Missouri Substitute Teaching License

The Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education issues substitute teaching certificates to qualified applicants.

Education Requirements

You must have completed at least 60 semester hours of college credit from an accredited junior/community or four-year college.

Want to learn how to earn a professional teaching certification? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Missouri.

A directory of Missouri schools is available here. You can find schools alphabetically by school district, by county, or by guided inquiry.

Featured Programs:

Sponsored School(s)

Sponsored School(s)

All school search, finder, or match results, as well as colleges and universities displayed as "Featured School(s)" or "Sponsored Content" are advertisers that compensate us for placement on this site. The resources, editorial content, and school evaluations published on this site are developed independent of the schools that advertise here.

Liberty University

Featured Program: Undergraduate Certificate in Preschool, Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Doctor of Education

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Grand Canyon University

Featured Program: Bachelor of Arts & Science in ECE, Elem. & Sec. Education, Master of Education in ECE, Elem. & Sec. Education, and Ed. Doctorate

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Arizona State University - Online

Featured Program: The online master’s in early childhood education with certification equips current or aspiring educators with the coursework, skills and practical experience needed to become a certified teacher working in a public school with children pre-K and K-3.

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University of West Alabama

Featured Program: Choose from more than 40 certification and non-certification education programs that can enhance your career as an educator inside or outside the classroom.

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Campbellsville University

Featured Program: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (P-5); Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education - Initial Certification; Bachelor or Science in Learning & Behavior Disorders (P-12) & Elementary Education (P-5) Initial Certification

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Walden University

Featured Program: Earn a Masters of Art in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary and Special Education - leads to a licensure

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There are no specific deadlines for substitute teaching applications in Missouri. Just remember that if you apply between the peak months of April and October, it may take the Department longer to process your application. You may apply via the online certification system.

Experience

No experience is necessary in order to earn a substitute teaching certificate. If you are already a certified Missouri teacher with a valid initial, career continuous, temporary, provisional, student services, or administrative certificate, you no longer need to apply for a substitute teaching certificate.

Criminal History Background Check

All substitute teachers must pass a criminal history background check before being authorized to work with Missouri students. L-1 Enrollment Services (866-522‐7067) will conduct a LiveScan electronic fingerprint capture. You will not receive a substitute teaching certificate from the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education until your background check has been cleared.

Contact Information

Contact the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education at 573-751-0051 for more information on substitute teaching certification.