How to Make the Most of Your Experience as a Substitute Teacher

What Is a Substitute Teacher?

A substitute teacher is an educator who fills in when a regular teacher is unavailable. Substitute teaching is similar in many ways to regular teaching: being a substitute teacher still means providing instruction to a class, managing student behavior effectively, answering questions, and administering tests and quizzes. Some people might wonder whether substitute teachers are ''real'' teachers, and the answer is yes. They perform the duties of a teacher and often do so with limited time to prepare in advance. Some substitutes may take a teaching position for just one day, but others might become long-term substitutes and hold the same position for several weeks.

Although substitutes perform many of the same duties as regular teachers, there are differences between these careers. The process of becoming a substitute teacher is often less rigorous and less time-consuming than the process of becoming a regular teacher. That is because substitutes are often in high demand and do not have to guide a class of students over the course of an entire semester or school year. Some teachers, such as student teachers may start out as substitutes to gain experience and then become regular teachers later, but that pathway is not mandatory. Others might have a regular teaching career and then become part-time substitutes upon retiring or changing careers. Each state has its own guidelines regulating teaching licenses and substitute teaching requirements.

Responsibilities of a Substitute Teacher

The primary substitute teacher responsibilities are maintaining class continuity during a regular teacher's absence and providing educational materials to students. When a regular teacher has to miss work for any reason, substitutes aim to make the disruption as minimal as possible for students. They typically receive notes from the absent teacher explaining the plan for that day's class, which they then follow as closely as possible. In some cases, teachers may be unable to provide detailed notes, in which case substitutes may need to improvise or find a way to review materials that students have been working on. In any given class, a substitute teacher's responsibilities may include:

• Maintaining order in the classroom
• Delivering a lesson on new material
• Reviewing concepts students have already learned
• Providing students with activities
• Supervising a test or quiz
• Answering students' questions

Usually, substitutes are not responsible for grading student work or for facilitating student presentations, as those responsibilities are generally best left to the regular teacher in the interest of fairness and consistency. It is also not usually expected for substitutes to grade work simply because they do not have time: most substitute assignments last only a day or two. The exception is any instance where substitutes have to take over a teacher's position for a week or more. In those cases, it may be necessary to grade student work so that the class does not fall behind.

Steps to Become a Substitute Teacher

Becoming a substitute teacher is not the same as becoming a regular teacher. Being a substitute teacher is usually possible for those who have not gone through all of the training required for a regular teaching career. In fact, being a substitute teacher with no experience is neither against the rules nor uncommon in many states. Because the requirements are reasonably simple to fulfill in most parts of the country, some people who are interested in trying out teaching without fully committing to the requirements of the career may find it a useful option.

Essentially, each state sets its own requirements for substitute teachers. In most states, teachers must be over 18 and must have a high school diploma or GED. Some states also require substitute teachers to have a bachelor's degree or additional training. There are sometimes specific training courses for substitutes or requirements for letters of recommendation. Most of the time, substitutes have to pass a background check. Some states limit the number of consecutive days that substitutes can work in a single position or limit the number of days they can work in each school year. In some parts of the country, there are specific substitute teaching certificates for retired teachers that may come with their own limitations. In places where there is a major teacher shortage, some of the requirements for substitute teachers may be lifted.

Can You Become a Substitute Teacher Without a License?

Yes, it is possible to become a substitute teacher without a teaching license and without having to pass a certification exam like the Praxis test. In fact, most states do not even issue a substitute teacher license; they either issue a certificate or simply ask that candidates meet the basic requirements. There are a few states that are the exception to this rule; occasionally, states do require substitute teachers to have a full teaching license before they can start work. Washington, for instance, requires all substitutes to have full teacher licensure in addition to several other qualifications. It is always best to look at the requirements for each state for anyone considering working as a substitute. Many states offer different levels of substitute certification for those with varying qualifications. These levels are usually connected to different pay grades and different numbers of days that substitutes can work. While licensure is not always required, various forms of teacher certification may be helpful for substitutes to pursue.

Alternative Teacher Certification Guide

In most states, there is a route to regular teacher certification that is considered standard. There are usually also several other options that can lead to certification as well that are collectively known as alternative teacher certification. Sometimes, these alternative options involve having a bachelor's degree and work experience in a specific subject that is in high demand for teachers. Those with the requisite qualifications can receive teacher certification without going through the regular channels. Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers are one of the groups that benefit the most from alternative certification processes. Alternative certification may be an option for those who meet substitute teacher requirements in some states. If they can prove relevant work experience and qualifications, they may be able to apply for certification without completing all of the state's standard licensure requirements.

Types of Substitute Teacher Licenses

As noted above, each state sets its own requirements for substitute teachers. In some states, there are different types of substitute teacher licenses available depending on an individual's qualifications and experience. Some states, including California, offer a 30-day substitute teaching permit that allows teachers to work for up to 30 days on one assignment. There are also short-term and long-term substitute teacher licenses available in states like West Virginia that put varying limitations on the amount of time that teachers can spend in one class. It is even possible to become a permanent substitute teacher, which is when a substitute takes over for a regular teacher for the remainder of a school year. Those positions are rare, however, and may require further training or teacher licensure.

Another common kind of substitute teacher license is a Retired Certificate, which allows certified teachers to work as a substitute for a certain number of days each year and is typically valid for life. These certificates exist in Alaska and Hawaii and similar options exist in several other states. Some states also issue emergency substitute licenses to deal with teacher shortages. Those licenses usually have few or no prior requirements, but they also severely restrict the teaching opportunities that substitutes have. Even within individual states, some school districts set their own substitute teaching requirements, which makes it difficult to discuss substitute teaching on a broad scale.

Requirements for Alternative Routes to Substitute Teacher License

Some substitute teachers may want to pursue alternative certification to become a substitute or to become a regular teacher. For those wondering how to be a good substitute teacher, alternative certification may be a good option. There are a lot of different kinds of alternative certification and all of them have different requirements. To start with, anyone seeking alternative routes to substitute teaching must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED. Many states prefer applicants who either have a bachelor's degree or are enrolled in a college program, and it's always a good idea to ensure a teaching resume lists all qualifications.

For substitutes, the two main forms of alternative licensure are CTE teaching and emergency substitute teaching. CTE teachers, whether they are regular teachers or substitutes, can often receive alternative certification by proving their work experience and expertise rather than their formal education. Some states, like Illinois, offer a provisional CTE license for teachers who have not yet completed all requirements. Those teachers are not technically substitutes, but they may work similar hours and in a similar position to substitute teachers until their requirements for full licensure are fulfilled.

Emergency substitute licenses can be provided to substitute teachers on short notice and can be an alternative route to becoming a fully licensed substitute. In California, emergency substitutes must have at least 90 college credits and must pass basic skills testing. In Kansas, the requirements for an emergency substitute permit are just 60 college credits; no prior teaching experience is required. Many states, like Kentucky, have emergency substitute certification that is only valid for one year. In Nevada, the route to emergency certification only requires a high school diploma or GED and a letter of recommendation.

Steps to Obtain Alternative Teaching License

The steps to obtain these licenses can be variable but typically follow a similar and straightforward pattern. For substitute licensure, the process is as follows:

• Complete high school or get a GED
• Be at least 18 years old
• Apply for alternative certification according to state and district guidelines
• Complete any additional requirements, including earning some college credit
• Start working as a substitute teacher

The process is much simpler than it is for regular teachers. Substitutes with extensive experience who want to become regular teachers may be able to use their work experience to fulfill some of the requirements for an alternative certification program. It is worth researching the options for each state to see what is out there, particularly since alternative licensure requirements may be less immediately obvious on teacher certification websites.

Certification Through a Formal Alternative Teacher Preparation Program

There are dozens of different alternative teacher preparation programs for both substitute teachers and regular teachers. For those who have spent some time working as substitutes and know that they want to make the transition to regular full-time teaching, alternative certification is often a good option. Teachers who go through these programs almost always need at least a bachelor's degree, though work experience can be a substitute in some cases. They must often take specialized training courses to ensure that they are prepared to work with students from diverse backgrounds. Many states provide initial licensure for a number of years followed by full licensure once teachers have established themselves and completed all requirements.

Alternative Teacher Preparation Programs

To fully understand how alternative licensure works, consider New York's requirements as an example. New York has many different alternative teacher preparation programs, several of which might be useful for those who want to transition from being a substitute teacher to being a regular teacher. Substitute teachers in New York only technically require a high school diploma or GED, but most districts also require a bachelor's degree. Those who do already have a bachelor's degree may be well suited to the Transitional B Certificate.

Transitional B

The Transitional B Certificate is designed for those who want to become a teacher but have an alternative educational background. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in a subject relevant to what they want to teach. They must pass a test called the Educating All Students NYSTCE (New York State Teacher Certification Examinations). Candidates must then get a passing grade on the Content Specialty Test (CST) for the subjects they want to teach. All applicants are required to complete a Dignity for All Students workshop to help them provide a high-quality education. The program leads to an Initial Certificate, which usually requires a bachelor's degree from a teacher training program. Once teachers have an Initial Certificate, they must complete further requirements, including workshops on Child Abuse Identification and School Violence Intervention and Prevention. After completing several years of relevant work experience, teachers can progress to a Professional Certification.

Transitional C (Intensive) Program

The Transitional C Certificate, sometimes known as the Transitional C Intensive, is another alternative option that can help applicants complete the requirements for certification in less time than standard certification. Applicants must have a master's degree in the subject that they want to teach; beyond that, the requirements are the same as the Transitional B. Once candidates have completed their requirements, they can progress directly to a Professional Certification. The Transitional B program also requires 200 hours of coursework and 40 hours of field experience as part of the completion requirements; for those who complete the Transitional C, these requirements are waived and candidates must simply complete a teaching mentorship to round out their training.

Tips to Become an Effective Substitute Teacher

Substitute teachers have a challenging job. They have to adjust to new classrooms with limited warning and have to strive to provide consistent education for students based on the resources available. Like any career, substitute teaching takes practice. Some tips that can make the teaching process easier for substitutes include the following:

• Make an effort to follow any plans or notes as closely as possible
• Try to arrive early to get a sense of what is needed for each day
• Plan extra activities to fill time if the plan or schedule is lacking
• Leave notes for the regular teacher detailing how the day went
• Put together a bag of supplies just in case anything is missing
• Try to be flexible and accept that things might not always go perfectly
• Consider bringing name tags for students to fill out
• Be confident and assertive to maintain control of the classroom
• Treat all students with respect and compassion

Many of these tips take practice and get easier over time. There will be days for almost all substitute teachers when a class simply does not go well, and that is okay. It is a good idea for substitutes to use those bad days as learning opportunities and to try and do better in the future. In the end, substitutes are there to cover for teachers who have to be away from class. Even if students do not have as productive a day as they might have done under normal circumstances, they can still have a fun and educational experience that might even leave them with a new perspective on the subject they are learning.

Transferable Skills of Substitute Teaching

It is possible to become a substitute teacher without prior teaching experience, but some teachers might find that they already have some skills that make it easier to teach a class of students. Others might find that they build up skills while substitute teaching that can be helpful in other careers. Some of the most important transferable teaching skills that are involved in substitute teaching include:

• Communication - Teaching is all about communication and many other careers also require strong communication skills
• Confidence - Teachers need to be confident to keep students' attention, which is great for other jobs and job interviews
• Adaptability - Substitutes in particular need to be prepared to improvise and that flexibility makes workers in all fields more dynamic
• Compassion - Teaching requires compassion and respect for students, which can be good for other careers that involve people
• A Sense of Humor - Substitutes will often find that their classes run more smoothly when they can laugh at themselves

Substitute teachers provide an essential and often-overlooked service in the education world. Learning how to become a substitute teacher and how to make the most of this career choice is important because a substitute's job benefits not only themselves but also regular teachers and students of all ages.