Subbing...anyone do it? How do I start?

alliemae

I have a bachelors degree but not in teaching. I think I have to take a test, right?  Where do I find out more about doing this?  Does anyone do it? Like it? Don't like it?  I'd even just like to do it 1-3 days a month for extra money (I'm a sahm).

alliemae

 

neesernicole

Firefighter's Girl and maybe r9 could help you!  i know quite a few ppl that do this but no details.

mags2041

I don't think you need to take a test to sub.  Here in AZ you need a fingerprint card (background check) and a sub certificate.  Check with your local school district.

hikerbeth

It may depend on the state, but here (Colorado) you just need a Bachelors.  I had to fill out paperwork, send in official transcripts, and get fingerprinted to get a license.

Then I need letters of recommendation and an application for each of the various districts I'd like to sub in.

And it's not automatic.  I have to be hired to be on the sub list, it's not automatic even with all of the above completed.

Google [your state] department of education.

luckyluvr

I don't know if it's different state-to-state, but in CA I had to take the CBEST. Once I passed that, I applied for an Emergency credential, went to the county, got fingerprinted, and that was it. It sounds a lot worse than it is. It took about 2 months to complete the process. I was okay with it for awhile, but then I got tired of getting phone calls at 7 asking me to be there by 7:30. If you don't accept work regularly, sometimes they'll stop calling. The best thing to do is find a few teachers who like you and have them refer you to their friends. I know when I'm going to be gone, I look for subs other teachers recommend. When it's a prearranged substitution, it's not bad; it's just those last minute phone calls that suck. I eventually started turning my phone off at night.

mom2binKC

I think it varies greatly by state and even school district.  I subbed several years ago, and there was very little to the process.  I basically called the district office, filled out an app, went in for an interview, and then after they said I was hired, I had to attend a brief (maybe 2 hours), one-time instructional session.  You only needed 30 college credit hours to be able to sub in that district.

Once hired, it was great.  An electronic phone system would call be the night before or sometimes morning of a job, and I could just push a button to accept or decline.  In my district, you could sign up for what you felt comfortable subbing for, i.e. what grades, and what classes at the middle and HS levels.  I signed up to do just about everything, K-12, including special ed, foreign languages, and wood and metal shop!  So I was pretty much able to get a job somewhere in the district almost everyday.  Subbing for metal shop was interesting, and once I got to go on a 2nd grade field trip.  It was never dull!  Pretty easy money, and I even got to "teach" a little once a few of the teachers got comfortable leaving me with some very basic lesson plans.  It's a good gig, and I did it for about 6 months while I searched for a physical therapist position.