Becoming a Substitute Teacher in Maryland: Certification & Requirements

<h2 id="section---SummaryOfMarylandSubstituteTeacherRequirements">Summary of Maryland Substitute Teacher Requirements</h2> <p>Maryland substitute teacher requirements vary from county to county, but most counties require you to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Relevant experience can be often an additional prerequisite; however, you do not need to obtain a license or certification. To be sure about the specific requirements needed, you must ask the local school district you are interested in. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education/Experience Required </td><td> Bachelor's degree and relevant experience</td></tr> <tr><td> Exams Required</td><td> None</td></tr> <tr><td> Certification Required</td><td> None</td></tr> <tr><td> Annual Mean Wage (2018)* </td><td> $58,850</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 10% (teachers and instructors, all other, nationwide)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---EducationRequirements"> Education Requirements</h3> <p>The most common educational qualification to become a substitute teacher in Maryland is typically a bachelor's degree; however, some school districts may accept candidates who have an associate's degree (or at least 60 college credits) and experience working with students or have completed a teacher preparation program. In addition, some desired qualities for substitute teachers in Maryland could include: </p> <ul><li>Knowledge of basic educational principles and teaching methods </li><li>Experience or knowledge in the subjects areas you are seeking to teach </li><li>Ability to create lesson plans if none are available </li><li>An understanding of common assessment tools </li><li>Excellent written and oral communications skills </li><li>Being able to work at least 45 days during the school year </li></ul><h3 id="section---EmploymentConditionsAndRequirements"> Employment Conditions and Requirements</h3> <p>Most counties request that applicants are 18 years old or older. In some cases, applicants must also pass a substance abuse test and background check. Since many school district use call-in or online scheduling systems, you'll need to have access to them to find and accept assignments. </p> <h3 id="section---DutiesAndCareerAdvancement"> Duties and Career Advancement</h3> <p>As a substitute teacher, you can enjoy flexibility and freedom while acquiring the relevant experience to become a permanent teacher. In Maryland, you need at least 3 months of satisfactory service as a long-term substitute to be credited with the experience necessary to become a permanent teacher. </p> <p>Your duties and responsibilities as a Maryland substitute teacher vary depending on what classroom you are in, but they could include implementing lesson plans and leading classroom instructional activities, conducting basic skills tests, entering records, tracking student progress, and supervising students.</p>