Kansas Substitute Teacher Requirements
Official Kansas 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
$85
Daily Rate (avg)
Kansas 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
Kansas prefers substitute teachers to hold a bachelor's degree, but it is not always strictly required depending on the license type. For an Emergency Substitute Teaching License, candidates with 60 or more college credit hours may qualify in districts experiencing shortages. A high school diploma or GED is the absolute minimum for some emergency situations as determined by the local school board.
Background Check
All substitute teaching applicants in Kansas must pass a criminal background check that includes fingerprinting processed through the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. The background check must be completed before the license can be issued. Certain criminal convictions will disqualify an applicant from receiving a substitute teaching license.
Age Requirements
Kansas requires substitute teachers to be at least 18 years of age. This applies to all substitute license types, including emergency licenses issued during teacher shortages.
Application Process
Candidates apply for a substitute teaching license through the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) online licensure system. The application requires official transcripts, background check results, and any district-specific documentation. School districts may also require a separate employment application in addition to the state license.
Emergency Substitute Teaching License
Kansas offers an Emergency Substitute Teaching License for candidates who do not hold a bachelor's degree but meet alternative qualifications. This license is issued at the request of a school district and is typically valid for one school year. It is intended to address substitute teacher shortages in specific districts and requires district sponsorship.
Recommended / Optional
Training/Orientation
Kansas does not require state-mandated training hours for substitute teachers. Districts typically provide their own orientation sessions covering topics such as building safety procedures, student behavior management, and district technology platforms. Some districts partner with substitute staffing agencies that offer supplemental training modules.
Additional Information
For more information, visit the Kansas State Department of Education Teacher Licensure page.
After Authorization: How to Actually Get Called More in Kansas
Complete the official government process
Satisfy Kansas'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 Kansas, your documented reliability becomes your strongest job security.
The Real Picture in Kansas
$85
Avg Daily Rate
$27,500
Annual (regular subs)
High school diploma
Education Floor
Yes
License Required?
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
All State Requirements
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Kansas: Salary Guide
Kansas: Without a Degree
Kansas: Background Check
Kansas: Age Requirements
Kansas: State Credential
Kansas: How to Apply
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Kansas City Kansas Public Schools USD 500
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Classroom Skills Courses
Practical training that gets you called more
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 Kansas are issued exclusively by state, provincial, and district government authorities — never by Substitute Teacher Training or any private provider.
Meet the Kansas 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.