Substitute Teacher Requirements

If a regular teacher falls ill or is on leave then a substitute teacher is asked to fill in for a limited period of time, it is a very rewarding job in terms of exposure to the teaching field. It is a very respectable part-time job which can lead to a successful career as a full-time teacher. The substitute teacher requirements in some states are at par with the regular teachers, and you will need a bachelor's degree to teach in a school. A few teaching institutes do not have stringent norms for their substitute teachers and they are a good place to start your teaching job, build your resume and get some live class room experience. A substitute teacher must have personal traits like positive attitude, adaptability and pleasant personality to become successful. Few things that go against a Substitute Teacher (Sub) are, classroom management, as it is difficult to adjust to a new environment every time, different students and comparison to the regular teachers teaching styles.

Job Description

A substitute teacher, known as a sub, is required to teach a schools curriculum in the absence of the regular teacher. A sub is called in if a regular teacher is on leave or sick, the sub will then need to teach the portion which the regular teacher could not complete or start. At times, regular teachers, if going on a planned leave, will give specific instruction regarding the portion that needs to be completed and the sub just needs to follow this road map. A sub is responsible for keeping the schools curriculum and school activities on track and promoting students learning when the regular teacher is unavailable. Like most regular teachers, substitute teacher duties and responsibilities include, lesson planning, assigning homework and even administering tests. Daily reports have to be maintained to make sure that all topics are covered, and students have understood everything that is taught. Students with learning disabilities have to be given extra attention and teaching style needs to be adjusted, so that an all round learning environment is created. Dealing with disruptive behavior is also a very important aspect of the substitute teachers requirements as fair and ethical judgment are paramount in deciding the appropriate consequences.

If you like being around children and the field of education seem to be your calling, then you will need a substitute teacher certification to work as a sub in most school districts. The requirements vary from state to state for example in California a sub is required to pass the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) to get assignments as a substitute teacher. In most states, it is required by the law to have a background check of people who come in close contact with children and a substitute teacher has to volunteer for a criminal background check. Public schools will require a fingerprint clearance from the department of justice before they hire anyone as a sub. In some states, substitute teachers are required to have the same qualifications as regular teachers, which means a sub is required to have a bachelor's degree and training from a teaching school. Teaching school training also gives an opportunity to teach students under the guidance of a certified teacher, and makes it easier to get a job as a teacher. Most states have their own evaluation tests for substitute teachers and successful completion of these tests gives you a certificate to work as a sub. The average salary can range between USD 10 to USD 30 per hour, and an experienced substitute teacher might earn anywhere between USD 25 to USD 40 per hour.

The requirements vary from state to state, but the required personality traits remain the same all round. A sub should have a passion for teaching, should be empathetic, and have a pleasant personality to build rapport with the students.