How to become a substitute teacher in Texas.

To become substitute teachers in Texas, candidates must complete some basic requirements, like being 18 years old, having a a high school diploma, and passing a background screening. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) does not issue substitute teacher certification, so you won’t need to pursue credentialing requirements.

Minimum Texas substitute teacher requirements, at a glance*:

• Age: 18 years old
• Education: high school diploma or equivalent 
• I-9: Employment verification to work in the U.S. 
• Fingerprinting 

In addition to Texas state requirements, Kelly Education requires:

• National Sex Offender Registry check 
• Pre-hire training 
• New hire orientation 

Since Kelly Education partners to hire substitute teachers for many school districts across Texas, we’re the experts in navigating the hiring process from initial application to employment. When your district works with Kelly Education, we assist you throughout the process.  

A deeper dive into substitute teacher requirements.

While the minimum requirements exist, some districts have more conditions beyond the state rules. For example, many schools want their high school-level substitute teachers to be at least 21 years old.  

Let’s take a closer look at the basic requirements, including the estimated costs and timeframes to complete each item.

How do I submit education verification?

First, you'll need to request transcripts to verify that you have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. However, submitting proof of college coursework can only strengthen your candidacy and expand your employment opportunities.  

In fact, some school want substitute teachers to have at least 60 college credits or a bachelor’s degree. You must request your official high school and/or college transcripts. This can take up to a week to process, and there is typically a small associated cost.  

Background check and fingerprinting.

Background checks and fingerprinting are often the longest steps in the application process. These measures are vital to ensuring student safety and well-being.  

• In Texas, the state requires all substitute teacher candidates to pass a fingerprint-based criminal history check.

• Applicants with previous fingerprint checks on file within the Texas public school system may be permitted to bypass this step.  

All Kelly Education candidates are reviewed through the National Sex Offender registry and county criminal records. This step can take up to a week, and court backups can delay the timeline. 

Do I need training to become a substitute teacher?

While the TEA does not mandate a substitute teacher certification or license, interested candidates may consider obtaining a Texas teacher certification. Official certification requires a bachelor’s degree, teacher preparation training, and an examination, but certified individuals will be eligible for higher pay rates and more employment opportunities.  

The TEA does not require a training course for substitute teachers. Regardless, all Kelly Education substitute teachers will complete pre-hire training. The free ClassSmarts training course is entirely online and requires less than two hours to complete.  

All our substitute teachers also complete New Hire Orientation. Our orientation is a paid, one-hour virtual session about Kelly Education and school district policies and expectations.  

What do I need for employment verification?

Like most jobs, substitute teachers must provide proof that they can legally work in the U.S.

• To verify your eligibility, you'll submit a federal I-9 form with acceptable forms of identification.
• If working with a Kelly Education district partner, one of our recruiters will help you with this step.

Getting started with Kelly Education and our school district partners.

Don’t delay the next chapter in your career. Kelly Education will help you every step of the way to become a substitute teacher in Texas.

To begin with one of our partner districts, fill out our interest form . We’ll contact you to answer your questions about substitute teaching, including how districts set local pay rates.  

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

About the Author

Kelly Education powers more than 10,000 schools across the country with a workforce that keeps students learning every day. From recruiting and hiring to workforce management and professional development, we provide qualified people for mission-critical roles in our schools.