To become a substitute teacher, you apply to a school district, pass a background check and complete its training; depending on your state, you may also need a college degree or a state permit. Pay is usually set by the day, and the district rates we found ran from $110 to more than $260 a day.
This guide is for anyone thinking about subbing, whether you want flexible work, a way back into schools, or a trial run before becoming a teacher.
Substitute teachers cover classes day to day or for months at a time
A substitute covers a class when the regular teacher is out, usually following the lesson plan the teacher left. Day-to-day subs may be in a different school or grade each day. Long-term subs cover one classroom for weeks or months, often for a leave or an open position, and take on more of the regular teacher's job, including planning and grading.
Schools need subs. In the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) School Pulse Panel for June 2025, 26% of public schools said getting substitutes had become harder than the year before, while 29% said it was easier. When no sub is available, schools cover classes with other staff, administrators or teachers giving up their planning periods.
Substitute teacher requirements are set state by state
Each state sets its own rules, and some leave them to districts. The table shows 10 states as of October 2026.
| State | Minimum education | State credential |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Bachelor's degree, or a diploma or associate degree for an emergency certificate | Substitute Certificate or Emergency Substitute Certificate |
| California | Bachelor's degree | Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit |
| Florida | High school diploma or equivalent | None; districts set requirements under state law |
| Georgia | High school diploma or GED, plus four hours of training | None |
| Illinois | Bachelor's degree, or an associate degree or 60 semester hours for the short-term license | Substitute License or Short-Term Substitute License |
| New York | Set by each district | None from the state; New York City requires its own substitute license |
| North Carolina | Set by each district (Wake County: high school diploma or GED plus a training course) | None; districts set requirements |
| Ohio | College degree; a one-year non-degree license is available when a district hires you | Substitute license |
| Pennsylvania | Bachelor's degree | Emergency permit, requested by the district |
| Texas | Set by each district | None; the Texas Education Agency (TEA) issues no substitute certificate |
Sources: state education agencies, state statutes and rules, and district pages for North Carolina and Texas. Requirements change, so confirm with your state and district before you apply.
The details differ in a few large states
- Texas. The Texas Administrative Code says a district that hires an uncertified substitute "must ensure the individual has the appropriate knowledge and skills" (19 TAC §231.1 (opens in a new tab)), and each district decides what that means. Austin Independent School District (ISD) asks for at least one college credit hour. At Northside ISD in San Antonio, the lowest pay tier is for subs with 90 or more college hours. Every Texas district must run a national criminal history check, and districts may charge you the fee for it.
- California. The Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit (opens in a new tab) requires a bachelor's degree, costs $100 plus a $2.65 online fee, and is valid for one year.
- Florida. State law (opens in a new tab) requires a high school diploma or equivalent and fingerprints. Subs without teaching experience must also complete training in classroom management and instruction.
- Illinois. In an August 2022 state flyer, the Substitute License required a bachelor's degree and a $50 fee, and the Short-Term Substitute License required an associate degree or 60 semester hours and a $25 fee, reimbursed after 10 days of subbing. Confirm current fees with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
- Georgia. Substitutes aren't required to hold state certification, but they need a diploma or GED and four hours of initial training.
Everywhere, expect fingerprinting or a criminal background check before your first assignment.
Longer assignments come with stricter rules
States that allow subs without a teaching certificate often limit how long one person can cover the same class:
- California: the 30-day permit allows no more than 30 days for any one teacher in a school year, or 20 in special education.
- Georgia: a diploma-only sub can't stay in one classroom more than 10 consecutive days, and an absence of 46 or more consecutive days must be filled by a certified teacher in that subject.
- New York: an uncertified sub who isn't working toward certification can work no more than 40 days in a district in a school year, with limited exceptions.
- Pennsylvania: after 20 days covering one employee, the district needs a long-term substitute permit.
- Illinois: the Substitute License allows up to 90 days covering one teacher; the Short-Term license, five consecutive days.
Districts set their own long-term rules too. Some require a teaching certificate in the subject for long-term assignments, and many, including Austin and Northside ISDs, pay more for them.
Substitute teacher pay runs about $110 to $260 a day
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counted about 525,000 short-term substitute teachers in May 2025. Its figures leave out long-term subs, who are counted with regular teachers.
The middle half earned between $16.43 and $26.39 an hour. BLS also reports a median annual wage of $41,670, but it calculates that as if subs worked full time all year, which most don't. Daily rates are a better guide.
Pay varies widely by state. Among states with BLS estimates, average (mean) wages were highest in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. Oregon law sets a minimum for districts: $236.26 a day in 2026-27 for assignments of 10 days or less in districts with a five-day week (charter schools are exempt). Texas averaged $15.75 an hour.
Districts publish their own daily rates, usually with tiers for a teaching certificate, a degree and long-term work:
| District | Year | Daily rate | Long-term rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin ISD (Texas) | 2026-27 | $125 non-degreed, $145 degreed, $155 certified | Plus $20 a day after 20 consecutive days |
| Los Angeles Unified (California) | 2025-26 | $261.49 base rate | Not listed |
| Northside ISD (San Antonio, Texas) | 2026-27 | $110 with 90+ college hours, $120 degreed, $130 certified | $130 to $160, after 10 consecutive days (20 for the certified rates) |
| Pine Bush Central School District (New York) | 2026-27 | $134 without a degree, $140 with a bachelor's, $154 certified | Not listed |
| Wake County Public School System (North Carolina) | Current | $120 non-certified, $142 certified | Not listed |
Sources: each district's published substitute pay schedule. Chicago Public Schools pays its "cadre" substitutes $244.63 a day as of July 2026, under its teachers' contract.
Some districts pay more on certain days: Northside ISD adds $20 on Mondays and Fridays. Ask about extra pay when you apply.
How to get hired as a substitute teacher in six steps
- Check your state's rules and the district's substitute page. The district page usually lists the minimum education, any permit you need, and the pay.
- Apply to the district. Most have a separate substitute application, and some hire subs through a staffing company. Either way, you'll need references and transcripts if you have college credits.
- Complete the background check. Expect fingerprinting and a criminal history review.
- Get any state permit or license. In Arizona, California, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania, you or the district applies to the state.
- Finish training and orientation. Many districts require a short course on classroom management, safety and school procedures.
- Set up your availability. Many districts post open assignments in an online system where you can accept jobs by school, grade and date.
Apply to more than one nearby district if you want steady work. A long-term assignment is also a chance to get to know a campus before a full-time job opens.
In Texas, subbing can count toward certification
Substitute teaching won't earn you a teaching certificate on its own, but in Texas it can count toward one. Up to 15 hours of the field experience (opens in a new tab) required in an educator preparation program can come from long-term subbing, including in the two years before you're admitted.
Other states make it easier to sub while you train. New York lifts its 40-day limit for subs taking at least six semester hours a year toward certification, and Illinois lets students in an approved teacher preparation program with 90 semester hours get a Substitute License before they finish their degree.
If you're considering teaching in Texas, the guide to Texas teacher certification routes, exams and costs explains the next steps. If you'd rather work with one class every day, a paraprofessional job is another way in.
Next step
Pick two or three districts near you, read their substitute pages, and apply to the one with the requirements you already meet. When you're ready, browse substitute teacher jobs in your area.
