School is almost out for the summer, so why would I be writing about substitute teaching? If you’ve thought about working part-time, summer is a great time to prepare to substitute at your neighborhood schools this fall. If you hold a current teaching license or a bachelor’s degree you can become a substitute teacher.
Most states have a licensing procedure for becoming a substitute teacher if you don’t hold a current teaching license. Just check the state’s Department of Education website and search for substitute licensing. In Colorado for instance, you can apply for a one-year, a three-year or a five-year license. All three of these licenses require the applicant be fingerprinted and results submitted to the state’s Bureau of Investigation. Licensing in Colorado costs $60 for a one-year license and $90 for the three- or five-year license. The five-year license in-state applicants must hold or have held a Colorado teaching license. An out-of-state applicant must hold an unexpired (non-Colorado) teaching license.
Requirements
I recommend applying for the three-year substitute license if you do not already hold a teaching license. The following are required for applicants of the three-year license:
- Must hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree to qualify.
- Must have copies of the official transcripts from the colleges/universities you attended.
- Must include employment history for at least the past 5 years.
All documents must be scanned and then submitted to the state Department of Education electronically. Obtaining official transcripts and having fingerprinting processed by the Bureau of Investigation can take some time, so doing this work over the summer makes sense.
Costs
Besides the Colorado licensing fee of $90, fingerprinting costs about $10, and the Bureau of Investigation processing fee is $39.50 plus the money order fee for mailing. Official transcripts may also cost between $10-$20 depending on the college. For example, Colorado State University will send you an electronic copy (no scanning for you to do later) for $11. In total, for about $150 you will be able to substitute at any school district in the fall.
Substitute pay is not the greatest. In the district where I work, I receive $100 for a full day (7 hours) and $50 for a half day (3.5 hours). The pay will vary by district so check out the different school district human resources websites for this information. Working two days as a substitute will basically cover your application fees.
Pros and Cons
What I like most about substitute teaching is working with young people and the flexible schedule. As a retired teacher I miss working with young people but I also love having flexibility. I love watching Denver Bronco football games so working part-time on weekends was out for me. I have a phone ap (Jobulator) which costs me $6 a month so I receive job openings on my phone which I can either accept or reject. After two years of subbing, I now only work at three schools in one district. Most jobs I accept days before. Since I am a planner, I rarely go to work at the last-minute. You don’t have to work just in the district where you live. With your license, you can even work for more than one school district. Again, you have that flexibility.
One downside to being a substitute is the lack of respect some students will show you. This disrespect is one reason I only work at three schools. The school administration must show me they will support me and help with any behavior problems or I will not return to the school. You have this choice as a substitute.
Most school districts have a high need for quality substitutes, so finding a job is not difficult. I didn’t even have an interview. So, if you would like a part-time job with a flexible schedule and want to work with young people, you might want to get your licensing requirements done over the summer, do some research about becoming a great substitute, and then start back to school this fall.