Official Site of The State of New Jersey

The State of NJ site may contain optional links, information, services and/or content from other websites operated by third parties that are provided as a convenience, such as Google™ Translate. Google™ Translate is an online service for which the user pays nothing to obtain a purported language translation. The user is on notice that neither the State of NJ site nor its operators review any of the services, information and/or content from anything that may be linked to the State of NJ site for any reason. -Read Full Disclaimer close

Certification

Substitutes

A substitute credential applies to a person who temporarily replaces a certified and regularly employed classroom teacher who is absent, or to a person who temporarily fills a vacancy.

Holders of an instructional Certificate of Eligibility (CE), Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS), a standard instructional certificate, or an administrative or educational services certificate shall not be required to obtain a substitute credential before serving as a substitute teacher. Substitute credentials can be used in multiple counties; applicants do not need to apply for more than one substitute credential.

How to Apply for a Substitute Credential

Contact a County Office of Education for all Substitute Credential questions.

Step One: Seek and Obtain a Sponsor School District or Organization for Criminal History Record Clearance.

The sponsoring organization should be the candidate’s teacher preparation program, school district, or vendor organization that the candidate will serve. If the candidate plans to substitute in multiple school districts, he or she must select at least one for application purposes.

Step Two: Complete Criminal History Record Check Process

1. Pay administrative fee(s) for the criminal history background clearance and print out the IdentoGO New Jersey Universal Fingerprint Form from the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Office of Student Protection webpage ($11);

2. Go to the Identogo Website to schedule an appointment and pay fingerprinting fees ($66.05 for those who have never been fingerprinted in New Jersey, or $29.75 if previously printed through the NJDOE subsequent to March 2003).

3. Attend the scheduled appointment time and get fingerprinted. Make sure to bring the following to your scheduled appointment:

• Picture Identification (ID) Note: Foreign passports will no longer be accepted as proof of identification;
• IdentoGO New Jersey Universal Fingerprint Form; and
• Verify criminal history status form

Step Three: Apply for the Substitute Credential Online

Apply for your substitute credential on the NJDOE online educator certification system, NJEdCert.

Instructional Substitute Credential:

• Completion of 30 semester-hour credits at an accredited college or university.
• Criminal History Record Check: approval date must be within five months of the application date with “Substitute Teacher” as the job position.

Career and Technical Education Substitute Credential:

• Evidence of two years of full-time work experience in the appropriate career cluster.
• Work experience shall be documented by verification of employment by employer or presentation of a valid occupational license.
• Criminal History Record Check: approval date must be within five months of the application date with “Substitute Teacher” as the job position.

Substitute School Nurse Non-Instructional Credential:

• Valid New Jersey Registered Professional Nurse license.
• Criminal History Record Check: approval date must be within five months of the application date with “Substitute Nurse” as the job position.

Substitute Educator Service Limits and Related District Processes

Substitute Teacher Service Limit Extension Form for districts seeking to extend service of substitutes holding Substitute Credentials, Certificates of Eligibility (CE), Certificates of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) and Standard certificates.

Extension to Service Limit
(In Same Class Per School Year)

N.J.S.A. 18A:16-1.1a Filling of vacant teaching position; time limit.

A vacant teaching position shall not be filled in any school year by one or more individuals holding a substitute credential issued by the State Board of Education pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.18A:6-38 for a total amount of time exceeding 20 school days. The commissioner may grant an extension of up to an additional 20 school days upon written application from the school district demonstrating the district's inability to hire an appropriately certified teacher for the vacant position within the original 20-day time limit.

Certificate of Eligibility (CE), Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) or Standard certification not in subject area of classroom where substitute is placed.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Substitute Credential

CE or CEAS in subject area of classroom where substitute is placed

School district must notify the Executive County Superintendent if teacher substitutes in the same classroom for more than 60 days.

For an extension of service beyond 60 days, up to one academic year, in the same classroom, the CE and CEAS substitute must:

• Hold a provisional certificate;
• Be enrolled in or have completed a mentoring program; and
• Be enrolled in or have completed a CE or CEAS educator preparation program.

Standard certificate in subject area of classroom where substitute is placed.

Administrative or Educational Services Certificates