Thank you for your interest in substitute teaching and supporting the learning of our students! Our team processes applications daily and looks forward to considering you for this important role.
Once your application is complete and submitted, you will receive an invitation to complete a virtual interview. If you are selected to substitute teach, you will receive an email asking you to participate in the background check process and information to apply for your substitute teaching certificate if you do not already hold one. Finally, you will be invited to orientation.
There are several ways to become eligible for a substitute teaching certificate. Please visit the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website. Please call our office if you have additional questions.
Application Requirements
We select applicants for interviews and orientation classes based on their application information and qualifications.
Substitute Teacher and Teacher Assistant:
A current Missouri teaching certificate OR substitute certification is required, as well as experience teaching, coaching, training or volunteering with youth.
Nursing:
Qualified candidates for health services positions must have a current Missouri RN or LPN license and health care experience.
Support Staff:
Substitutes for support staff positions such as office assistant, preschool teacher, school aged childcare and lunchroom/playground supervisor, do NOT require a substitute certificate, however, teaching, coaching, training or volunteering with youth is preferred. Subbing for administrative assistants will require successful completion of an office and technology assessment.
Substitute Certificates:
Please visit the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website to apply for a content substitute certificate. Substitute teaching (Sections 168.036 & 168.037)
This act creates a 4-year certificate for individuals that want to substitute teach. Applicants for certification must complete a background check and also have at least 36 college hours or have completed a 20-hour online training. Individuals must also have a high school diploma or equivalent. An alternative route to certification is provided for qualified individuals with technical or business expertise or Armed Forces experience and a superintendent sponsorship.
Until June 30, 2025, this act allows retired teachers that have a substitute certification to substitute teach part-time or as a temporary substitute and not have those hours and salary affect their retirement allowance.
Substitute certificates will expire if the individual fails to substitute teach for at least 5 days or 40 hours in a calendar year. No individual under 20 years old may substitute in 9th through 12th grade.
The act also requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop and maintain an online substitute training program with twenty hours of training related to subjects appropriate for substitute teaching. The act authorizes school districts to develop district specific orientations lasting two hours.
Beginning January 1, 2023, the act authorizes substitute teachers that apply for a fingerprint background check the opportunity to submit the results to up to five different school districts for a specified fee.
The act adds a web-based survey to be developed and maintained by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that will collect information from substitute teachers at the end of each day of teaching. Districts will provide links to substitute teachers to access the survey, which will contain questions regarding the support and interaction with school staff, student health and safety issues, among other relevant questions.
The act requires school districts and charter schools to annually provide the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with information relating to substitute teaching as outlined in the act.
Section 168.036 contains an emergency clause.
These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 2304 (2022), provisions in HCS/HB 1750 (2022), and provisions in HCS/HB 1753 (2022).
