How to become a substitute teacher in Missouri

To pursue a role as a substitute teacher in Missouri, you must earn specific qualifications and complete certain steps. Whether you plan to teach and are looking to gain experience as a substitute or you simply want to explore part-time and temporary opportunities, the guide below can help you on your path to becoming a substitute teacher in Missouri.

What does a substitute teacher do?

Substitute teachers fill in for full-time teachers when they are on vacation or sick or must take a longer leave of absence. Substitute teachers typically have flexible hours and schedules. In Missouri, substitutes must meet specific requirements before they are qualified to teach in the classroom. If you're interested in a career as a substitute teacher, you must first fulfill certain requirements. Then, you can teach in a variety of settings, from kindergarten through high school.

Steps to become a substitute teacher in Missouri

If you are ready to take the next step in your professional journey by becoming a substitute teacher, you'll need to meet certain academic standards and be verified for employment. The following steps cover everything you need to know to start your career as a substitute in Missouri.

Step 1: Complete academic requirements

In Missouri, you can be either a content substitute or a career tech substitute. Each track has different requirements.

Content substitute

There are two routes for obtaining a content substitute teacher certification in Missouri, both of which require education and training:

• Earn 36 semester hours in higher education at a college or university, OR
• Complete a high school degree and a training program approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). These are 20-hour programs, and you can find links to register via DESE.

Career technical substitute

This certification allows you to teach in career centers and approved vocational education programs, and you can earn it through one of three ways:

• Earn a bachelor's degree in an applicable area for the profession and have at least 4,000 hours of approved and related experience.
• Complete an associate degree in the applicable area with 5,000 hours of approved and related experience.
• Complete 6,000 hours of approved and related experience.

Step 2: Meet or complete additional criteria and requirements

You must be at least 18 years old and eligible to work in the United States to substitute teach in Missouri. You'll also need to pass a fingerprinting test and background check.

Step 3: Apply

Once you have met the academic requirements and additional criteria, you can fill out your application to substitute teach with the state of Missouri. On the application form, you can determine whether to apply as a content substitute or a career technical substitute.

Get started on edX

If you are registering for a bachelor's or associate degree program or planning to take a DESE-approved training program, you can prepare to teach as a sub in Missouri. If you want to pursue a long-term career in education, consider exploring an online master of education degree.