In 2019, Virginia employed roughly 25,350 substitute teachers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of June 2018, there was no Virginia state licensing for substitute teachers. Here, we'll discuss the requirements necessary to become a substitute teacher in Virginia.
Requirements for Virginia Substitute Teachers
| Average Salary for Substitute Teachers in Virginia (2019)* | $27,680 |
| Required Degree | High School Diploma |
| Required Field | N/A |
| Testing Requirements | None |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Step 1: Meet Age Requirements
In order to be a substitute teacher, you must meet very few requirements according to the state. One of the only state-required prerequisites is that you be over the age of 18. This is likely to guarantee that teachers will not be teaching fellow classmates, and to guarantee they have completed at least some sort of education requirement. In the next section, we'll look at the only other state requirement.
Step 2: Complete Education Requirements
Every school district in Virginia must decide what they want their requirements to be for teachers. The different localities of Virginia do vary greatly, so the most important thing to remember is that you must check with the school district you are applying to. Virginia Department of Education does require you to have completed a high school program prior to applying as a substitute teacher. This guarantees basic knowledge and shows that you can follow instructions from supervising teachers and administration.
Since all school districts make their own criteria, it may be a good idea to continue your education. Many schools prefer to see some college completed, while other districts may ask for an associate's degree or even a bachelor's degree. If possible, try to take a college-level course in classroom technology, as this is often a helpful skill to have and is a requirement for professional teacher licensure.
Step 3: Complete Other Required Training
Again, there are no specific training areas for the state as a whole. Each locality and school district are in charge of their requirements. However, you can better prepare yourself by following the guidelines that professional teachers seeking licensing do. Depending on your school district's criteria, one of the following training programs may be required. These are the training that all teachers in Virginia must complete:
- Certification in CPR/AED/first aid
- Child abuse and neglect recognition training (CANT) offered for free online by the Department of Social Services
- Dyslexia awareness training offered for free by the Department of Education.
Certification Resources for Virginia Substitute Teachers
Becoming a substitute teacher does not mean you are exempt from exams. You may find you want to take some of the exams other teachers do if at some point you want to seek professional teaching licensure. If you want practice with some of the important Virginia Praxis exams, this list of links can help you.
- Prepare for the Praxis Exam
- Virginia Communication & Literacy Assessment (VCLA): Practice & Study Guide
