Become a Substitute Teacher in New York
Whether you’re contemplating a career in the field of education or are looking for your first job post-graduation, applying to become a certified substitute teacher in New York is an excellent way to gain classroom experience while expanding your professional network. A substitute teacher in New York State is defined as an individual who is employed in place of a regularly appointed teacher who is absent but expected to return.
Substitute Teaching Credentials for New York State
New York State does not offer or require a specialized certificate to become a substitute teacher. The steps to becoming a substitute teacher in New York State are governed by the following three stipulations:
- If you already hold a NYS teaching certificate, you can be employed for any length of time in any number of school districts. However, in order to be employed on a long-term basis (more than 40 days in one school district, also known as a Leave-Replacement), you must hold the proper certification (or be working toward earning certification) in the specific field of study.
- If you do not possess a NYS teaching certificate but are working towards your certification (enrolled as a full-time student of more than six credits per year), you can be employed for any length of time in any number of school districts. However, in order to be employed on a long-term basis (more than 40 days in one school district, also known as a Leave-Replacement), you must hold the proper certification (or be working toward earning certification) in the specific field of study.
- If you do not possess a NYS teaching certificate and are not working towards one, you can be employed in any capacity within a number of school districts, but cannot work more than 40 days within one school district within the same year.
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Substitute Teaching Credentials for New York City
The New York City Board of Education requires that all substitute teachers obtain a substitute license before working with the New York City Public School District. In order to apply to NYC’s substitute teaching program, individuals must be nominated by a school principal within the Board of Education’s online system. Once the nominee has passed through the online application system, he or she will be sent a list of necessary steps to obtaining a substitute license, allowing the nominee to work within the NYC public school district.
- If the individual possesses a valid New York State teaching certificate, he or she will partake in the expedited process called Fast-Track, and must present the following documents:
- Valid government photo identification (current drivers license/identification card, passport)
- Original copy of NYS teaching certificate and/or a print-out from his or her TEACH Online profile
- Valid receipt from NYC or NYS Department of Education fingerprinting unit
- $50 money order payable to: NYC Department of Education
- If the individual does not possess a NYS teaching certificate, he or she will attend an event called “Combined Assessment and Processing,” which consists of a written assessment, oral evaluation and submission of the following documents:
- Official bachelor’s degree transcript indicating date of graduation (or official master’s degree transcript if education credits have been completed.)
- $30 and $50 money order, both payable to the NYC Department of Education
- Proof of completion of EdTrainingCenter online teacher training program
- Proof of completion of Child Abuse and School Violence Prevention Workshops
- Proof of passing (or registering for) the NYS LAST exam
- Valid receipt from NYC or NYS Department of Education fingerprinting unit