Becoming a Substitute Teacher in Minnesota, MN
Minnesota, ranking 21st in population, has 840,000 students. The state has 2,637 public schools that are currently adding to their teaching staff. Increased demand for teachers brings along an inherent need for more Subs, so now is a great time to look into becoming one. Becoming a substitute is very alluring for many reasons, one of the main ones being that most states do not require you to have a Bachelors Degree, however Minnesota does require its subs to receive one prior to teaching. Being able to have a flexible schedule is important in becoming a Substitute Teacher, which many people enjoy as it allows them to accomplish other things with their time such as furthering education or working another job.
Required Training, Qualifications, and Education
Minnesota is one of the states that requires a Bachelors Degree in order to become a sub, so this is important to keep in mind. You will also need to go in for state fingerprinting and state and federal background checks. Some districts may have other requirements so make sure to check before applying.
Licensure and Certification
The following situations are required for a 1-year substitute teacher license–
- Submit the Substitute Application through a local school system
- Include any official transcripts, references, or other relevant material
- Include required Application fee/s
- Must reapply for certificate every four years
Career Expectations For Substitutes in Minnesota
Although the recession hit everyone pretty hard, teachers managed to fair pretty well compared to average. Coming out of the recession has allowed most states, including Minnesota, to continue expanding their educational systems, which bodes well for job security as well as job availability. Growing national populations pretty much dictate the fact that teachers will continue to be in need for a long time, which alludes to good job longevity. Many Substitutes utilize the flexible schedule to further their education or work a job on the side. Although a Bachelor’s Degree is still required to become a Substitute Teacher, this position gives you a lot more flexibility then becoming a Full Time teacher, allowing you to test the waters before you make your final decision. Either way, Substitute Teaching looks great on any resume whether applying for Full Time status or not.
Salary Expectation
Currently, the average salary for a Substitute Teacher in Minnesota is approximately $28,000 a year (according to bls.gov) which is about 4% lower than the national average. This number can vary greatly due to the fact that actual pay is greatly dependent upon variables like district, experience, and qualifications, so it is important to understand actual ending pay can vary significantly. Additional income can be gained during times when you are not substitute teaching through things like test proctoring as well as tutoring.