How to become a substitute teacher in Virginia
Virginia law (Code of Virginia 22.1-302) says substitutes, called temporarily employed teachers, must be at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or pass an approved equivalency exam. No license from the Board of Education is needed. Local school boards set their own rules and may ask for more. All school hires must be fingerprinted for a state and FBI check. The Virginia Department of Education oversees schools.
Checked October 30, 2026 on the Virginia Department of Education's own pages. Rules change; the state's page and your district have the last word.
At a glance
| Least schooling | A high school diploma or an approved high school equivalency exam |
|---|---|
| Credential | No state license; temporarily employed teachers are hired by local school boards |
| Background check | School boards must fingerprint every new hire, full or part time, and send the prints to the Central Criminal Records Exchange and the FBI. |
| Who issues it | Virginia Department of Education |
How to get it
- Contact the school division where you want to sub and read its requirements.
- Make sure you are at least 18 with a high school diploma or equivalency.
- Apply to the division and meet any extra local qualifications.
- Submit fingerprints for the criminal history check after you are offered the job.
- Complete the division's orientation before your first assignment.
Limits and conditions
- A substitute filling a vacancy may serve no longer than 180 teaching days in one school year unless the Superintendent approves. This becomes 90 days on July 1, 2027.
- Filling a vacancy for more than 90 teaching days generally requires a bachelor's degree, unless the Superintendent approves.
Ready for the first day
Sources
- Code of Virginia 22.1-302: Qualifications of temporarily employed teachers (opened October 30, 2026)
- Code of Virginia 22.1-296.2: Fingerprinting required (opened October 30, 2026)
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