How to Become a Substitute Teacher After 50

Life experience often makes retirees great candidates for classrooms

Gwen Moran,

AARP

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Published January 21, 2025

Robert Samuel Hanson

For years, Jill Feeney led a busy life raising her children, volunteering and, in more recent years, running a nonprofit founded in memory of her son, Michael, who died from cancer in 2013. In 2021, in her 50s, she was looking for a part-time job that would let her interact with others and earn some money. A friend encouraged her to apply to be a substitute teacher in her New Jersey school district.

“I looked into it, and it was an opportunity that had a lot of flexibility — you can work at will. The money was decent, and it offered lot of freedom and a lot of interaction with adults and kids of all different ages,” Feeney says.

She began the paperwork required in New Jersey to become a substitute teacher, a process that took a few months to complete. Since then, she’s been working in local schools. “If you like being around kids and like having flexibility in your work, it’s a great choice,” she says.

Substitute teachers are in demand

Substitute teachers for grades kindergarten through 12 are in demand nationwide. A 2023 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that one out of five requests for substitute teachers to fill in when teachers are out for illness, training, parental leave or other reasons goes unfilled. “There is a need for substitute teachers in virtually every school district,” says Kim Bailey, former director of professional learning and instructional support for the Capistrano Unified School District in California. Bailey, along with elementary school principal Kristen Nelson, is co-author of The Successful Substitute: How to Prepare, Grow, and Flourish as a Guest Teacher.

People with life experience are often ideal candidates because they have skills and knowledge honed over decades, Nelson adds. “Some of my school’s best substitutes have retired from other jobs.”

The variety of roles and flexibility are two of the most appealing aspects of substitute teaching, says Lori Schieffer, founder of Substitute Teacher Academy, which offers continuing education courses for substitutes. Substitutes can often choose the grade levels and subjects they prefer to teach and turn down those that are not appealing to them. “If a person is more interested or their career is based in the scientific area, then they might enjoy high school substitute teaching for classes like biology, chemistry, earth science, all of those kinds of things, versus maybe somebody who's an engineer who might enjoy teaching math and calculus,” Schieffer says.

If you think substitute teaching might be an interesting career path to explore, taking a few important steps may help you get to the head of the class.

What are the requirements to become a substitute teacher?

Requirements to be a substitute teacher vary depending on state and school district. Some states require a college degree or minimum number of college credits to obtain a license or certification to be a substitute. Others simply require a high school diploma, while some require coursework to obtain substitute teacher credentials. So, check with your local school district or state department of education to find out the specifics for the school in which you intend to teach. Private schools may also have less specific requirements.

How much do substitute teachers earn?

Pay rates also vary significantly. Substitute teachers are typically paid a per diem rate. According to the BLS, the nationwide mean hourly wage in 2023 was $20.95. However, experts interviewed for this piece estimated that, depending on state and school district, pay rate per day could range from roughly $85 to more than $200 in some areas of California. Long-term substitute teachers who cover a classroom for several weeks may earn more than the BLS mean hourly wage.

Steps to become a substitute teacher

1. Complete the eligibility requirements

Once you know what’s required of you to become a substitute, you can begin preparing. That process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. For example, in New Jersey, 18 hours of coursework is required for substitute credentials. Wyoming offers two paths to becoming a substitute teacher. You can either complete 60 college semester hours or earn an associate’s degree. Or, through an “alternate route,” you can have a high school diploma and complete 24 hours of in district training and 30 hours of classroom observation. In addition, you must pass U.S. and Wyoming Constitution exams. Check with your state and school district for specific requirements.

Most districts also require fingerprinting and background checks, says Idaho substitute teacher Buffie LaRocca. You may be required to pay for those checks. The goal is to ensure that candidates don’t have a history of behavior that may endanger children. If you have legal or other issues that may show up in a background check, it’s best to address them early, Schieffer says. “They're really looking for some sort of predator or something pretty significant. And if you do have something, the best thing to do is to be up front and say, ‘Hey, this is probably going to show up. This is what happened,’” she says. In some cases, the district may be able to issue a waiver.

2. Decide what type of teaching role you want

Bailey says that substitutes often have the option to choose the type of work they want to do. For example, Feeney prefers to work with younger children in preschool and elementary school, whereas LaRocca prefers to work with middle school and high school students. You typically can choose the school, grade level, subjects and other aspects you prefer, Nelson says.

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In Nelson’s district and many others, the scheduling of substitute teachers is done through apps. “Gone are the days where you didn't even know where you were going, and you would just accept the job and show up and hope for the best,” she says. Now, you can specify the work you want — and turn it down if it doesn’t suit your preferences or availability.

3. Get started with a school and class

Once you’ve obtained the necessary regional credentials, follow the requirements of the specific school where you wish to work, Bailey says. This may include creating a profile on the state’s Department of Education website and paying a fee. The process may also require proof of identification or other documentation. Nelson says she may do a brief interview with candidates to get a sense of how they interact with others before they’re hired for the classroom.

While training or certification may prepare you with the basics, there’s nothing like getting up in front of the class for the first time, LaRocca says. She has subbed in four different states, and each group of students is different. In many cases, the teacher will leave lesson plans for the substitute, but sometimes you must be able to think on your feet and come up with options if there is no plan. “You have to have flexibility, humor and patience,” she says.

4. Be ready for the unexpected

Plans — including lesson plans — can sometimes go awry. Bailey suggests having a “backup kit” just in case the lesson plan isn’t available or doesn’t work out. For example, in one case, the materials Feeney needed were on a laptop and the person with the password was out. Consider bringing a grade level-appropriate book or educational game to the class just in case something gets in the way of the plan you had.

Schieffer says it’s also a good idea to network with other substitute teachers to get ideas and share resources. She runs a Facebook page for her business and another private group called Substitute Teacher Café, where substitute teachers can connect. Sometimes, they find that substitute teaching is the gateway to a full-time teaching career. “A lot of people will actually go into substitute teaching, and then realize, ‘Hey, I missed my calling. This is what I want to do,’ and they start taking courses to become certified to have their own classroom.”

With substitute teachers in high demand, this career option is a flexible opportunity that can both align with your interests and expertise while also fitting into your schedule. Find out what your state and school district require, and you may soon find yourself helping young minds reach their potential.

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Gwen Moran is a contributing writer for AARP who specializes in business and finance. Her work has appeared in many leading business publications and websites, including Entrepreneur, Kiplinger.com, Newsweek.com, and the Los Angeles Times Magazine.