How to become a substitute teacher in Alabama.

The state of Alabama is home to about 140 school districts and over 1,500 schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools. That means there are many opportunities to become a substitute teacher in Alabama. For those who want to make a difference in their work, substitute teaching is a fulfilling career.  

Kelly Education works with nearly 60 school districts throughout the state. So, we ‘re experts in helping applicants understand the substitute teacher requirements in Alabama. With our help and your determination and initiative, you’ll be “subbing” in classrooms in no time! 

Below are the minimum, state-wide requirements for substitute teachers in Alabama. Keep in mind that each district can establish its own requirements above what the state requires. You can also find more specific requirements for a substitute teaching position in the district’s job description. 

Minimum Alabama state requirements at a glance*:

• Age: 18 (in some districts, the minimum age is 21) 
• Certification: AL teaching certification or substitute teacher license 
• Education: High school diploma or equivalent (some districts require some college coursework) 
• Employment verification to work in the U.S. 
• Background check 
• Fingerprinting 
• Pre-credential training 

In addition to Alabama state requirements, Kelly Education requires:

• Pre-hire training (this also satisfies the requirement for the above-mentioned state credentialing training) 
• New hire orientation 

A deeper dive into substitute teacher requirements.

It’s important to understand the steps and timeline in becoming a substitute teacher in Alabama.  The entire onboarding process can take from three days to six weeks. Some of this depends on the time it takes for the state to process the paperwork, but much depends on how quickly you provide the necessary information. 

Education verification.

Substitute teachers in Alabama should have a high school diploma or equivalent, and they also must have an Alabama teaching license or substitute teacher certification issued by the Alabama Department of Education. To obtain a license, fill out an application. Note that the application cannot be submitted directly. The local Board of Education, superintendent, or principal for the district or school will submit it to the Department of Education. No additional education or coursework is required to obtain this license, but there is a $30 application fee. 

Employment verification.

Like most jobs, substitute teachers must provide proof that they can legally work in the U.S.  fill out an I-9 form to verify employment eligibility. This form can be completed in just a few minutes, and two valid forms of ID must be submitted along with the form.  

Background check and fingerprinting. 

All applicants must submit to a state-required background check through the Central Registry. They must also agree to fingerprinting. When working for a Kelly Education partner district, we’ll provide information about where to get fingerprinting completed. Keep in mind that there may be a small cost associated with this, typically around $50. 

Kelly Education also runs a National Sex Offender registry check. The background check process is relatively quick, around 2 days. 

Training.

Alabama requires substitute teachers with no previous classroom teaching experience to complete training on classroom management skills and instructional strategies. However, Kelly Education requires all applicants to complete our pre-hire training, even if they have prior teaching experience. Our free ClassSmarts online training can be completed in just a couple of hours, and it also satisfies Alabama’s pre-credential training requirement. 

Also, all substitute teachers, regardless of experience, are required to complete Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Training.  

Before entering the classroom, Kelly Education substitute teachers must also complete our paid New Hire Orientation. This one-hour virtual session provides details on Kely Education and the district’s substitute teaching policies. 

Getting started with Kelly Education and our school district partners.

Kelly Education places thousands of educators in Alabama schools. We’d be delighted to help get you started on this fulfilling career.  

Fill out our interest form, and a Kelly Education recruiter will reach out to you about opportunities near you. We’ll be glad to answer any questions you have and explain the next steps in the process. The exciting and enjoyable career of teaching isn’t far away! 

* Information subject to change. This is a general guideline. School districts may have more requirements, in addition to state requirements.