SUBSTITUTE TEACHING

The following documents and criteria are needed in order to complete an application for employment:

• Copy of Kentucky Teaching Certificate—if you are not eligible for a Kentucky Teaching Certificate, the District Substitute Teacher Contact will apply for an Emergency Teaching Certificate for you.
• The minimum qualifications are 64 semester college hours and a 2.45 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale, from an accredited institution. Also, an online Character and Fitness Statement must be completed and approved by the Educational Professional Standards Board.
• Criminal Records Check processed by the state police and the FBI. The applicant’s fingerprints and $53.25 are required. Fees may be changed without notice. Records checks are valid for 1 year.
• State law or KY Administrative regulations require a Child Abuse/Neglect Check as a condition of Employment. (CAN) ($10.00 processing fee). KY Administrative regulations may be found on the internet at http://www.lrc.ky.gov/kar/titles.html.
• Proof of employment eligibility in the United States. The Substitute Center can answer questions about required documentation.
• Negative results on a tuberculin skin test.
• Complete Physical (must have been completed with the year).
• Participation in an orientation for substitute teachers.

The Certified Substitute Certification is a five-year certificate that can be utilized by any teacher that has held or currently holds, a professional certificate or statement of eligibility. There is no requirement that the certificate or statement of eligibility be active at the time of application. The certification is renewable every five years with a $15 fee and allows substitute teaching employment in any school district in Kentucky.

Requirements:

• Hold a valid statement of eligibility for a Kentucky teaching certificate; or
• Have previously held a Kentucky certificate for classroom teaching for which the completion of a 4-year teacher preparation program and a B.A. degree were required; or Currently hold or have held a regular teacher certification from any other state (copy of the certification must be provided)

How to apply:

• Apply through the EPSB Web Portal and
• Make the appropriate payment through ePay online payment service for certification fees. Please note that any other forms of payment are not accepted and will be returned to the applicant.
• Applicants holding an out-of-state teaching certificate:​
• Apply through the EPSB Web Portal​; and
• Submit official college transcripts of undergraduate degree and graduate degree if applicable with at least a 2.45 GPA; and
• Submit a photocopy of a valid out-of-state teaching certificate; and
• Make the appropriate payment through ePay online payment service for certification fees. Please note that any other forms of payment are not accepted and will be returned to the applicant.
• All documents must be uploaded to the EPSB Web Portal.

The Emergency Substitute Certification is a one-year certificate, that requires a minimum of 64 semester hours of college coursework completed in any content from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum GPA of 2.5. However, GPA requirements do not pertain to applicants holding a bachelor's degree or higher.

The Emergency Substitute Certification is issued for 1 year only, requires a district application process, and is limited to the specific district. While applicants are not limited to only substitute teaching in one district, they should work directly through each local school district(s) and board(s) of education where they intend to serve. There is no fee required for this certification.

In 1998, the Education Professional Standards Board established the Emergency Non-Certified School Personnel Pilot Program in response to the growing difficulties experienced by school districts in recruiting and retaining qualified substitute teachers. The Emergency Non-Certified School Personnel Program allows participating school districts to use persons with a high school diploma, or its equivalent when all other qualified substitutes are unavailable.

Participation in the program districts must agree to the following:

• Utilize each substitute in only the school to which he/she has been assigned, unless the substitute was in the program the previous year.
• Submission of quarterly reports to EPSB documenting the number of days personnel were utilized under this program.
  • Reports are due: July, August, September - October 15; October, November December - January 15; January, February, March - April 15; April, May, June - July 15
• Emergency Non-Certified School Personnel must :
  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent and be at least 25 years of age, except those individuals enrolled in an approved teacher education program, who may be less than 25 years of age.
  • Participate in a minimum of 18-clock-hour orientation program including emphasis on student safety, district policies and procedures, and other information.
• Continued participation during the upcoming year (contingent upon EPSB approval) requires the district to submit Form TC-EN and a year-end evaluation of the program.