Massachusetts Substitute Teaching License

Substitute teachers in Massachusetts need not have a permit or be licensed. They are, however, expected to meet minimum qualifications. Each school district that employs substitutes must ensure that they meet these qualifications.

Education Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is necessary to substitute teach in most subjects. However, a combination of education and work experience may be accepted in certain fields.

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Experience

To substitute in business or academic fields, the work experience you must have varies according to the education you have attained, as follows:

• If you have a high school diploma or GED only, you may not substitute teach in an area without specific training in that area.
• If you have a high school diploma or GED and a certificate in a specialty area, you must have six years of work experience.
• If you have an associate’s degree in a specialty area (or an associate’s degree and a certificate in a specialty), you must have four years of work experience in that specialty area.
• If you have a bachelor’s degree not in the specialty area, you must have four years of work experience in the specialty area.
• If you have a bachelor’s degree not in a specialty area with a certificate in the specialty area, you must have three years of work experience in the specialty area.
• If you have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree with a major or minor in the specialty area you wish to teach, no work experience is required.
• If you have a master’s degree not in the specialty area but a certificate in the specialty area, you must have three years of work experience in the specialty area.
• If you have a master’s degree not in the specialty area, you must have four years of work experience in the specialty area.

Criminal History Background Check

School districts in Massachusetts will not hire you without you submitting to a criminal history background check. When you apply for a substitute teaching position with a school district, information will be given to you on how to go about completing the requirements for a criminal history background check.

Contact Information

Contact your local public school system for more information about substitute teaching opportunities.