Ever wonder how you become a California substitute teacher? Take this simple guide on becoming a substitute teacher in California.
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Becoming a substitute teacher in California can be a great way to get your foot in the door of the teaching profession. Substitute teachers are valuable resources for school districts around the state, and they’re often needed at short notice. That means that if you are available and able to work with little notice, you’ll have no problem finding work as a substitute teacher in California.
To become a substitute teacher in California, you’ll need to meet several requirements set by the state’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). These include:
Passing the Basic Skills Examination (BSE) with a score of at least 240 out of 400 points
Passing the English Language Arts portion of this exam with at least 80% accuracy Passing the Written Communication portion of this exam with at least 70% accuracy
Obtaining at least three years of full-time teaching experience after completing your bachelor’s degree, or two years if you hold an associate’s degree
Completing a fingerprint background check
How to become a california substitute teacher
Be a US citizen
- You must be a United States citizen. If you are not a U.S. citizen, but have been granted permanent residence or asylum and intend to become a citizen within one year, you may qualify for this position by providing proof of your status.
There are no exceptions to this requirement.*
Be at least 18 years old
You must be at least 18 years old to become a substitute teacher in California. Some states allow 16-year-old high school students with special education certification or an equivalent to substitute teach. If you’re under 18, talk with your school district about becoming a student teacher before applying for this job.
A few states require teachers to be 21 years old or older—check with your state’s licensing agency if you have questions about these requirements.
If you’re under 18 and want to substitute teach, talk with your district’s personnel director about getting involved in their program for student teachers.
Have a high school diploma or GED
If you are applying as a substitute teacher to work in California, you must have either a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate.
A high school diploma is not required if you hold an associate’s degree or higher. However, it is highly recommended that applicants have at least a high school education for the following reasons:
- Better understanding of the curriculum and grade level(s) being taught
- Familiarity with AP standards and other academic requirements
- Ability to develop lesson plans and assessments according to state standards
Pass fingerprinting and background check
The next step is to pass a fingerprinting and background check. This involves submitting a completed Fingerprint Card (Form CC-FS-305) to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). There is a $49 fee for this service. The fingerprints will be submitted to the FBI and the California Department of Justice, who will conduct an investigation into your criminal history that could take up to three months to complete. You’ll receive written confirmation of their findings in form of a passing or failing letter; if they find any criminal history, it will be noted on this document as well as in your file with CTC.
If you successfully pass this step, you’ll receive both your Certificate of Eligibility for Substitute Teaching Services (Form 512) and an interim certificate valid until your permanent certificate arrives in the mail within 6 weeks’ time; as long as you’ve met all other requirements listed above by then too!
Pass a basic skills test
The Basic Skills Test is a computer-based test that assesses your basic reading, math, and writing skills. The test can be taken at any of the California Department of Education’s (CDE) district testing centers throughout the state. You will need to take a pencil or pen with you when you visit one of these centers.
A passing score on this test is valid for five years; however, it is still recommended that you complete an alternative assessment prior to applying for substitute teaching positions in California schools. If you do decide to retake the exam after passing it once before, there will be an additional fee associated with retaking the exam.
The following questions are examples from this year’s version:
- In which city was Walt Disney born?2) How many sides does a regular polygon have?3) What does “x + 2y = 10” represent? 4) Find two numbers whose product is 24.5) Name two states that border Wyoming.6 ) What number comes next in this sequence: 5, 1/3 , 7/8 , 2/3 ?
In California, substitute teachers must be at least 18 years old, pass a background check and test their basic skill set.
In order to become a California substitute teacher, you must be at least 18 years old. In addition to that, there are two more things: (1) You need to pass a background check and (2) You need to pass a basic skills test.
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing is responsible for determining which tests you need and what score they expect you to get in order to become a substitute teacher in California.
