How to become a substitute teacher in Texas
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) lists substitute teachers among school workers who must be fingerprinted before they start work. TEA's pages we read do not name a state substitute certificate, so the hiring district sets the schooling and training it wants. Many districts ask for some college, but that varies, so check with the district you want to work for.
Checked October 30, 2026 on the Texas Education Agency's own pages. Rules change; the state's page and your district have the last word.
At a glance
| Least schooling | Set by each district |
|---|---|
| Credential | No state substitute certificate named on TEA's pages; districts hire directly |
| Background check | Fingerprint-based criminal history check before starting work; substitutes hired through staffing agencies are fingerprinted through TEA. Schools also check the Do Not Hire Registry. |
| Who issues it | Texas Education Agency |
How to get it
- Pick the district or staffing agency you want to sub for and read its substitute job posting.
- Apply to that district and meet its education and training rules.
- Complete fingerprinting before your first day, as TEA requires for substitutes.
- If you sub through a staffing agency, get fingerprinted through TEA, not the district's fast pass.
- Finish the district's orientation and get added to its substitute list.
Ready for the first day
Sources
- TEA: Fingerprinting for employees, applicants and contractors (opened October 30, 2026)
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