Ohio Substitute Teaching License
All short- and long-term substitute teachers in Ohio must receive a Substitute License in order to legally teach in the state. Substitute license must be designated as short- or long-term, but in either case are valid for five years and can be renewed. Short-term licenses allow you to teach in the same classroom for no more than five days, while long-term licenses allow you to teach for five days or more in the same classroom.
Want to learn how to earn a professional teaching certification? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Ohio.
According to the Ohio Center for Substitute Teachers, the pay rate for substitute teachers in Ohio ranges from $75 to $100 per day. Some districts also offer substitute teachers benefits. Contact your local school district for its pay rates and benefits status.
Education Requirements
Short-term:
You must have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Long-term:
- Early Childhood: You must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 12 semester hours of early childhood professional education
- Middle Childhood, Adolescence to Young Adult, or Multi Age: You must have a bachelor’s degree and at least 20 semester hours of education in the licensure area you seek.
- One-Year Intervention Specialist: You must have a bachelor’s degree and 12 semester hours in special education.
Experience
No experience is required to obtain a substitute teaching license. However, the Ohio Department of Education may issue a long-term career education substitute license to those with the right combination of education and experience.
Criminal History Background Check
All applicants for substitute teacher licenses in Ohio must submit to a criminal history background check. You must have your fingerprints taken at a WebCheck facility in the state and electronically submitted to the Ohio Department of Education. They will be run through both the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You will not receive a substitute license until these checks have completed.
Documents and Application Requirements
Use the Substitute Teaching License Application. All applications for substitute teaching licenses must be initiated by the employing school district, so you must complete the application and submit it to your school district. They will then submit it to ODE, who will mail your substitute license to the school district. You must include official college transcripts with your application, as well as obtain the school superintendent’s signature and submit application fees.
Contact Information
Contact the Ohio Department of Education Office of Educator Licensure at 877-644-6338 to obtain contact information for your local school district, which can provide you with more information on substitute teaching opportunities in your area.
