Pennsylvania Substitute Teaching License
A Pennsylvania substitute teaching license comes in one of two forms: a valid PA teaching certificate or an Emergency Permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Emergency Permit holders need at least a bachelor’s degree, and the permit is only issued when a district verifies it can’t find a certified applicant. Active certificate holders can sub without an Emergency Permit within their certification area, while inactive or voluntary inactive certificate holders are capped at 180 days per school year.
Sponsored School(s)
If you want a Pennsylvania substitute teaching license, you need a PA teaching certificate or an Emergency Permit. The certificate can be an active or inactive Intern Certificate, Level I Certificate, or Level II Certificate. Without one of those, an Emergency Permit is the fallback path, and it works differently than a standard certificate. A school district has to request it on your behalf, and only after showing the position was advertised and no certified, fully qualified applicant was available.
Want to learn how to earn a professional teaching certification? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Pennsylvania.
Credentials That Qualify You to Substitute Teach
Emergency Permit
An Emergency Permit is a day-to-day or long-term option for people who hold a bachelor’s degree but not a PA teaching certificate. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s guidance on how to get a permit to substitute teach, the district applies for it on your behalf and can request unlimited reissuances for day-to-day assignments. It doesn’t carry over between districts. If you move to a new school system, that district has to apply again.
Certified Teachers (Level I, Level II, and Intern Certificates)
If you already hold a Pennsylvania teaching certificate, whether active or inactive, you qualify to substitute without applying for a separate permit. Individuals holding a comparable out-of-state teaching certificate may be eligible to work as day-to-day substitutes, subject to Pennsylvania Department of Education and local district requirements. They can look into certification reciprocity to pursue a full PA certificate.
How Long You Can Substitute Teach on Each Credential
The type of certificate or permit you hold sets the limit on how long you can sub in the same assignment:
- If you have an emergency permit, you may only substitute teach on a day-to-day basis of no more than 20 days in the same assignment.
- If you have an active Level I or Level II certificate, you may substitute without an Emergency Permit for an unlimited number of days within your certification area. Assignments outside your certification area fall under separate substitute permit rules.
- If you have an inactive or voluntary inactive Level I or Level II certificate, you may substitute teach for up to 180 days per school year.
Getting an Emergency Permit
Education Requirements
You need at least a bachelor’s degree, or a foreign equivalency, to qualify for an Emergency Permit. The degree doesn’t need to be in education. Any bachelor’s degree meets this requirement.
Experience
No prior teaching experience is required for an Emergency Permit. Some districts prefer candidates with experience working with children, but it isn’t a state requirement.
Criminal History Background Check
Every applicant for a Pennsylvania substitute teaching position goes through three background checks: a Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check, a Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance, and a Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) check through the FBI. The hiring school district provides instructions on how to complete each check when you apply.
Keeping Your Certificate Active
If you’re substituting on a Level I or Level II certificate, staying active means meeting Pennsylvania’s Act 48 continuing professional education requirement: 180 hours of approved coursework or equivalent professional development every five years. Falling short of the Act 48 requirement moves the certificate to inactive or voluntary inactive status, which drops your substitute day limit from unlimited to 180 days a year within your certification area.
Contact Information
For substitute teaching openings, contact your local school district directly. Districts handle their own substitute hiring, pay rates, and any additional requirements beyond the state minimums.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching degree to substitute teach in Pennsylvania?
No. A bachelor’s degree in any field qualifies you for an Emergency Permit. You only need an education degree if you’re pursuing a full PA teaching certificate instead.
How long does an Emergency Permit last?
It’s issued for a school year at a time and tied to day-to-day or long-term assignments, capped at 20 days in the same placement unless the district requests a reissuance.
Can an out-of-state teaching certificate be used to substitute in Pennsylvania?
Individuals holding a comparable out-of-state teaching certificate may be eligible to work as day-to-day substitutes, subject to Pennsylvania Department of Education and local district requirements.
What happens if my Pennsylvania certificate goes inactive?
An inactive or voluntarily inactive Level I or Level II certificate still qualifies you to substitute teach within your certification area, but only for up to 180 days per school year, instead of the unlimited days allowed on an active certificate.
Who runs the background check process for substitute teachers?
The hiring school district coordinates it. You’ll complete a state police criminal records check, a child abuse history clearance, and an FBI criminal history check before you can start.
- Two paths qualify you to substitute — a PA teaching certificate (active or inactive) or an Emergency Permit backed by any bachelor’s degree.
- Day limits depend on your credential — active certificates have no cap within your certification area, inactive certificates cap at 180 days, and Emergency Permits cap at 20 days per assignment.
- Districts request Emergency Permits, not individuals — a school has to show it advertised the position and couldn’t find a certified applicant first.
- Three background checks are mandatory — state police records, child abuse history clearance, and an FBI criminal history check.
- Act 48 keeps your certificate active — 180 hours of approved continuing professional education every five years, or the certificate moves to inactive status.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Pennsylvania, including application requirements and licensing timelines for your certification path.
