Substitute Teaching

A short-term substitute can replace the same teacher-of-record or a vacancy for up to 20 consecutive days. To serve as a short-term substitute, the individual must hold one of the following licenses:

Short-call substitute teaching license
Lifetime substitute teaching license
A Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, or Tier 4 license

A long-term substitute is an individual filling the same position for more than 20 consecutive days and/or a teacher who will replace a teacher-of-record while the teaching is on a leave of absence. An individual must hold one of the following licenses:

A Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, or permission aligned to the assignment
Lifetime substitute teaching license
- Note: The individual's expired license must be aligned to the assignment and the individual must be filling in for a teacher on an approved leave of absence.

Short-Call Substitute
CTE Short-Call Substitute
Lifetime Substitute
Pilot: Short-Call Substitute

Short-Call Substitute Teaching License

A short-call substitute teaching license is available to individuals who hold either a bachelor's degree or are enrolled in a teacher preparation program and have completed student teaching. The short-call substitute teaching license is valid for three years.

Applicants that hold a bachelor's degree and have previously never held licensure with PELSB should apply for their short-call substitute teaching license using the Online Licensing System.

Teachers who have previously held a teaching or substitute license and are looking to renew as a substitute teacher should use PELSB's online renewal system.

If you are enrolled in a teacher preparation program, completed student teaching and have a final grade posted on your transcripts for student teaching, but do not have the degree awarded, please use the paper Three-Year Short-Call Substitute Teaching License application.

Please use the Student Teachers Serving as Substitutes resource for more information on student teacher substituting.
CTE Short-Call Substitute Teaching License

A CTE short-call substitute teaching license is available to individuals that have an AA degree, five years of work experience, or an approved certificate in one of the CTE licensure areas. Note: An individual that holds the CTE short-call substitute teaching license is only eligible to short-call substitute in a CTE classroom. The CTE short-call substitute teaching license is valid for three years.

To apply, please use the paper Three-Year Short-Call Substitute License Application.
Lifetime Substitute Teaching License

The lifetime substitute teaching license is available to retired educators who are receiving a retirement annuity as a result of previous teaching experience. A verification of retirement and collection of an annuity by an authorized retirement official will be required as part of the application.

To apply, use the Lifetime Short-call Substitute License application.
Pilot Program: Short-Call Substitute Teaching License

The pilot short-call substitute license is a joint application between an applicant and a public school district or charter school. A pilot short-call substitute licensure candidate must be provided district training and hold a minimum of an associate's degree, or a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency and at least one year of work experience as an Education Support Professional (ESP) or a Paraprofessional in the hiring district.

This short-call substitute pilot license in valid until June 30, 2025. This program does not currently allow for renewals, but may be eligible for renewal in the future after the program has been evaluated.

To apply, please use the paper application for the Pilot Short-call Substitute License.