South Dakota Substitute Teaching License
A South Dakota substitute teaching license doesn’t exist as a separate statewide credential. The state’s school districts handle their own hiring, requiring only that applicants be at least 18 years old and pass a state and FBI criminal background check. Most districts also prefer a high school diploma or some college coursework, though exact requirements and pay vary by district.
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The South Dakota Department of Education does not issue a South Dakota substitute teaching license or any other statewide permit for substitute teachers. Instead, each of the state’s school districts sets its own hiring criteria, from minimum education level to whether prior classroom experience is preferred. The only requirement that applies statewide is that every applicant be at least 18 years old and clear a criminal history background check.
Want to learn how to earn a professional teaching certification? Contact schools offering teaching certification requirements in South Dakota.
Use the links below to jump to substitute teacher requirements, pay information, and how to apply in South Dakota.
- Substitute teacher requirements in South Dakota
- What South Dakota substitute teachers earn
- How to apply to substitute teach in South Dakota
- Frequently asked questions
Substitute Teacher Requirements in South Dakota
Because South Dakota’s 149 school districts each set their own hiring criteria, requirements can look different depending on where you apply. The sections below cover the areas every district evaluates: education, experience, and background screening.
Education Requirements
South Dakota does not mandate a minimum education level for substitute teachers statewide. Most districts require at least a high school diploma, and some, particularly larger districts, prefer or require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Check with the specific district you’re applying to, since this is one of the areas where policy varies the most. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field outside education, South Dakota’s alternative certification process offers another path into a full-time teaching role beyond substitute work.
Experience
No prior classroom experience is required to substitute teach in South Dakota. That said, many districts give hiring preference to applicants who have worked with children before, whether in a classroom, daycare, or youth program setting.
Criminal History Background Check
Every South Dakota substitute teacher candidate must clear a state and federal criminal background check before working in a classroom. The hiring district will point you to a Livescan fingerprinting location, since the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) now processes school employment background checks through its online request system rather than mailed fingerprint cards. A combined state and FBI background check currently costs $50, submitted electronically and forwarded to the FBI for the federal portion of the search.
Substitute Teacher Pay in South Dakota
Daily substitute pay rates in South Dakota are set at the district level, not by the state, so the amount you earn depends heavily on where you work. Districts that pay substitutes with a college degree more than those without a degree are common, and rural districts sometimes offer higher rates to attract enough substitutes to cover open positions.
How to Apply to Substitute Teach in South Dakota
Since there’s no state application or portal for substitute teaching, the process starts with the district, not the South Dakota Department of Education. Contact the human resources office of the district where you want to work to get its specific substitute application, then follow its instructions for scheduling your background check and fingerprinting appointment. Most districts also ask for official transcripts if you have any college coursework or a degree, along with references, so it helps to gather those before you apply.
Contact your local school district for further information on requirements for becoming a substitute teacher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a teaching degree to substitute teach in South Dakota?
No. South Dakota does not require a teaching degree or state certification to substitute teach. Most districts ask for at least a high school diploma, and some prefer college coursework or a degree, but there’s no statewide credential requirement.
How old do you have to be to substitute teach in South Dakota?
You must be at least 18 years old. That’s the only age or eligibility requirement set at the state level, since South Dakota leaves the rest of the hiring criteria to individual districts.
Does South Dakota require a background check for substitute teachers?
Yes. Every candidate must pass a state and FBI criminal background check before working as a substitute. The hiring district will walk you through fingerprinting, which is submitted to the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.
Who hires substitute teachers in South Dakota?
Individual school districts, not the South Dakota Department of Education, handle all substitute teacher hiring. That means you’ll need to apply directly with each district you’re interested in working for.
- No state license required — South Dakota does not issue a statewide substitute teaching permit or license.
- Districts set the rules — Education level, experience preferences, and pay all vary by the hiring school district.
- Background check is mandatory — Every applicant must clear a state and FBI criminal history check through the SD Division of Criminal Investigation.
- Age 18 is the only statewide requirement — Beyond that, eligibility comes down to each district’s own hiring criteria.
Want to move beyond substitute teaching and earn a professional teaching certification in South Dakota? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs to find a path that fits your background.
