How to Be a Substitute Teacher in Florida
Being a substitute teacher can be an extremely rewarding job for many people who enjoy children, love learning, and have a desire to contribute to the education of the future leaders of the state.
Whether you want to be a Miami Dade County substitute teacher or a sub in any other county in the state, you’ll need to make sure that you know what’s required of you and what you need to do to earn these credentials. If you are interested in teaching within the next few weeks, consider teaching in private, charter, international, and other NYC schools – browse School Professional’s jobs and benefits information.
Florida Substitute Teacher Requirements
You first need to understand that there is no single set of requirements to be a substitute teacher in Florida. This is because each county in the state has its own regulations and stipulations, so it’s recommended that you choose the district you want to teach in before you begin the process of applying for jobs.
For example, if you have a college degree, every county in the state has deemed that your degree can be in any field. However, the testing requirements vary by district, and whether you need a college degree at all varies by district as well.
Some counties and districts require that applicants be at least 19 years old and have at least 30 completed college credits. Some counties state that if you are an education major working on completing your degree and are completing your student teaching internship, that’s enough to satisfy the requirements.
In some areas, to be a substitute teacher, Florida districts require you to complete a training course before you can begin work.
Substitute Teacher Certification in Florida
Since the requirements for student teachers are different from one county to the next, you will need to find out what the educational demands are for becoming a substitute teacher in Florida in the district or county in which you’ll be working.
Some districts offer substitute teaching positions that are “non-degreed” as well as “degreed.” In addition, some counties allow substitute teachers in Florida to take on longer assignments (those that are longer than 30 days at a time) if they have a bachelor’s degree in the subject they will be substitute teaching.
As far as an official, state-wide substitute teaching certification mandate, substitute teachers in the state of Florida are not required to have any special licensing or certification. However, there are other requirements that future Florida substitute teachers need to fulfill.
Additional Requirements Before Taking Substitute Teacher Jobs
Even though the state does not have a single set of requirements for Florida substitute teachers, there are some steps you’ll need to take that are similar for every county. This includes steps for those who want to become Miami Dade County substitute teachers.
As part of the application process, you will need to provide:
• Your work history
• Any certifications you might have
• Any special certifications (CPR, first aid, etc.)
• Professional references
• Proof of completion of a training program (if required)
• Transcripts for college credit hours (if required)
The entire state, regardless of the county, does require that any applicant who is interested in becoming a substitute teacher in Florida be fingerprinted. For this service, there is a fee.
Some counties require that you be fingerprinted once you submit an application and pay that fee. Other counties require that you complete their application, submit all of the forms that are required, and then participate in the substitute teacher training before being fingerprinted.
Once you have met all of the requirements set forth by the district in which you apply for a substitute teaching job, you’ll be qualified to fill positions as needed. However, keep in mind that if you move or want to teach in multiple districts and/or counties, you must check whether your qualifications from your current district are enough for the others in question.
How Much Does a Substitute Teacher Make in Florida?
Not only do requirements for substitute teachers vary from county to county, but so does the pay. The average Miami Dade County substitute teacher pay is not the same as it is in rural counties, such as Glades County or Lafayette County.
Just as it is with almost anything else, the school districts in metropolitan areas typically have higher pay scales than those in rural areas, largely because the costs of living are so much higher.
To illustrate, the average pay for a substitute teacher in Miami Dade County varies considerably but averages about $17.46 per hour. In Martin County, the average hourly pay for substitute teachers is currently $10.08 per hour.
Search for Florida Substitute Teaching Jobs and Apply Now
Once you’re certain that you have met all of the qualifications to become a substitute teacher in a particular county, it’s time to start searching for open positions! There are many school districts in Florida that will post a general job listing titled something like “Substitute teachers wanted.”
It’s always a good idea to answer these calls for help to get your name on a list of available substitutes when the need for one arises.
It’s much more difficult to find specific positions that are currently open due to the nature of the substitute teacher job. Schools often don’t know that a substitute will be needed until early in the morning or late the night before school when a teacher calls in sick.
Apply to Be a Substitute Teacher
However, when you look at School Professionals, an award-winning education staffing agency, you’ll always have the best window to Florida’s most in-demand substitute teaching jobs. You can search for open education positions any time it’s convenient for you from any device.
We help thousands of professionals throughout Florida find work, and in turn, we also provide the means for school districts to find the best staff to meet their needs. Less than 2% of all staffing firms in the country earn the Clearly Rated Best of Staffing Award, and School Professionals is proud to be one of them.
For access to the best positions for Florida substitute teachers and a platform that will connect you with a wide variety of professional resources, apply today with School Professionals!