Massachusetts Substitute Teacher Requirements

How Substitute Teaching Works in Massachusetts

Massachusetts handles substitute teacher requirements differently from regular classroom licensing. There is no statewide substitute teaching license — individual school districts set their own hiring standards and manage substitute pools locally. DESE does not issue a separate substitute credential.

This means the requirements vary by district. Some require a bachelor's degree, others accept candidates with associate degrees or relevant experience, and a few have additional training requirements beyond the baseline.

What Most Districts Require

While standards differ, the common baseline across Massachusetts districts includes:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (the majority of districts require this, though some accept lower credentials for short-term substituting)
• A CORI background check — every district runs a Criminal Offender Record Information check through state channels, renewed every three years, at no cost to the applicant
• SAFIS fingerprinting — the national fingerprint-based background check through IdentoGO costs $35 for unlicensed school personnel (compared to $55 for licensed educators)
• District application — most districts use online applications through their HR portals or staffing platforms

Some districts require substitute teachers to hold a valid Massachusetts teaching license, while others hire substitutes who are actively pursuing one. Check with the specific districts where you want to work — requirements aren't standardized statewide.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Substituting

The distinction matters for licensing. Short-term substitutes filling in for a few days typically don't need a DESE license. Long-term substitutes — those covering a classroom for an extended period — face different rules.

Under Massachusetts regulations, a temporary substitute is an educator employed for less than 90 consecutive school days in the same role. A substitute employed for more than 90 consecutive school days in the same role must be licensed for that role or working under a hardship waiver. The Emergency Extension pathway has a firm sunset date of June 30, 2027; remaining emergency license holders must transition to standard Provisional or Initial pathways by demonstrating progress.

Using Substitute Teaching as a Career Entry Point

Many career changers use substitute teaching as a way to get classroom experience while pursuing full certification. If you're considering this path:

A Provisional License lets you teach as a paid teacher-of-record once it is issued — it requires a bachelor's degree and the applicable assessment requirements but no formal educator preparation program. If you're already substituting and have a bachelor's degree, the jump to a Provisional License may be smaller than you think.

If you later apply for a license, the applicable SAFIS fee is based on credential status: licensed educators and pending ELAR applicants pay $55, while unlicensed school personnel pay $35.

The Full Licensing Path

If substitute teaching is your entry point, the Massachusetts Teacher Certification Guide covers the complete progression from your current credentials to a full Massachusetts teaching license, including the alternative routes available to career changers.

See more Massachusetts guides →