How to become a substitute teacher in Rhode Island.

Congratulations on taking the first step to become a substitute teacher in Rhode Island. You’ve come to the right place to do a little research on the role. Let’s look at the minimum state requirements for substitute teaching. Note that this is a general overview, and local school districts often have additional requirements. Minimum Rhode Island state requirements, at a glance*:

• Certification: None 

• Education: Associate degree or two years of completed coursework of a 4-year degree 

• Employment verification to work in the U.S. 

• Background check 

• Fingerprinting 

A deeper dive into substitute teacher requirements. 

Rhode Island classifies their substitute teachers as day-to-day and long-term. Some school districts also hire per diem substitute teachers for hard-to-fill positions. When reviewing open substitute teaching jobs in Rhode Island, the type of substitute teaching position you'd be applying for should be indicated in the job description in the job post.

Certification.

Day-to-day substitute teachers.    

• Do not need a substitute teacher certification.  

• Can work no more than 45 consecutive days on a single assignment. 

Per diem substitute teachers.    

• Generally hired for hard-to-fill vacancies in some school districts, such as science and math. 

• Do not need a certificate and can work three to five days a week.  

• Per diem, substitute teachers also receive a stipend for every 30 days worked. 

Long-term substitute teachers.  

• Assigned to work on an assignment for more than 45 days.  

• Requires credentialing that is either (1) a Rhode Island teaching certification to teach in a particular area or (2) a preliminary certificate issued by the State of Rhode Island Department of Education that permits a substitute teacher to teach for longer than 45 days when they haven't yet met the requirements for full certification. 

Here are some of the Rhode Island preliminary certificates offered:  

• Alternate Route Preliminary Certificate. This certificate is for individuals enrolled in an approved alternate educator preparation program. 

• Career and Technical Education Preliminary Certificate. This is a certificate for persons wishing to teach secondary-grade career and technical education subjects. They must have five years of work experience in the career and technical area to be taught and a high school diploma. 

• Expert Residency Preliminary Certificate. This certificate is for individuals who have significant work experience or expertise for the position. 

• Temporary Initial Educator Preliminary Certificate. This is a certificate for individuals who have a certification in another state or have completed an approved educator preparation program. 

Candidates mail the appropriate application with all the completed requirements to the Rhode Island Department of Education Office of Educator Excellence & Certification Support Services for review. Certificates cost $100 for each area of specialization.   An Emergency Preliminary Certificate can also be issued for a substitute teacher at the school district's request when a certified and qualified applicant isn't available for a long-term need. The certificate is valid for one year for a specified certification area.  

Education verification.

To become a substitute teacher in Rhode Island, all candidates must hold an associate or bachelor's degree or have completed two years of the program they're currently enrolled in from an accredited institution.   Request official transcripts from your institution's registrar's office early in the application process. It can take up to a week to process transcript requests, and most institutions charge a small fee at the time of the request.  

Employment verification.

All Rhode Island substitute teachers must verify their U.S. employment eligibility. To prove eligibility, candidates must complete and submit an I-9 form with valid identification credentials.

Background check and fingerprinting. 

Candidates must complete a national and state criminal background check with fingerprinting. The background check must be initiated before or within one week of employment after a conditional offer of employment is issued by the school district. Applicants can initiate the background check at their local police department or state police, the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI), or the Rhode Island Attorney General's office.   The school district and candidate will be notified of the results of the background check by the office that received their submission.  

Training.

There is no state-mandated training to become a substitute teacher in Rhode Island.  

Getting started as a substitute teacher. 

Go to the State of Rhode Island Department of Education website for more information on minimum requirements. Also, check out the local district’s webpage for details about specific requirements, job description, and directions on how to apply to be a substitute teacher there.   Want more information about the role of a substitute teacher? Visit our career advice webpage. From substitute teacher dress codes to what to bring on your first day, Kelly Education shares everything you need to know about substitute teaching.

*Information subject to change. This is a general guideline. School districts may have additional requirements, in addition to state requirements.