Many prospective teachers choose to enter the arena of education by first becoming a substitute teacher. This allows them to explore the world of teaching and to gain essential classroom management skills and experience that will help them as they work towards obtaining their teaching credential and begin a full-time teaching career.
Washington D.C. offers both a Regular Substitute License and a Limited Term Substitute License, each of which has different educational requirements. The main difference between these two types of licensure is the number of days a substitute teacher is allowed to teach each academic year. Regular license holders are not limited; however, limited license holders may teach only up to 90 days per year.
How to Become a Substitute Teacher in Washington D.C.
- To be eligible for a Limited Term Substitute License, obtain 60 credit hours at a regionally accredited college.
- To be eligible for a Regular Term Substitute License, obtain a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college.
- Complete a Substitute Teacher License Application and submit it, along with official transcripts and a $30 application fee, to the Office of Educator Licensure and Quality, a department of the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Applications can be downloaded at the OSSE website, www.osse.dc.gov.
The Seattle Public School District is one of the largest school districts in the United States. The larger population areas of Washington are always looking for qualified classroom teachers. Places to explore for job opportunities in Washington State include Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, and the Vancouver areas. WaTeach is an internet site that hosts some teaching job offerings.