Becoming a Substitute Teacher in New Jersey, NJ

Ranking 42nd in state population, New Jersey has 207,000 public students and 475 public schools. New Jersey has followed the current national trend of educational expansion, which is a product of recent economic upturn. More teachers brings the inherent need for more substitutes, making now an opportune time to look into the educational field. Keeping a flexible schedule is important when becoming a substitute teacher as you may be needed on short notice. Many full-time salaried teachers started as subs and greatly appreciate the experience as it allows you to get a feel for the teaching industry without fully committing to a 4 year degree. Many states don’t require a Bachelors Degree to become a sub making it an ideal job for prospective teachers or those looking to make extra money on the side. Many subs also enjoy the flexible work schedule as it allows them to pursue other ventures on the side, often times finishing up their Bachelors Degree or working part-time on the side.

Required Training, Qualifications, and Education

The requirement for a Bachelor Degree varies by county in New Jersey, so be sure to contact your local school districts to make sure and meet any requirements. 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 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
  • Meet any additional state requirements

Career Expectations For Substitutes in New Jersey

Due to recent economic upturn following the recession, many states including New Jersey have been hiring new teachers, bringing along the demand for more substitute teachers as well. Along with the fact that there is growing state and national populations means teachers are not only in demand presently, but will continue to be for quite some time. The educational system faired decently well through the recession, and has proven to be a relatively stable market. Since most states do not require a Bachelors Degree in order to sub, it is easy for people to work subbing while also continuing education or working another part time job on the side for income supplement. Because of the flexible schedule, subs find themselves with extra time on their hands to do as they please, which is a nice bonus to the job. Whether you want to ultimately be a full time salaried teacher or not, subbing looks great on any resume as it shows you not only have the capability to teach others, but the patience to deal with people who may not understand concepts right away.

Salary Expectation

Currently, the average salary for a Substitute Teacher in New Jersey is approximately $29,000 a year (according to bls.gov) which is about equal to the national average. Important to keep in mind is the fact that this average can be skewed greatly as final pay is determined by district, experience, and education. Additional income can be gained through other part time work when you are not substitute teaching.