Education Requirements

• If you just have a high school diploma, you may serve as a substitute in an emergency situation. This allows you to teach for no more than 10 days in any one teaching assignment, up to 60 days per school year.
• If you have two or more years of college, you may serve as a substitute for up to 60 days per school year. You may have to undergo substitute teacher training, based on your school district’s requirements.
• If you are a certified teacher, you may serve as a substitute with no time limit in your certification area/grade level only.
• If you are a certified teacher, you may serve as a substitute for up to 90 days per school year in certification areas outside of your specialty.

Experience

No experience is required for emergency substitute teachers. For all others, it is assumed that you have teaching experience, as you will be required to have a teaching certificate/coursework and/or substitute teacher training.

Criminal History Background Check

All teachers, regardless of their status, must submit to a criminal history background check as part of the employment process. After submitting an application for a substitute teaching position to your local school district, you will be given instructions on how to obtain a background check. Additional information including fingerprinting locations and scheduling can be found on this site. You are responsible for paying the $55 fingerprinting fee. You will not be allowed to teach in any capacity in a Maine public school system until your criminal history background check is cleared.

Additional Information

Some Maine schools will hire substitute teachers to work with one specific grade level and/or certification area, while others will not. Check with your local school district for their rules and regulations. Substitute teachers in Maine usually make about $60 per day without a degree and $70 per day with a degree. Long-term substitute teachers who are certified may make up to $110 per day.

Contact Information

Contact your local Maine public school system for more information about substitute teaching positions that may be available. Substitute teacher positions are also posted here.