Due to ongoing pandemic, DESE changes requirements needed to obtain substitute teaching certificate

Due to the ongoing pandemic, many schools have found themselves without enough teachers. When a teacher is sent home due to exposure or illness, another teacher is left to take their place.
Unfortunately, this is happening so frequently that there simply are not enough substitutes to cover the workload that has been created by having students not only in seated courses, but also online classes as well.
Because of this predicament, DESE, (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education), has changed the way an individual can obtain a substitute teaching certificate.
Substitute Certificate Processes
Individuals with valid Missouri teaching certificates who wish to substitute teach in a school district are no longer required by DESE to apply for a substitute certificate. This includes individuals who hold an initial professional, career continuous professional, lifetime, student services, administration, provisional, and/or temporary certificate. There are restrictions on the number of hours a retired teacher may substitute teach. If, at any time, the educator allows his/her teaching certificate to expire, then a substitute certificate would be required.
A new criminal fingerprint/background clearance will be required if you have not been employed as a substitute teacher during the current school year. If you have been employed as a substitute teacher, contact your local school district to request that they verify your experience in their online Substitute Verification Log prior to the expiration of your substitute certificate.
If you completed a background check between March 1 and November 4, of this year, you may be eligible for a reimbursement of the $41.75 cost through your employing school district. Questions concerning background check reimbursement should be directed to the employing school district.
Types of Substitute Certificates
DESE issues two types of substitute certificates, depending upon the setting(s) in which an individual will be placed. Regardless of the type of substitute certificate, each applicant is required to complete a background check if he/she is requesting a new certificate or is considered to be a new hire at a school district. If an applicant has previously fingerprinted for DESE, a new fingerprint clearance will be required if the previous one is over 12 months old.
A Content Substitute certificate is for individuals wishing to substitute teach in the K-12 classroom setting (elementary, middle/ high school content areas, special education, art, music, PE, etc.). A Content Substitute certificate may be granted to an individual who has completed a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited, academic degree-granting, college or university. Verification of these hours must be provided with an original transcript from each institution the applicant has attended. A Content Substitute certificate may also be granted to an individual who has a high school diploma, General Education Diploma (GED) or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) and has successfully completed a minimum of 20 clock hours of department-approved substitute teacher training that includes professionalism, honoring diversity, engaging students, foundational classroom management techniques, basic instructional strategies, supporting students with special needs, and working with at-risk youth.
The alternate route to the substitute certificate using the 20 hours of online training will be available through Feb. 28, 2021. Individuals will need to have their substitute application submitted and the online training completed by the end of the day on Feb. 28. Upon receipt of all supporting documentation (fingerprint, background check, high school diploma or the equivalent and certificate of completion of the online training), the substitute certificate may be issued, even if it is after Feb. 28.
A Career Technical Substitute certificate is for individuals who will only substitute teach in a career center or an approved vocational program in courses such as carpentry, welding, nursing, etc. A Career Technical Substitute certificate is granted based upon an applicant’s occupational experience and training in a specific field. Applicants must meet one of the following:
-A bachelor’s degree in an area appropriate for the career/technical area sought and 4,000 hours of locally approved, related occupational experience;
-An associate's degree in an area appropriate for the career/technical area sought and 5,000 hours of locally approved, related experience;
-6,000 hours of locally approved, related occupational experience.
To view or print your certificate, you will need to log on to DESE Web Applications with your user id and password. Once you have access to your profile page, the Certificate Status link is located in the menu to the left. By clicking on Certificate Status, you will see the box that says View Substitute Certificate. You will then be able to view and print your substitute certificate.
For more information, go to https://dese. mo.gov/edu.../certification/substitute-teachers.