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Substitute Teaching License

INFORMATION FOR SUBSTITUTE CERTIFICATES:

There are two types of substitute teaching certificates/credentials in New Jersey. The 60-credit substitute credential, and the 30-credit substitute credential. Both credentials allow you to be a substitute teacher, but the requirements to obtain them are different.

These credentials allow you to substitute teach for a maximum of 20 days per classroom in a year. If necessary, the school you’re subbing at can request up to a 20-day extension from the Executive County Superintendent. Each credential is valid for 5 years from the date you receive it. Here are the requirements to obtain each one:

60-Credit Instructional Substitute Credential

  • Have at least 60+ semester-hour credits at a regionally accredited college or university OR be currently enrolled with a minimum of 30 semester-hour credits. Verification of your enrollment will be required.
  • Get criminal background clearance. The approval date must be within 5 months of the application date with “Substitute Teacher” as the job position. 

30-Credit Instructional Substitute Credential 

  • Have at least 30+ semester-hour credits at a nationally accredited college or university OR be currently enrolled at the time of application. Verification of your enrollment will be required.
  • Be at least 20 years of age.
  • Get criminal background clearance. The approval date must be within 5 months of the application date with “Substitute Teacher” as the job position.

All prospective substitute teachers must apply for a credential on NJEDCert. 

Items Needed to Apply

The items below must be completed to get issued a NJ Substitute Certification:

  • Fingerprint Approval – Fingerprints must be less than five (5) months old, transfer dates do not count. Your fingerprint approval can be accessed from the Applicant Approval Employment History page.
  • Official Electronic Transcripts – Electronic transcripts can be sent from your college/university to certapplication@doe.nj.gov. Apply online with your personal information.

Note: Electronic transcripts sent by you are not considered official.

Application Process

1. To start the application for a substitute certificate, please go to the NJ Department of Education NJEdCert websit.

2. Click on New Jersey Educator Certification (NJEDCert), which is on the right side- under Quick Links.

3. Click on NJEdCert.

4. You will be taken to another site where you will need to register and apply for the substitute certificate. To register, please click on Create Account

5. Complete the questions in the application.

6. You will be required to pay a $125 fee. The $125 fee is paid online with a credit card and is non-refundable. The payment will go to the Commissioner of Education.

7. You will be able to load up your Criminal History Information and all electronic transcripts need to be emailed to certapplication@doe.nj.gov.

8. The link to access all the County Office contacts are below: (https://www.nj.gov/education/about/counties/). 

Some counties have dedicated emails to use to contact them. (See Below)

CANDIDATES SEEKING A SUB LICENSE MUST:

  • Request your official transcript through the Clearing House www.getmytranscript.org. The Certification Office cannot request your transcript due to the FERPA Law. You MUST request to have your official transcript electronically sent to: certapplication@doe.nj.gov

Note: Electronic transcripts sent by you are not considered official.

  • Upload the approved Criminal History Background Form into your NJEDCERT Portal once you have created your account. Criminal History Background forms are available to print out two weeks after completing your fingerprints.
  • Create an NJEdCert account, apply for your substitute certification, and pay the $125 application fee through the State of New Jersey Department of Education Website. Please enter your email address. You will then receive a specific case number for your application.
  • If you have 30 credits or more and are applying for a substitute certification (especially if you plan to sub in a district), make sure to select the 30-credit instructional substitute certification in the application when asked. If you have 60 or more credits, please make sure that you select the 60-credits instructional substitute certificate.

Upon completing the online registration fee of $125.00, applicants should include the individual case number on the substitute certificate application, and fill in the county (Union).

Please use your personal email account when completing this application.  It will be used to identify yourself in your NJEDCERT account.

The Substitute Certificate timeline for processing and issuance is 6-8 weeks by the New Jersey Department of Education.  You may check the status of your application at: https://www.nj.gov/education/certification/

When you apply for a substitute certificate, it is valid at any public or charter school in New Jersey and eligible for five years from the date of issuance

CLEARANCES FOR SUBSTITUTE CERTIFICATES:

The State of New Jersey Department of Education has implemented a new substitute credential pathway.

Clearances Required:

  1. Have 30 or 60 credits to apply for a Substitute Teacher Credential
  2. Complete a criminal history background clearance
  3. Select Kean University as your sponsoring agency/school and register as a SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
  4. Pay administrative fees on the NJDOE Criminal History Website ($11)
  5. Go to the IdentiGO website
    1. schedule an appointment
    2. pay fingerprinting fees ($67.45)
    3. fill out New Jersey Universal Fingerprint Form
  6. Get fingerprinted
  7. Check criminal history status HERE

Substitute Teacher Credential as of June 30, 2023:

  1. A student may have a completion of 30 or 60 semester-hour credits
  2. Credits must be completed at an accredited institution of higher education at the time of application
  3. Applicant must be enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education at the time of application
  4. Applicant must be at least 20 years of age
  5. Credential is valid for five (5) years from the date of issuance

** If you have already been fingerprinted, but selected COLLEGE STUDENT or VOLUNTEER, you will have to fingerprint again as a SUBSTITUTE TEACHER**

If you only want clearances, without the Substitute Certification, COMPLETE STEPS #2-7 above.

The Substitute Certificate timeline for processing and issuance is 6-8 weeks by the New Jersey Department of Education.  You may check the status of your application at: https://www.nj.gov/education/certification/

UNDERGO A BACKGROUND CHECK:

As part of the application process, you will need to undergo a background check. The process is different depending on whether you’re a new applicant or a returning one.

  • New Applicants – candidates who have never worked for a school in the state of New Jersey
  • Archive applicants – candidates who have worked for a school in New Jersey and are changing school districts. This only applies to candidates who have been fingerprinted after March 2003 

The process for both categories is similar with slight variations.

  1. Seek a sponsor organization or school district for criminal history record clearance. This can include a teacher staffing company like Scoot Education.
  2. Pay the $10 administrative fee for the background clearance on the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Office of Student Protection website. There’s also a $1 convenience fee.
  3. Choose from either the “New Applicant” or “Archive Applicant” selection, fill out all the information, and make the payment. You also have to print out and complete the IdentoGO New Jersey Universal Fingerprint Form, which can be downloaded from the linked website.
  4. Schedule an appointment on the IdentoGO website by selecting the digital fingerprinting option at the bottom of the page. The fingerprinting price is $66.05 for those who have never been fingerprinted in the state of New Jersey (new applicants), and $29.75 if you have been fingerprinted in the state after March 2003 (archive applicants). If you’re applying through Scoot, we will reimburse you for the fingerprinting fees on your first paycheck – just remember to keep your receipt!
  5. Attend the appointment and get fingerprinted. Be sure to bring a photo ID and the IdentoGO New Jersey Universal Fingerprint Form.

In approximately two weeks, you will be able to view the results of your background check on the Office of Student Protection Status Webpage. 

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION:

Once you have received your substitute teacher credential and passed a background check, you can contact your sponsoring organization about available substitute teaching positions and submitting applications.