Schools Need Subs in All Job Categories!

Our county regularly suffers from a shortage of school substitutes. Have you ever thought about becoming a substitute teacher, a substitute classroom para-educator (also called a classroom aide), or a preschool instructor? Maybe you like to cook and would love to try your hand at making a great lunch for kids for a day, or you enjoy working outside and would love to do janitorial or maintenance work on a substitute basis. You’d earn some extra money, and our schools really need you!

Why Become a Substitute?

• Make a Difference: Besides enjoying the satisfaction of working with or around students, inspiring a love of learning or making a difference in children’s lives, substituting has many benefits. The pay is good. It is flexible, part-time work.

• Flexible Schedule: You can choose what days of the week or how many days you want to work. You can choose to be called in an emergency or only when an absence is planned in advance. You can choose the district(s) in which you want to work. If you are interested in being in the classroom, you can even choose which age levels you’d prefer, from pre-K to high school.

• Make Connections: If you are interested in a school position or in the teaching profession in the future, subbing looks good on a resume when you apply for a full-time job, and subbing helps schools get to know you so you can be at the top of the applicant list when a permanent position becomes available.

• Explore Teaching: For teacher subs, lesson plans are created for you, and you follow a pre-set schedule for the day. If there’s time, you can try out fun and educational activities of your own devising. Substitute teacher training is available as well through our office with our instructional support specialists, who provide coaching throughout the county.

The Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit authorizes the holder to serve as a day-to-day substitute teacher in any classroom, including preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1-12 inclusive, or in classes organized primarily for adults. The holder may serve as a substitute for no more than 30 days for any one teacher during the school year, except in a special education classroom, where the holder may serve for no more than 20 days for any one teacher during the school year.

Requirements for Initial Issuance

Applications submitted must include all of the following:

1. Official transcripts showing the conferral of a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. This satisfies both the degree requirement and the Basic Skills Requirement beginning 6/29/2024.
2. Submit an application through CTC Online, and if not previously submitted to the Commission, complete the fingerprinting process.
3. Application processing fees.

How to Apply

Individuals may submit their application packet through their employer or directly to the Commission through CTC Online. Visit Direct Application Submission for instructions on submitting your application online.

Note: This office can help with your Substitute Teaching applications. 

This permit is valid for one year and is renewable. In order to employ individuals on an Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit, the employing agency must keep a completed Statement of Need form (CL-505a) on file at their office for the duration of the school year.

Types of Substitutes

Substitute teachers do have some specific requirements and state paperwork to complete. The Trinity County Office of Education (TCOE) maintains a centralized substitute teacher database as well as a database for substitutes for the following positions:

• Teachers 
• Paraeducator
• Maintenance
• Janitorial
• Cafeteria services

Individuals interested in substituting in Trinity County, please call (530) 623-2861 ext 254

How to Become a Substitute Teacher  

To become a substitute teacher, you will need to receive a substitute teaching permit, of which there are multiple types, outlined in the next section.

• Have a bachelor's degree or 90-semester units, depending upon the permit type.
• Take a TB test.
• Complete a Live Scan test.
• Meet Basic Skills Requirement by either passing the CBEST test, the CSET examination, the CSU Early Assessment Program, the CSU Placement Examination, achieving a qualifying score on the SAT or ACT, or passing with a qualifying score on specific College Board AP exams. You can also have passed a Basic Skills exam from another state.

Additional training required

Once a substitute teacher, you must complete The Mandatory Training through Trinity County Office of Education and Keenan SafeSchools- Trainings include Mandated Reporter Training for Child Abuse Prevention, Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Prevention, and Sexual Harassment Training. These are free online trainings. Districts in which you work may also require additional training or other safety-related training (such as in the event of an emergency at the school site or information on COVID-19). You may also be required to indicate if you have already received a Hepatitis B vaccination if you want to receive Hepatitis B vaccinations, or if you decline the vaccination. Please contact the school administrator for further details.  

Types of Substitute Teacher Permits

There are four types of substitute teaching permits:

1. An Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit (Day-to-Day Substitute Teaching) authorizes the holder to serve as a day-to-day substitute teacher in any classroom, including preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1-12 inclusive or in classes organized primarily for adults. The holder may serve as a substitute for no more than 30 days for any one teacher during the school year, except in a special education classroom, where the holder may serve for no more than 20 days for any one teacher during the school year.
    

   This permit is valid for one year and is renewable. For more information about the requirements for this permit, go to: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/30-Day-Substitute-Teaching-Permit-(CL-505p)
    

2. An Emergency Substitute Teaching Permit for Prospective Teachers (For individuals who have not earned a Bachelor's or higher degree) authorizes the holder to serve as a day-to-day substitute teacher in any classroom, including preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1-12 inclusive, or in classes organized primarily for adults. The holder may serve as a substitute for no more than 30 days for any one teacher and may only serve for a maximum of 90 days during the school year. In a special education classroom, the holder may serve no more than 20 days for any one teacher during the school year.
   
   The permit is valid for one year and may be renewed only once. For more information about the requirements for this permit, go to: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/emergency-sub-teaching-permit-(cl-505d)
    
3. An Emergency Career Substitute Permit (For individuals with 3+ years of substitute teaching) authorizes the holder to serve as a day-to-day substitute teacher in any classroom, including preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1-12 inclusive or in classes organized primarily for adults. The holder may serve as a substitute for no more than 60 days for any one teacher during the school year, except in a special education classroom, where the holder may serve for no more than 20 days for any one teacher during the school year.
   
   The permit is valid for one year and is renewable. For more information about the requirements for this permit, go to: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/emergency-career-sub-teaching-permit-(cl-505b)
    

4. The Emergency Designated Subjects Career Technical Education Permit for 30-Day Substitute Teaching Service (For substitute teaching in Career Technical Education [CTE] classes for those holding a high school diploma or equivalent) authorizes the holder to serve as a substitute in any classroom in any county in which the permit is registered provided the employing agency has a completed Statement of Need. Such substitute teaching shall be part of a program of technical, trade, or vocational education. However, the holder shall not serve as a substitute for more than 30 days for any one teacher during the school year. 

For more information about the requirements for this permit, go to: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/designated-subjects-(cl-786)