Florida
Background Check

Background Check Requirements for Substitute Teachers in Florida

Florida substitute teacher background check. Background Check Type: FDLE and FBI fingerprint. Approximate Cost: $56.

FDLE and FBI fingerprint

Background Check Type

$56

Approximate Cost

1-3 weeks

Processing Time

Florida Department of Education

Administered By

Every 3-5 years

Renewal Period

Florida: Background Check

Florida background check: FDLE and FBI fingerprint (Background Check Type); $56 (Approximate Cost); 1-3 weeks (Processing Time); Florida Department of Education (Administered By); Every 3-5 years (Renewal Period). Larger cities in this guide: Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, St. Petersburg. Jacksonville is the largest listed city, population 949,611, out of 20 cities on file. Example districts: Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Broward County Public Schools, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Orange County Public Schools. Notes specific to this Florida page: usually late summer before the school year begins; approximately $56. Florida state record: a separate substitute license is not required in this record; a background check is required. Cost-of-living index 102. Region: southeast.

Florida Requirements Snapshot

Legal minimums. Real success comes from exceeding them with classroom skills.

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Required

Education Requirements

Florida requires substitute teachers to hold a minimum of a high school diploma or GED combined with at least 48 semester hours of college credit from an accredited institution, or an associate's degree. A bachelor's degree is not required. Some districts may set higher education standards at the local level.

Background Check

All substitute teachers in Florida must undergo a Level 2 background screening, which includes fingerprinting processed through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the FBI. This screening checks for any disqualifying criminal offenses. The background check must be cleared before the substitute can be assigned to any school.

Age Requirements

Substitute teachers in Florida must be at least 18 years of age. There is no maximum age limit for substitute teaching in the state.

Application Process

Florida substitute teachers apply directly through the school district in which they wish to work. Each district manages its own substitute pool and may use online application systems or partner with staffing agencies. Required documents typically include transcripts, valid government-issued identification, and background check authorization.

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.

Practical skills training only. Actual substitute teaching authorization, certification, permits, and credentials are issued exclusively by Florida state and district government authorities — never by any training provider.

Succeed as a Substitute in Florida

Practical skills training that helps you stand out once you have met the government's authorization requirements. We do not issue credentials or guarantees.

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 does not issue substitute teaching authorization, credentials, or employment. All decisions rest solely with state education authorities, provincial ministries, and local school districts.