Substitute Teachers
Additional resources
Licensure Hours
Monday:
1:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday – Friday:
8:30AM – 3:30PM
Requirements
Must meet one of the following:
- Must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
- Beginning January 1, 2023, applicants enrolled in an approved Illinois educator preparation program with at least 90 semester hours of coursework may qualify for the substitute license.
Additional Information
- A substitute teaching license is valid in all grades of public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12.
- Substitute licenses are valid for 5 years and may be renewed with the payment of registration fees.
- View Substitute and Paraprofessional License Checklist
- How to Become a Substitute Teacher?
- Substitute Teaching Positions Available in South Cook Districts
- Upcoming Short-Term Substitute Workshops
Frequently asked questions:
A: If you hold a valid professional educator license, educator license with stipulations or paraprofessional license and hold a bachelor’s degree, you are qualified to be a substitute teacher. You do not need to hold a substitute teaching license.
A: If you have a substitute license, you may work unlimited days per district, per school year. However, you may not work more than 90 days for any one teacher under contract.
If you hold a PEL, or an ELS Licensure Endorsed in a teaching field and have a bachelor’s degree, you may substitute teach unlimited days per district, per school year. However, you may not work more than 120 days for any one teacher under contract.
If you are a retired teacher, you are governed by the rules of your retirement system. Please verify with your retirement system the terms in which your are eligible to substitute teach.
A: School Districts may employ a substitute teacher to cover a vacant position no more than 30 calendar days, and they must notify South Cook ISC within 5 business days of hiring a substitute teacher to cover a vacancy.
A: Employment is handled by individual districts; applications can be found on their district website.
