How to become a substitute teacher in Oklahoma.

Substitute teaching is rewarding work because you can influence students while building your community. There are just a few requirements to become a substitute teacher in Oklahoma.  

Kelly Education helps hundreds of people become substitute teachers in Oklahoma each year, so we’re experts in navigating the steps. The good news is that there’s not a lengthy credentialing or licensure processes because the Oklahoma State Department of Education does not issue a special substitute teacher certificate or permit.   

Minimum Oklahoma state requirements, at a glance*: 

• Age: 18 years  
• Education: High school diploma or equivalent 
• Employment verification to work in the U.S. 
• Background check 
• Fingerprinting 

In addition to Oklahoma state requirements, Kelly Education requires: 

• Kelly Education application 
• Pre-hire training 
• New hire orientation 

A deeper dive into substitute teacher requirements.

Though you don’t need to go through a credentialing or licensure process, it can still take a few days to a few weeks to become a substitute teacher in Oklahoma. Also, keep in mind that school districts might have additional requirements so it’s important to check the job description. 

Education verification. 

You’ll need to verify your high school diploma or equivalent. You can do this by asking the issuing institution for a copy of your high school transcripts or verification of your GED. It generally takes 3 – 5 days to receive education verification, and some institutions charge a small fee for transcript and verification requests, averaging between $10 and $15. 

If you have college credits, requesting your college transcripts instead of your high school transcripts to submit can be beneficial. This is because some school districts offer a higher pay rate to those who’ve completed college credits. If the district you’re applying to is a Kelly Education partner, our recruiter will be happy to discuss the best approach with you. 

Employment verification.

All U.S. employees must complete an I-9 form. The I-9 provides proof of employment eligibility and takes about 10 – 15 minutes to complete. Two proofs of valid identification are required as part of the employment verification process. 

Background check and fingerprinting.

Oklahoma requires background checks and fingerprinting for anyone receiving an offer of employment as a substitute teacher. If an applicant can produce a fingerprint receipt that is less than 5 years old, and it shows they were fingerprinted for School District Employment using code 2B7K55, they may not need to be fingerprinted again. Check with the district or onboarding coordinator. Otherwise, prior fingerprints may not be valid and must be completed again.  

The cost of fingerprinting and a background check can vary, with results typically coming back within two weeks. 

If you work for Kelly Education, we’ll also run a check through the National Sex Offender Registry. 

Training. 

Oklahoma does not have a state-wide training requirement for substitute teachers. However, if you work with Kelly Education, we want you to feel confident in your skills as a classroom instructor.  We require all candidates, regardless of level and experience, to complete our ClassSmarts training. The training takes about an hour and provides valuable insights into substitute teaching. 

We also require New Hire Orientation for all newly hired substitute educators. This paid training teaches Kelly Education and district-specific policies and procedures. 

Getting started with Kelly Education and our school district partners. 

If you’re interested in learning more about substitute teaching at one of our partner districts in Oklahoma, fill out our interest form. A Kelly Education recruiter will then contact you to explain the process and answer your questions. 

Are you ready to make a difference with flexible work that matters? To learn more about which districts have opportunities with us, visit myKelly. 

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