To become a substitute teacher in Florida, you need a high school diploma or equivalent, a cleared Level 2 background check, and completion of a district-run training program before you can accept any classroom assignment.1Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 1012 Section 35 Those are the statewide baselines. Everything else, including pay, additional education requirements, and how you apply, is set by each of Florida’s 67 school districts individually. Where you apply matters as much as whether you qualify.
Education and Age You Need
The entry bar is lower than most people expect. Florida sets the minimum at a high school diploma or its equivalent, such as a GED.1Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 1012 Section 35 No college credits or bachelor’s degree required for daily substitute work at the state level. Most districts also require you to be at least 18.2Seminole County Public Schools. Substitute Teacher Information
Individual districts often add to that floor. Broward County requires a minimum of 60 college credit hours even for standard daily assignments.3Broward County Public Schools. Substitute Salary Schedule Nassau County hires high school diploma holders but pays them less than bachelor’s degree holders.4Nassau County School District. Become a Substitute Order your official transcripts early; every district uses them to verify your education level and place you in the right pay tier.
Level 2 Background Check and Fingerprinting
Florida law requires every person hired for a position with direct student contact to pass a Level 2 background screening before starting work.5The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 1012.32 – Screening of Personnel The screening checks state criminal records through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and federal records through the FBI. A conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude, as defined by the State Board of Education, disqualifies you from any student-contact role.
You schedule an appointment with an FDLE-approved Live Scan vendor, who captures your fingerprints electronically and submits them to FDLE and the FBI. Government processing fees total $36: $24 for the state check and $12 for the federal check.6FDLE. Criminal History Record Check Fee Schedule The Live Scan vendor charges its own service fee on top, so budget roughly $50 to $80 total. The statute allows districts to cover the cost, but many pass it to the applicant.5The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 1012.32 – Screening of Personnel
Some districts also require a pre-employment drug screening, usually at your expense. Check your target district’s substitute page before scheduling anything.
Applying to a District and Completing Training
With transcripts and cleared screening results, you apply through your chosen district’s online hiring portal. Most districts use centralized platforms where you upload transcripts, ID documents, and background check results. Some charge a small application or processing fee.
Before you can accept a classroom assignment, Florida law requires you to complete an orientation covering school safety, liability laws, professional responsibilities, and ethics.1Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 1012 Section 35 This training is mandatory statewide and cannot be waived.4Nassau County School District. Become a Substitute If you have no prior teaching experience, the state requires an additional module on classroom management and instructional strategies.
Some districts run training entirely online; others hold in-person sessions. In certain districts, third-party staffing companies such as Kelly Education run the hiring and training process for the district. Once training is done, the district issues a local Substitute Certificate that is typically valid for five school fiscal years.
How You Get Assignments
Once cleared and trained, most Florida districts add you to an automated absence management system. Frontline Education (formerly Aesop) is the platform many districts use.7Frontline Education. Absence Management It notifies you of open assignments matching your qualifications, availability, and school preferences. You can browse and accept jobs through a web portal or app, and the system also uses automated calls for last-minute openings.
Teachers can attach lesson plans to their absence requests, so you often have a roadmap before you walk in. Administrators can also skip the automated system and assign a specific substitute directly, which happens more once you build a reputation at a school. Substitutes who stay busy are the ones who accept assignments quickly, show up reliably, and say yes to less popular schools and grade levels.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Assignments
Florida draws a meaningful line at 30 consecutive days in the same classroom. Below that, a high school diploma and your district substitute certificate are enough. Beyond 30 days, most districts require a valid Florida Educator’s Certificate, or at minimum a bachelor’s degree with a major in the subject area you are covering.2Seminole County Public Schools. Substitute Teacher Information Districts must also evaluate any substitute teaching 30 or more days in a single classroom placement.1Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 1012 Section 35
Some districts set the threshold lower. Seminole County requires a higher-level certificate or degree for any assignment lasting 10 or more consecutive days.2Seminole County Public Schools. Substitute Teacher Information Long-term assignments come with meaningfully higher daily pay.
What Florida Districts Pay
Pay is set district by district, and the range is wide. For daily assignments, expect roughly $100 to $135 per day across most districts. Nassau County pays $120 per day for substitutes with a high school diploma or associate’s degree, and $135 per day with a bachelor’s degree or higher.4Nassau County School District. Become a Substitute Broward County pays $15.00 per hour for daily substitutes with 60 college credit hours, and interim (long-term) rates reach $32.31 per hour for bachelor’s degree holders.3Broward County Public Schools. Substitute Salary Schedule
Benefits are limited. Most day-to-day substitutes receive no health insurance, no retirement contributions, and no paid time off. Long-term substitutes who consistently work full-time hours may become eligible for employer-sponsored coverage, but that depends on your district’s policies and how your assignments pattern out.
Using Substitute Work to Become a Certified Teacher
Substitute teaching is one of the most practical on-ramps to a full Florida teaching career. If you hold a bachelor’s degree and want to move into a permanent role, the Florida Department of Education offers a Temporary Certificate that lets you teach full-time while you finish the remaining certification requirements.8Florida Department of Education. Educator Certification – Certificate Types and Requirements The Temporary Certificate is nonrenewable and valid for five school years, giving you time to complete coursework, pass the Florida Subject Area Examination, and meet the other requirements for the Professional Certificate.9Florida Department of Education. Certificate Pathways and Routes
Districts are far more likely to offer long-term placements and higher pay once you hold a state-issued certificate. If you already know you want to stay in the classroom, start the certification process early. Five years goes faster than you think.