Delaware Substitute Teacher Requirements
Official Delaware minimums (last reviewed February 8, 2026). Authorization comes only from government authorities. The real competitive edge: practical classroom skills that get you called back repeatedly.
5
Required Items
1
Optional/Recommended
$115
Daily Rate (avg)
Delaware Requirements
These are the current published minimums. Skills that exceed them are what move you to the top of district call lists.
Required
Education Requirements
Delaware requires substitute teachers to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution for a Standard Substitute Certificate. Candidates without a bachelor's degree but with at least 60 college credit hours may qualify for a Limited Substitute Certificate, which restricts the grades and subjects the substitute may cover.
Background Check
All substitute teachers in Delaware must pass a criminal background check that includes Delaware State Bureau of Investigation and FBI fingerprint screening. Additionally, applicants must pass a Child Protection Registry check. Background clearances must be obtained before the substitute can begin any classroom assignment.
Age Requirements
Substitute teachers in Delaware must be at least 18 years of age. This minimum age requirement applies to all categories of substitute teaching certificates issued by the state.
Application Process
Candidates apply for a Delaware substitute teaching certificate through the Delaware Department of Education's online DEEDS (Delaware Educator Data System) portal. The application requires official transcripts, completed background check documentation, and the applicable fee. Once certified, substitutes apply to individual districts or charter schools.
Substitute Teaching Permit/License
Delaware issues both a Standard Substitute Certificate (requires a bachelor's degree) and a Limited Substitute Certificate (requires 60 college credit hours). Both certificates are valid for three years and must be renewed through the DEEDS system. The Standard certificate allows substituting across all grade levels and subjects.
Recommended / Optional
Training/Orientation
Delaware school districts generally require substitute teachers to complete a district orientation covering school safety protocols, technology access, attendance procedures, and student behavior management. Some districts also require completion of mandatory reporter training and bloodborne pathogen awareness modules.
Additional Information
For more information, visit the Delaware Department of Education - Licensure and Certification page.
After Authorization: How to Actually Get Called More in Delaware
Complete the official government process
Satisfy Delaware's published education, background check, and application requirements. These are issued only by state and district authorities.
Install fast authority signals
Students decide in the first 90 seconds whether to cooperate. Master the specific voice, posture, and routine moves that establish calm control immediately.
Build a portable engagement toolkit
Have 5-6 repeatable tactics ready for any grade band. Subs who keep learning happening (not just managed) get requested for long-term and repeat assignments.
Earn a reputation that travels
Leave every classroom better + one precise note. In Delaware, your documented reliability becomes your strongest job security.
The Real Picture in Delaware
$115
Avg Daily Rate
$32,000
Annual (regular subs)
Bachelor's degree
Education Floor
Yes
License Required?
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
This is skills-based professional development training only. It does not constitute state certification, a teaching license, or a guarantee of employment or assignments. All substitute teaching authorization and certification is issued exclusively by government/state/provincial/district authorities.
Skills-based professional development only. Actual substitute teaching authorization, certification, permits, and credentials in Delaware are issued exclusively by state, provincial, and district government authorities — never by Substitute Teacher Training or any private provider.
Meet the Delaware Rules — Then Stand Out with Skills
Our courses focus on the exact classroom tactics that turn authorized substitutes into the ones schools request again and again. All authorization and credentials come exclusively from state and district authorities.
Substitute Teacher Training provides practical skills development and resources to help substitute teachers perform more effectively in the classroom. Actual substitute teaching authorization, certification, permits, and credentials are issued exclusively by government/state/provincial/district education authorities. Decisions about hiring, pay rates, assignments, and any required credentials are made solely by schools, districts, and state education authorities. Completion of our courses results in a Certificate of Completion for professional development purposes only. We do not issue, approve, or guarantee any form of certification or employment.
Substitute Teacher Training provides no authorization, certification, or employment guarantees. All hiring, pay, and credential decisions rest solely with schools, districts, and state education authorities.