Connecticut Substitute Teaching License
Becoming a substitute teacher in Connecticut usually requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college. Most substitutes with that degree don’t need a separate state substitute certificate. That degree lets you substitute in any district for up to 40 days per assignment, and longer placements only require 12 semester hours in the subject taught. Every substitute must also clear a state and FBI background check.
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All Connecticut school districts set their own qualifications and application steps for substitute teachers, so the exact paperwork can vary by district even though the state’s baseline rules stay the same. Here’s what to expect once you start applying, and what to have ready before you do.
Education Requirements
If you hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, you may serve as a substitute in one school district for an entire school year without needing a substitute teacher authorization. You may not serve more than 40 days at a time in any one assignment, however.
Want to learn how to earn a professional teaching certification? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Connecticut.
If you have a bachelor’s degree and wish to substitute for more than 40 days in one assignment, this is possible if you also have at least 12 semester hours of credit in the subject area in which you are teaching.
If you do not have a bachelor’s degree, you may be allowed to be a substitute in a district if the superintendent grants a waiver. You must still be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, and meet experience requirements (see below).
Experience
If you have a bachelor’s degree, you do not need any experience to work as a substitute teacher.
If you do not have a bachelor’s degree, you will only be granted a waiver if you have experience working with school-age children and meet the educational requirements above.
Mandated Reporter Training
School districts generally require substitute teachers to complete Connecticut’s Mandated Reporter Training through the state Department of Children and Families as part of onboarding. The training covers how to recognize and report suspected child abuse or neglect.
Criminal History Background Check
All school employees in Connecticut must undergo a criminal history record check, including fingerprinting. The employing district will direct applicants through the required fingerprinting and state/FBI background check process, typically during hiring or onboarding. The school district that employs you will give you the necessary forms and direct you to the nearest fingerprinting location.
The State Police Bureau of Identification and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will check your fingerprints. The results of your criminal history background check will be reported directly to the school district that employs you. Connecticut law requires periodic criminal history rechecks for school employees, and districts administer this process according to current state requirements.
Additional Information
If you do not have a bachelor’s degree, you must file Form ED174, Application for Substitute Teacher Authorization for Candidates Who Have Not Completed a Bachelor’s Degree.
If you have a bachelor’s degree and substitute for more than 40 days in one school district in the same assignment, the district must file Form ED175, Application for Extension of Substitute Teacher Authorization Beyond the 40-Day Limit.
If you already hold a Connecticut teaching certificate, you may work as a substitute teacher for an unlimited period if your certificate is appropriate to the grade level and subject you are teaching. If your certificate is not appropriate, however, the district must apply for an authorization extension for any substitute teaching assignment going beyond 40 days. If you’re substituting now but want to move toward a full teaching license, Connecticut’s alternative teaching certification route lets you start teaching under a provisional license while finishing required coursework.
Pay for substitute teaching is set by each district, not the state, so rates and any per diem stipend depend on where you’re assigned. Check the specific district’s job posting or contact its human resources office for current rates before you apply.
Contact Information
Contact the Connecticut school district you are interested in subbing in and inquire about their application process and requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching certificate to substitute in Connecticut?
Most applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college don’t need a separate substitute teaching certificate, although special authorizations may be required in certain situations, such as if you don’t hold a bachelor’s degree or plan to substitute beyond the 40-day limit in one assignment.
How much do substitute teachers get paid in Connecticut?
Pay isn’t set at the state level. Each school district sets its own substitute pay rate, so the amount varies depending on where you work. The district’s job posting or human resources office can tell you the current rate for a specific assignment.
What is Mandated Reporter Training and do I need it?
Mandated Reporter Training teaches you how to recognize and report suspected child abuse or neglect. School districts generally require it as part of new-hire onboarding for substitute teachers.
Can I substitute teach in Connecticut without a bachelor’s degree?
Yes, but only with a superintendent’s waiver. You’ll still need to be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma, and have experience working with school-age children.
How often do I need a new background check?
Connecticut law requires periodic criminal history rechecks for school employees, and districts administer this process according to current state requirements, in addition to the initial fingerprinting and background check when you’re first hired.
- Most substitutes with a bachelor’s degree don’t need a separate state substitute certificate — special authorizations apply in certain situations, like extended assignments or candidates without a degree.
- The 40-day rule shapes eligibility — extended assignments in the same subject require 12 semester hours of credit in that subject area.
- Background checks are mandatory — State Police and FBI fingerprint checks are required, with periodic rechecks administered by the district per state requirements.
- Districts generally require Mandated Reporter Training — completed through the state Department of Children and Families, usually during onboarding.
- Pay is set locally — rates vary by district since Connecticut doesn’t set a statewide substitute pay scale.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Connecticut, including application requirements and licensing timelines if you want to move from substitute to full-time teaching.
