What does it take to be a substitute teacher in California? Here’s what is asked
READ MORE
Sacramento Teacher Shortage
School districts across the Sacramento region are struggling to fill dozens of positions, both with permanent teachers and substitutes. Teacher shortages have exacerbated the already long list of challenges schools are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Expand All
Severe teacher shortages persist in Sacramento schools. What it means for parents, students
What does it take to be a substitute teacher in California? Here’s what is asked
California has a substitute teacher shortage. Why aren’t retired educators filling in?
‘It’s just a challenge.’ Sacramento substitute describes his role amid teacher shortage
Are you thinking about a job as a substitute teacher or wondering what the qualifications are for the person taking over your child’s class?
A substitute teacher, which is a non-contracted assignment with no guarantee of work, has a primary responsibility to ensure that the classroom is a safe and secure environment, according to the Sacramento County Office of Education.
Here’s what you need to know about substitute teachers in Sacramento County including requirements, daily pay rates and more:
Your skills are put to the test
To be a substitute teacher in California public schools, you must first verify basic skills by passing one of the several standardized tests before starting the permit process. They evaluate abilities in subjects such as reading, writing and mathematics.
Here are the options for meeting the basic skills requirement:
- Pass the California Basic Education Skills Test
- Pass the California Subject Examinations for Teachers
- Pass the California State University Early Assessment Program or the CSU Placement Examinations
- Get a qualifying score on the SAT or ACT
- Use a passing College Board Advanced Placement Exam
- Pass a basic skills exam from another state
- Meet the basic skills requirement by coursework
- Meet the basic skills requirement by coursework and exam
What you need to be a substitute teacher
To serve as a substitute in California, you must have a permit and meet academic and examination requirements.
Here are the different types of permits and their requirements, according to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, which was last updated Oct. 8.
Emergency 30-day substitute teaching permit
Once you have your permit, you can serve as a day-to-day substitute teacher in any classroom, including preschool, kindergarten and grades 1 to 12 inclusive or in classes organized primarily for adults.
You can serve as a substitute teacher for no more than 30 days for any one teacher during the school year, except in a special education classroom where the you can fill in for the permanent teacher for no more than 20 days during the school year.
The permit is valid for one year and is renewable.
Here’s how to get one:
- Official transcripts showing the completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Satisfy basic skill requirement
- Completed application and if not previously submitted, a live scan receipt. Out-of-state residents must submit two fingerprint cards.
- If submitting a fingerprint card, current fingerprint processing fees must accompany the application.
- Application processing fees
Emergency substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers
With an emergency substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers, you can serve as a day-to-day substitute teacher in any classroom, including preschool, kindergarten and grades 1 to 12 inclusive or in classes organized primarily for adults.
You can serve as a substitute for no more than 30 days for any one teacher and may one serve for a maximum of 90 days during the school year. You may only serve in a special education classroom for no more than 20 days for any one teacher during the school year.
The permit is valid for one year and may only be renewed once.
Here’s how to get one:
- Official transcripts showing completion of a minimum of 90-semester units of course work from a regionally-accredited four-year college or university.
- Verification of current enrollment in a regionally-accredited four-year California college or university. This may be verified by an original letter from the registrar of the office of admissions or official transcripts showing current work-in-progress.
- Satisfy basic skill requirements.
- Completed application and if not previously submitted, a live scan receipt. Out-of-state residents must submit two fingerprint cards.
- Application processing fees.
Emergency career substitute permit
With an emergency career substitute permit, you can serve as a day-to-day substitute teacher in any classroom, including preschool, kindergarten to 12 inclusive or in classes organized primarily for adults.
You can serve as a substitute for no more than 60 days for any one teacher during the school year, except in a special education classroom, where you may serve for no more than 20 days for any one teacher during the school year.
The permit is valid for one year and is renewable.
Here’s how to get one:
- Official transcripts showing the completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Satisfy basic skill requirements.
- Verification by the employer of either three consecutive years of at least 90 days per year of day-to-day substitute teaching in the California school district requesting the permit. Or three years of at least 90 days per year of day-to-day subbing from one or more state school districts in the county requesting the permit.
- Statement of endorsement signed by the superintendent of the employing school district or county office of education.
- Verification that the employing agency will make staff development activities offered to their regular teaching staff available to the permit holder.
- A completed application.
- Application processing fee.
Emergency designated subjects career technical education permit
With an emergency designated subjects career technical education permit for a 30-day substitute teaching service you can teach in any classroom in any county that the permit is registered.
The substitute teaching will be part of a program of technical, trade or vocational education. However, you cannot serve as a substitute for more than 30 days for any one teacher during the school year.
Here’s how to get one:
- Have a high school diploma, General Education Development diploma or the foreign equivalent of a high school diploma.
- Verification by the employer of three years of work experience directly related to an industry sector. One year equals a minimum of 1,000 clock hours and the experience may be full-time or part-time, paid or unpaid.
- Completed application and if not previously submitted, a live scan receipt.
- Application processing fee.
Sacramento County daily pay rates
Effective August 4, all substitute teachers must have a valid California credential. A 30-day emergency substitute permit limits service in a single classroom to 30 days or 20 days for special education, according to the Sacramento County Office of Education.
Here are the substitute teacher’s daily pay rates.
Day-to-day - $155
Half-day - $77.50
Preferred half-day - $110
Retired SCOE teacher - $234
Completion of 20 days of successful service as an SCOE substitute teacher is preferred. The daily pay rate is $220 beginning on the 21st day with the completion of SCOE substitute training.
Any assignment four hours or less will be paid half of the daily substitute rate. Any assignment of more than four hours will receive the full daily substitute rate.
For more information on dress code, classroom guidelines and management, what to do at the beginning and end of the day, visit SCOE’s substitute teacher resource guide, which was last updated in June.
For more information on becoming a substitute teacher for the SCOE, email or call Karen Robinson at krobinson@scoe.net or 916-288-2365.
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "What does it take to be a substitute teacher in California? Here’s what is asked."