Steps to become a substitute teacher in West Virginia

While teacher shortages are affecting many parts of the country, substitute teachers are getting harder to find as the old supply of substitutes are drafted into full-time classroom duties. In West Virginia, all substitute teachers must hold a valid teaching license with the state that includes being up to date on professional development license renewal requirements.

1. All teachers in West Virginia must have a high school diploma or completed GED certification.
2. All teachers in West Virginia must have a BA degree in education or another area that is suitable to the classroom subjects that they’d like to teach. Below are some colleges that offer teacher education programs that will help you get started.
   

   Walden University Online
   Ashford University Online
   Western Governors University
   American Intercontinental University
   Argosy University

   * There are so many accredited colleges that offer teaching degrees, and it is very important to ensure that the college you select meets your budget and convenience. So get free information from more than one college to make sure that you are making the right choice.
3. All teachers in West Virginia must be able to pass background checks.
4. All teachers in West Virginia must pass applicable Praxis skills tests.
5. All teachers in West Virginia must have their classroom preparation and student teaching courses completed.
6. All teachers in West Virginia must participate in ongoing supplemental education or professional development schedules that are required for license renewal.

Quite a few of the current substitute teachers in West Virginia are individuals who are taking a year or so off from teaching in order to pursue advanced education options. They find that substitute teaching keeps them involved with their chosen school districts while adding some income to help while they are studying. Teachers coming in from out-of-state also volunteer to be hired into substitute teaching jobs as a way to find out if they will enjoy working with a chosen school district prior to taking on a long-term job.