conditions
- Day-to-day subs: fewer than 45 days in the same assignment.
- School nurse teacher subs must hold a Registered Nurse license.
Ready for the first day
Sources
- Regulations Governing the Certification of Educators in Rhode Island (200-RICR-20-20-1), section 1.12 (opened October 30, 2026)
- RIDE: Certification Regulations 2025 (PDF) (opened October 30, 2026)
- R.I. Gen. Laws 16-2-18.1: Criminal records review (opened October 30, 2026)
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