Mississippi Substitute Teacher Requirements
Official Mississippi 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
$75
Daily Rate (avg)
Mississippi 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
Mississippi offers multiple substitute teaching license tiers based on education level. A Standard Substitute License requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. An Expert Citizen Substitute License is available for candidates with a high school diploma or GED plus at least 48 semester hours of college credit. The license type determines the scope of assignments available.
Background Check
All substitute teacher applicants in Mississippi must undergo a criminal background check including fingerprinting through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the FBI. The background check must be cleared before the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) will issue a substitute license. Applicants with disqualifying offenses will be denied licensure.
Age Requirements
Substitute teachers in Mississippi must be at least 21 years of age for the Standard Substitute License. For the Expert Citizen Substitute License, candidates must also be at least 21. This higher age requirement distinguishes Mississippi from many other states.
Application Process
Candidates apply for a substitute teaching license through the Mississippi Department of Education online licensure system (ELMS). The application requires official transcripts, background check results, and the applicable fee. District superintendents must verify the applicant's eligibility, and the license is issued by the MDE upon approval.
Substitute Teaching License
Mississippi issues substitute teaching licenses through the MDE in multiple tiers. The Standard Substitute License requires a bachelor's degree and is valid for five years. The Expert Citizen Substitute License requires a high school diploma plus 48 college credit hours and is valid for one year, renewable annually. Both licenses authorize the holder to substitute teach in Mississippi public schools.
Recommended / Optional
Training/Orientation
Mississippi does not mandate specific state-level training hours for substitute teachers, but the MDE recommends that districts provide orientation and professional development opportunities. Many districts require substitutes to attend a training session covering classroom management, district procedures, and student safety protocols before accepting assignments.
Additional Information
For more information, visit the Mississippi Department of Education Licensure page.
After Authorization: How to Actually Get Called More in Mississippi
Complete the official government process
Satisfy Mississippi'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 Mississippi, your documented reliability becomes your strongest job security.
The Real Picture in Mississippi
$75
Avg Daily Rate
$25,000
Annual (regular subs)
High school diploma
Education Floor
Often No
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 Mississippi are issued exclusively by state, provincial, and district government authorities — never by Substitute Teacher Training or any private provider.
Meet the Mississippi 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.