Minnesota Substitute Teaching License
A Minnesota substitute teaching license, formally the Short-Call Substitute Teaching License, comes from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), is valid three years, and covers up to 20 consecutive school days per classroom assignment. It requires a bachelor’s degree, a fingerprint background check, and a $90.25 fee. Retired educators may instead qualify for a Lifetime Substitute License.
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Minnesota districts fill day-to-day teacher absences with substitutes who hold a state-issued license, not a full teaching credential. Getting a Minnesota substitute teaching license means applying through the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), which oversees the license and sets the rules for who qualifies. Here’s what the application actually requires and how the license works once you have it.
Short-Call Substitute Teaching License Requirements
You must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university to apply. Official transcripts, or a foreign credential evaluation if your degree came from outside the U.S., go with your application. PELSB does not require the degree to be in education or a related field.
If you’re still working toward certification, active enrollment in a state-approved teacher preparation program can also qualify you, provided you’ve completed your student teaching. That path lets candidates substitute while they finish coursework toward a full license.
A newer pilot route also exists. The Minnesota Legislature authorized a Short-Call Emergency Substitute Teacher Program that lets applicants qualify with an associate’s degree in any field, or with at least one year working as a paraprofessional in the hiring district. It’s a narrower path than the standard bachelor’s-degree route, built specifically for districts facing substitute shortages.
Application, Background Check, and Fees
Apply directly through PELSB’s online licensing system. Every applicant needs a fingerprint-based criminal history background check, but the process changed in spring 2025: PELSB no longer mails out fingerprint cards. Instead, you’ll get fingerprinted at a participating location using an FD-258 card, the standard white card with a sky-blue border, then mail the completed card to PELSB with your application. Cards must be dated within the last calendar year, and PELSB cannot accept electronic or scanned submissions. The initial application carries a processing fee of $90.25.
Questions about the licensing process go to PELSB directly at 651-539-4200 or [email protected]. The board’s office is at 1021 Bandana Blvd. East, Suite 222, Saint Paul, MN 55108.
License Terms and Classroom Limits
The Short-Call Substitute Teaching License is valid for three years and lets you cover the same classroom assignment for up to 20 consecutive school days before the district needs a teacher with a full license in that spot. That limit rose from 15 to 20 days when PELSB adopted new rules effective April 15, 2023. Assignments running longer than 20 consecutive days require a long-term substitute holding a complete Minnesota teaching license.
Lifetime Substitute License for Retired Educators
Retired teachers already collecting a retirement annuity may qualify for a Lifetime Substitute License instead of the standard short-call credential. To be eligible, you must have previously held a Tier 3 or Tier 4 Minnesota license, a Minnesota five-year license, or an equivalent out-of-state professional license aligned to the assignment you want. The license doesn’t expire and doesn’t require ongoing clock hours, and holders can cover longer-term absences beyond the standard 20-day short-call limit for the same teacher of record.
Finding Substitute Teaching Positions
Once licensed, districts and staffing agencies post openings directly. Minnesota School Jobs is a statewide board covering substitute openings across districts, or you can check individual district employment pages directly if you have a specific area in mind.
Want to learn how to earn a professional teaching certification? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Minnesota.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues the substitute teaching license in Minnesota?
The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) issues Minnesota’s substitute teaching licenses and sets the eligibility requirements. Applications, background checks, and renewals all go through PELSB directly.
Do I need an education degree to substitute teach in Minnesota?
No. A bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution qualifies you to apply for a Short-Call Substitute Teaching License. Your coursework doesn’t need to be in education.
How long does it take to get a Minnesota substitute license?
Processing time depends on how quickly your fingerprint background check clears, since that’s typically the longest step. Get fingerprinted at a participating location as soon as you apply, since PELSB no longer mails fingerprint cards and only accepts printed FD-258 cards, not electronic submissions.
Can retired teachers substitute teach in Minnesota?
Yes. Retired educators receiving a retirement annuity can apply for a Lifetime Substitute License if they previously held a Tier 3 or Tier 4 Minnesota license (or an equivalent). It doesn’t require renewal the way the standard short-call license does, and it allows longer-term coverage than the 20-day short-call limit.
Is there a limit on how long a substitute can teach the same class?
Yes. A Short-Call Substitute Teaching License caps assignments at 20 consecutive school days in the same classroom, up from 15 days before PELSB’s 2023 rule change. Longer assignments require a long-term substitute holding a full Minnesota teaching license.
- PELSB issues the license: the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board handles applications, eligibility, and renewals for Minnesota substitute teachers.
- Any bachelor’s degree qualifies: your degree doesn’t need to be in education, just from a regionally accredited institution.
- Background check is mandatory: every applicant submits a fingerprint card for a criminal history review before licensure.
- Consecutive-day limits apply: the short-call license caps how long you can cover one classroom before a fully licensed teacher is required.
- Retirees have a separate path: a Lifetime Substitute License is available to retired educators collecting a retirement annuity.
Find accredited teaching certification programs in Minnesota, including coursework options and licensing timelines if you’re working toward a full teaching credential.
