Missouri Substitute Teaching License
The Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education issues substitute teaching certificates to qualified applicants.
Education Requirements
You must have completed at least 60 semester hours of college credit from an accredited junior/community or four-year college.
Want to learn how to earn a professional teaching certification? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Missouri.
A directory of Missouri schools is available here. You can find schools alphabetically by school district, by county, or by guided inquiry.
There are no specific deadlines for substitute teaching applications in Missouri. Just remember that if you apply between the peak months of April and October, it may take the Department longer to process your application. You may apply via the online certification system.
Experience
No experience is necessary in order to earn a substitute teaching certificate. If you are already a certified Missouri teacher with a valid initial, career continuous, temporary, provisional, student services, or administrative certificate, you no longer need to apply for a substitute teaching certificate.
Criminal History Background Check
All substitute teachers must pass a criminal history background check before being authorized to work with Missouri students. L-1 Enrollment Services (866-522‐7067) will conduct a LiveScan electronic fingerprint capture. You will not receive a substitute teaching certificate from the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education until your background check has been cleared.
Contact Information
Contact the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education at 573-751-0051 for more information on substitute teaching certification.
