Applying for:

Emergency Substitute Teaching Permit For Prospective Teachers (one-time renewal)

Allows you to:

Work as a day-to-day substitute teacher in any public school before you have earned your bachelor's degree.

A red octagon shape surrounded by a gray border Before You Apply

You will need to obtain your fingerprint clearance specifically for the Commission. If you already have valid fingerprints on file with the Commission, it is not necessary to fingerprint each time you apply for a credential or permit. However, if your fingerprints are expired then you must re-establish fingerprints. Details on how to check your fingerprint status can be found at Check Application Status.

The online application will require you to answer questions related to your professional fitness. Please review How to Complete the CTC Online Professional Fitness Questions before completing the application. If you must answer "yes" to any of the professional fitness questions, please gather all documentation, including any required police reports, certified court records, and miscellaneous documents related to the incident and have them ready to upload as attachments along with the materials for verifying academic requirements listed below. If any of the records have been purged or are otherwise not available, provide an original statement from the agency on its official letterhead verifying that fact.

A green circle surrounded by a gray ring Ready to Apply?

The items below are required for this application. The Commission reserves the right to request the original(s) of any supporting documentation by mail to ensure authenticity.


ItemImportant Details and Tips
Previously issued an Emergency Substitute Permit for Prospective Teachers
  • You must have been issued the Emergency Substitute Teaching Permit for Prospective Teachers before in order to be able to apply for the one-time renewal. It does not need to be currently valid (not expired).
  • It is not necessary to attach anything as proof, since the Commission will already have this information if you were issued the Emergency Substitute Teaching Permit for Prospective Teachers before.

Transcripts showing an additional 15 semester units of coursework (or the equivalent in quarter units) completed since the issuance date of the previous permit

  • The colleges or universities must be regionally accredited 4-year colleges. Coursework completed at a junior college or community college is not acceptable.
  • Submitting paper transcripts: 
    • Upload a scan of the original, official paper transcripts. Clear photographs will also be accepted. All pages, front and back, must be included in the upload. 
  • Submitting electronic transcripts:
    • Upload the original file sent to you by the college or transcript service provider.

Continued enrollment in a regionally accredited 4-year California college or university
  • Continued enrollment can be verified with ONE of the following:

An original letter from the registrar of the office of admissions at the regionally accredited 4-year California college or university where you are currently enrolled.

Official transcript showing current work-in-progress.

  • The school must be a regionally accredited 4-year college or university. Enrollment at a junior college or community college is not acceptable.
  • The school must be either located in California OR have a Commission-approved program. Currently the only two Commission-approved programs that are located outside of California are Western Governors University in Utah and the University of Phoenix. Aside from these two schools, all other schools must be geographically located in California, even if you are taking online courses.

Important Notes:

  • This checklist is ONLY for submission of an online application.
  • This web-based checklist is a guide and does not need to be uploaded with the online application.
  • Full details on qualifying for the one-time renewal of the Emergency Substitute Teaching Permit For Prospective Teachers can be found on CL-505d under Requirements for the One-Time Renewal.
Updated December 16, 2025