Become a substitute teacher in New York: The complete guide

Substitute teaching is a rewarding and flexible way to develop your career on your terms. Whether you have recently earned your degree, are entering the workforce after time off, or are ready for a change from a decades-long career, substitute teaching may be a natural next step for you!

In this guide to becoming a substitute teacher in New York, you’ll find information on subbing requirements and how to apply to teaching jobs in New York.

Is substitute teaching right for you?

Subbing can be a rewarding career choice, whether you’re brand new to the workforce, looking to hone your skills, or if you need something flexible to help pay the bills.

With substitute teaching you can:

• Make a difference: Subs are called into classrooms for reasons ranging from instances of a teacher on an unexpected leave, to schools searching for new permanent staff, to school districts facing teacher shortages. You can provide support to the students who need it most.
• Choose your schedule: As a sub with an organization like Swing Education, you can work when you want and where you want. Subbing can fit easily around your schedule, whether you’ve got an additional job, family, or lifestyle commitments that you want to maintain.
• Pick your classroom: As a sub, you won’t be limited to a certain subject or school. You can visit the classrooms that are most appealing to you and experience teaching students of different ages and skill levels.
• Cultivate your skills: With all of this variety, you can improve your skills as an educator and get the experience you need to meet any teaching challenge. And even if teaching isn’t your main goal, subbing can help you gain in-demand transferable skills, like problem-solving, written and oral communication, and adaptability.
• Prepare for a permanent position: Subbing is a great stepping stone to becoming a permanent teacher. You’ll get an education in the character of the schools you visit and build crucial relationships with local communities.

Substitute teaching requirements in New York

To work as a substitute teacher through Swing Education in New York, you’ll need to meet our minimum requirements. Some assignments, schools, or districts may require additional qualifications based on the role and student population served.

Minimum Requirements

✔ Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university
✔ You’ll need to be fingerprinted with the NY State Education Department
✔ Completion of Swing’s set up process and requirements

Additional Requirements for Specialized or Certified Roles

Gain access to more assignment opportunities by meeting the qualifications required for certain specialized teaching roles. Requirements may include:

• Active New York Teaching Certificate
• Special education experience or qualifications
• Subject-matter expertise or relevant teaching experience
• CPR and First Aid certification
• Early childhood education (ECE) units, certifications, or qualifications
• District-required training, orientation, or compliance documentation

Important Note

Requirements may vary by school, district, and assignment type. Additional qualifications may be needed for long-term, credentialed, special education, or other specialized teaching roles.

Credentials and permits

Unlike many states, New York does not offer a specific substitute teacher permit, and a teaching certificate is not required to become a substitute teacher.

However, there are a handful of advantages to subbing with a teaching certificate. For example, with a valid teaching certificate, subs can work in any capacity, for any number of days. Without a certification, there are certain limits, such as only being able to work 40 days a year in a district.

Background check

Before becoming a substitute teacher in New York, you’ll need to go through a criminal background check. The first step is to get fingerprinted with the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

To schedule your fingerprinting appointment:

1. Visit the IdentoGO site.
2. Enter your information and follow the prompts to set up your appointment.
3. If prompted to enter a service code, please enter 14ZGR7.
4. Save the confirmation email for your records.

Day of your fingerprint appointment:

1. Bring the government-issued identification you provided when you signed up for the appointment.
2. Be prepared to pay $102 by business check, money order, or credit card.
3. At the conclusion of your appointment, the MorphoTrust enrollment agent will provide you with an IdentoGo receipt stating that you were fingerprinted.

You can check your submission status by clicking on this link.

If you’ve already been fingerprinted with the New York State Education Department, you won’t need to get fingerprinted again. Schools and companies that work with substitute teachers will be able to access a current background check based on that original scan.

If subbing directly with Swing, in addition to the aforementioned local background check with NYSED, you’ll need to complete an education verification through Checkr. You can do that by logging into your Swing account.

Getting in the classroom

Once you’ve passed your background check, you’ll be able to start subbing in many New York schools!

You can either pursue a position directly with a school, or, if you’re interested in working with a wider variety of students, you can get started with Swing Education.

Take the first step to becoming a sub with Swing Education by filling out this form.