Missouri Substitute Teacher Requirements

<h2 id="section---OverviewOfSubstituteTeacherRequirementsInMissouri">Overview of Substitute Teacher Requirements in Missouri</h2> <p>Substitute teachers take the place of a full-time educator for different periods of time, and in order to become a substitute teacher in Missouri, one must first apply for and receive certification. There are two different types of substitute teacher certificates: content substitute and career technical substitute. The career technical substitute teaches areas such as carpentry, welding, and nursing, while a content substitute teaches K-12 students in standard subjects such as English and math as well as art, PE, and music. Continue reading to find out more on the specific requirements, pay, and outlook for substitute teaching in Missouri. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Education Required </td><td>60 college credit hours (content substitute); bachelor's degree, associate's degree, or occupational experience (career technical substitute)</td></tr> <tr><td>Exams Required </td><td>None</td></tr> <tr><td>License Validity Period </td><td>4 years, renewals are also valid for 4 years</td></tr> <tr><td>Average Salary (2018)* </td><td>$27,580</td></tr> <tr><td>Job Growth (2016-2026)* </td><td>7%-8% kindergarten through high school teachers nationwide</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---EducationAndCertificationRequirements">Education and Certification Requirements</h3> <p>Missouri requires that all content substitute teachers have at least 60 earned college credit hours. A career technical substitute is required to have a bachelor's degree and 4,000 hours of experience or an associate's degree with 5,000 hours of experience. If the substitute does not have a degree, 6,000 approved hours of experience related to the area they wish to teach will suffice. An official transcript is required as part of the application for either substitute teacher certification. </p> <p>For educators who are already licensed with one of several types of certificates, a substitute certificate is not required. Missouri certificates that waive the substitute certificate include lifetime, student services, provisional, and professional, among others. </p> <h3 id="section---StepsForCertification">Steps for Certification</h3> <p>Applicants for certification are required to create an application on the DESE website (Department of Elementary &amp; Secondary Education). They are also required to complete a background check through the website, as well as submit their college transcripts via mail. </p> <p>To apply for certification, follow these steps: </p> <ul><li>Log into the DESE page and choose Educator Certification System, then Substitute Certificate. </li><li>Complete the certificate application. </li><li>Applicants will be required to pay a $50 processing fee at this time. </li><li>Obtain and mail all official college transcripts. </li><li>Submit fingerprints. </li></ul><h3 id="section---RenewalRequirements">Renewal Requirements</h3> <p>Once an applicant has completed the previously mentioned steps and obtained their certificate, it will remain valid for four years. Once the certificate has expired, or is near expiration, an applicant must reapply by following the same steps. The renewal will include the $50 processing fee, as well as the application submission. If an applicant has previously submitted all relevant college credit transcripts, they will not be required to resubmit them. If an educator has not been employed in a substitute teaching role in the current school year, they will need to complete a new background check. Renewed certificates will also be valid for four years. </p> <h3 id="section---SalaryAndOutlook">Salary and Outlook</h3> <p>Based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, teaching positions in both elementary and secondary education are estimated to grow at 7% and 8% from 2016 through 2026. As of 2018, the average salary for a substitute teacher in Missouri was $27,580, based on an average hourly rate of $13.26. The Missouri Department of Education lists the range of substitute teacher hourly rates as $11.47 to $25.33 (the highest being a master's degree holder).</p>