How to Become a Substitute Teacher in Los Angeles

Substitute teachers handle the same classroom issues as regular teachers.

Before discussing how to become a substitute teacher in Los Angeles, it is necessary to understand what a substitute teacher is. A substitute teacher is a temporary teacher assigned to take the place of an absent regular teacher. This can be for a day, several days or even for a full semester. Assignments vary according to the needs of the school district. The substitute's responsibility is to follow the lesson plans and instructions left by the regular teacher or the rulings by the supervisor in charge. This includes all classroom issues from taking attendance, covering the subject matter and grading papers to handling discipline problems.

Instructions

1. Contact the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education at 213-241-1000 and inquire if there are part-time substitute positions available. Sign up for these if you prefer a part-time position rather than a full-time job. As a part-time substitute, you can work as much as you care to whenever there is a need in the school system, select which school assignments to accept and earn money while working for permanent certification. If you're retired, substituting allows you to teach at a pace that suits your needs.

2. Check to see that you meet the qualifications and standards for full-time licensed employees in order to become a substitute teacher in Los Angeles. If you don't already have a state-issued teaching license, contact the Commission on Teacher Credentials, Box 944270, Sacramento, CA 94244-2700, for an application. Show completion of a teacher preparation program, including student teaching, to the Los Angeles board. Gather the required documentation of your experience and submit letters of reference from the principal of your past three years of teaching experience and/or the final student teaching evaluation if completed within the past year. Arrange with the board for an interview and fingerprinting. Get health clearance as well as a permit to work in the U.S.

3. Contact the Los Angeles Unified School District to inquire if it currently allows, as it does from time to time, for noncredentialed candidates to be considered as substitutes. You must have a bachelor's degree or higher with a 2.7 grade point average and pass the CBEST exam, a basic skills test that evaluates reading, writing and math ability. Submit letters of recommendation from the past three years of work experience. Arrange for an interview, fingerprinting, health clearance and authorization to work in the U.S. Register and take a mandatory pre-service training requirement of 40 hours.

4. Apply for a substitute teaching application via [e-mail] or online at www.teachinla.com. Arrange for an email address if you don't have one. The board of education responds to your application only via email. Check that your substitute license is renewed each year by contacting www.teachinla.com/substitute. Call 213-241-1000 if you have questions.

5. Be available between 5:30 and 9 p.m. for next-day assignments or 5:30 and 8:30 a.m. for service that day.

6. Fulfill your responsibilities as a substitute. Arrive early and report to the school office for payroll purposes. Bring a photo ID. Return keys and other items to the school office at the end of the day. Keep a log to be sure you receive credit for each day. Supervise the assigned class at all times, and report accidents or illnesses to the principal's office. .

References

• Teach in LA: Lausd Certified Substitute Department
• Teach in LA: Substitute Teacher Procedures

Resources

• We Teach LA: Application