Substitute Teaching

Educators that hold a valid document issued based on completion of a bachelor's degree and the basic skills requirement are authorized to serve as day-to-day substitutes.  Valid credentials that were issued prior to February 1, 1983 and required the holder to complete a bachelor's degree and professional preparation program are also authorized to serve as day-to-day substitutes, even though the holder may not have met the basic skills requirement.

Substitute teachers have limitations regarding how long they are able to serve in a substitute capacity in a school year for any one teacher of record:

• No more than 30 cumulative days in any one general education classroom; and
• No more than 20 cumulative days in any one special education classroom.

This rule includes fully credentialed teachers serving as substitutes, unless that teacher is serving as a substitute in the subject or disability area(s) authorized by their credential; such fully credentialed teachers can serve as substitutes in classes that match their area of certification indefinitely.

• Substitute Teaching Assignment Options
• Substitute FAQs

Passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 167 temporarily extends substitute teaching limitations for the 2021-22 school year. Refer to Credential Information Alert (CIA) 21-04 for more information.

Executive Order N-3-22 offers County Offices of Education temporary staffing flexibilities in response to staffing shortages related to Omicron-driven COVID-19 cases. These provisions expire March 31, 2022. Refer to Coded Correspondence 22-01.

The 2022 Education Omnibus Budget Trailer Bill continued the extension of the number of cumulative days a substitute teacher can serve in the classroom for one teacher of record until July 1, 2023.  The following substitute timeframes apply until that date:

•  Holders of any Commission-issued document that authorizes substitute teaching in a general or special education classroom, including: 1) substitute permits, 2) full teaching credentials, and 3) emergency permits may serve for 60 cumulative days in either general or special education settings;
• Holders of any Commission-issued document that authorizes substitute teaching in a career technical education classroom, including: 1) Career Technical Education credentials, and 2) Career Technical Education substitute permits can substitute for 60 cumulative days in CTE settings.