Becoming a Substitute Teacher in Pennsylvania, PA

Substitute teaching is a great opportunity for anyone interested in a career in the educational system, providing the ability to try out the educational system before fully committing to becoming a teacher. There are many advantages to being a substitute teacher, including a flexible schedule that allows for free time to do things like continue education, work a part time job, or simply relax on days off. Substitutes need to maintain a flexible schedule as they are on call and can be needed in very short notice. Substituting is a great experience for any potential full-time teacher as it allows the opportunity to test out the educational field before committing completely. Another bonus to substitute teaching is that most states do not require a Bachelors Degree, so it is possible to substitute teach while completing a 4 year degree. Pennsylvania, ranking 6th in state population, has 1,821,000 public students and 3,303 public schools. The state is currently hiring new teachers and substitutes to cope with a growing population making now an ideal time to consider a position as a substitute teacher.

Required Training, Qualifications, and Education

Pennsylvania does require a Bachelors Degree in order to become a substitute teacher, which is important to keep in mind when considering a position as a sub. In all cases it is also required to submit to state and federal fingerprinting and 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 Pennsylvania

Despite the fact that a Bachelors Degree is required to substitute in Pennsylvania, there are still many advantages to considering a position as one. Substitute teaching provides a phenomenal experience for potential teachers allowing you plenty of free time to continue education or work elsewhere. The experience gained from substitute teaching is a huge bonus to any resume, especially when looking to become a full-time salaried teacher at some point as any experience in the educational field is valued very highly. Job security within the educational system is also fairly decent, largely because growing populations require more teachers to handle larger student populations. Regardless of whether you wish to become a full-time salaried teacher or not, substitute teaching looks great on any resume as it shows you have numerous valuable skill sets including good information communication as well as organizational and personal communication strengths.

Salary Expectation

Currently, the average salary for a Substitute Teacher in Pennsylvania is approximately $27,000 a year (according to bls.gov) which is about 10% lower then the national average. This number may vary greatly however, due to the fact that actual pay is dependent upon district, experience, and education. Additional income can be gained through other part time work when you are not substitute teaching.