How to Apply to Be a Substitute Teacher in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania substitute teacher how to apply. Apply Through: PDE TIMS system and individual school districts/IUs. Credential Required: Day-to-Day Substitute Teaching Permit.
PDE TIMS system and individual school districts/IUs
Apply Through
Day-to-Day Substitute Teaching Permit
Credential Required
$58
Background Check Cost
2-4 weeks
Processing Time
Philadelphia School District
Largest District
Pennsylvania: How to Apply
Pennsylvania Requirements Snapshot
Legal minimums. Real success comes from exceeding them with classroom skills.
Required
Education Requirements
Pennsylvania requires Day-to-Day substitute teachers to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Candidates applying for an Emergency Substitute Certification may have alternative educational qualifications as determined by the school entity. A Substitute Teaching Permit is available for candidates in specific circumstances with district sponsorship. Official transcripts are required for all pathways.
Background Check
Pennsylvania requires three separate background clearances for all substitute teachers: a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (Act 34), a Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services (Act 151), and an FBI Federal Criminal History Check via fingerprinting (Act 114). All three clearances must be current and on file before a substitute may begin working in any school.
Age Requirements
Substitute teachers in Pennsylvania must be at least 18 years of age. This requirement applies across all substitute certification categories issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
Application Process
Applicants apply through the Pennsylvania Department of Education's TIMS (Teacher Information Management System) online platform. The application requires official transcripts, all three background clearances, and applicable fees. For Emergency Substitute Certification, the employing school entity must initiate or support the application. Processing times vary, and applicants should allow several weeks for review.
Substitute Teaching Permit/License
Pennsylvania offers multiple substitute credential types. The Day-to-Day Substitute Certificate requires a bachelor's degree and is valid statewide. The Emergency Substitute Certificate and Substitute Teaching Permit are district-specific and may have different educational requirements. All credentials are issued through PDE and must be renewed according to their respective validity periods.
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 Pennsylvania state and district government authorities — never by any training provider.
Succeed as a Substitute in Pennsylvania
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.