To work as a substitute teacher in Michigan, you need at least 60 semester hours of college credit (or an associate degree), a clean fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Michigan State Police and FBI, and a school district willing to sponsor a state permit for you. The district files the application through Michigan’s online certification system, and the upfront costs are a $45 permit fee plus fingerprinting charges. Michigan substitute teacher requirements are set by state law and administered by the Michigan Department of Education, but the specific rules that apply to you depend on which type of permit your district requests.
Education Requirements
Every Michigan substitute permit starts from the same academic floor: at least 60 semester hours of college credit with grades of C or better, or an associate degree from an accredited college or university.1Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 380.1233 – The Revised School Code Credits can come from more than one institution, and no particular major is required. Accreditation must be from an institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education.2State of Michigan. Teacher Permits
Special education assignments carry a higher bar. Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, anyone delivering special education programs and services must hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and that applies to substitutes as well.2State of Michigan. Teacher Permits If a district offers you a placement in a special education classroom and you don’t have a bachelor’s, the placement would violate federal requirements.
One narrow exception exists for career and technical education. If you have a high school diploma, at least two years of professional experience in the subject, and hold (or recently held) a professional license in that field, you may qualify to substitute in that specific subject without the 60 credit hours.1Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 380.1233 – The Revised School Code The pathway is limited to industrial technology and CTE courses, and the school board must find that you genuinely have the expertise.
Which Permit You Will Work Under
Michigan issues several permit types. The one your district requests depends on how long you’ll be in the classroom and what subject you’re covering.
Daily Substitute Permit
The daily permit covers intermittent assignments filling in for a temporarily absent teacher. You can move between classrooms and schools within the sponsoring district, but you cannot stay in a single assignment for more than 90 consecutive calendar days.3Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. Michigan Admin Code R 390.1142 – Daily Substitute Permit This is the permit most new substitutes work under.
Full-Year Basic Substitute Permit
The full-year basic permit is for longer placements in a single classroom. It’s valid from issue through August 31.2State of Michigan. Teacher Permits If the assignment is in a core subject (math, English, science, or social studies), you’ll need a college major or minor in that subject, at least 20 credit hours in the content area, or a passing score on the state-approved test for the discipline. The district must assign you a mentor teacher, and renewals require enrollment in an educator preparation program leading to certification.4Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. Michigan Admin Code R 390.1143 – Full-Year Basic Substitute Permit Michigan treats this permit as a bridge toward full certification rather than a long-term arrangement.
Full-Year Expert Substitute Permit
The expert permit is reserved for non-core subjects where the substitute brings professional expertise. You’ll need either a bachelor’s degree or higher, or 60 credit hours combined with a corresponding business or industry license in the subject.2State of Michigan. Teacher Permits It targets fields like welding, cosmetology, and healthcare technology, where real-world credentials matter more than transcripts.
How You Actually Get Hired and Permitted
You cannot apply for a Michigan substitute permit yourself. Permits are issued to the employing school or district, not to the individual, and they are not portable between districts.2State of Michigan. Teacher Permits To substitute in two districts, each must obtain its own permit for you.
The process begins by connecting with a district willing to hire you. The district then accesses the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS), verifies your credentials, and files the permit application with the Michigan Department of Education. A non-refundable $45 fee applies to both initial applications and renewals.5State of Michigan. Certificate Evaluation Fees
Many Michigan districts outsource substitute staffing to third-party agencies such as Edustaff. If your target district uses one, you’ll apply through the agency rather than contacting the district directly. The agency handles recruitment and onboarding, but the district still must obtain the permit through MOECS, and you still must meet all state requirements. Districts remain responsible for making sure every substitute is properly credentialed before placement.6State of Michigan: Michigan Department of Education. Daily Substitute Permit Usage
Fingerprinting and Background Check
Michigan law requires every person employed or regularly working in a school to complete a fingerprint-based criminal history check through both the Michigan State Police and the FBI.7Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 380.1230g Substitutes are not exempt. You’ll submit fingerprints using LiveScan digital technology at an approved vendor, which may be a police department, sheriff’s office, or private provider. Michigan State Police posts do not offer LiveScan services.8Michigan State Police. Livescan Agencies
Costs vary. The Michigan State Police can charge up to $30 for processing and the criminal records check, and LiveScan vendors typically add their own service fees. Total costs at university and district-affiliated sites have been reported around $65.9Michigan State University College of Education. Fingerprinting and Background Checks Confirm current pricing with the vendor before your appointment.
If you’ve already been fingerprinted for one district and you consent in writing, another district can use those existing results instead of requiring a fresh set of prints.7Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 380.1230g Not every district takes advantage of this option. Background check results go directly to the employing district, and you must report any changes to your criminal history while you’re employed.
What You Will Be Legally Responsible For
A Michigan substitute permit comes with real legal obligations that go beyond following the lesson plan on the desk.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse
Michigan law designates school teachers, including substitutes, as mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect. If you have reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect, you must immediately report it to Michigan’s centralized intake system by phone or online.10Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 722.623 – Individual Required to Report You also notify your school administrator and provide a copy of the written report, but that internal notification does not replace your own direct reporting duty.
The law protects reporters from retaliation. A school cannot fire or penalize you for making a required report or cooperating with an investigation, and your identity is kept confidential unless you consent to disclosure or a court orders it.10Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 722.623 – Individual Required to Report “Reasonable cause to suspect” is a deliberately low threshold.
Classroom Conduct and Special Education
You’re expected to follow the same district policies as permanent staff on student discipline, bullying prevention, and emergency procedures. Ask for these on your first day at any new building.
If you’re placed in a special education classroom, you’re responsible for following each student’s Individualized Education Program, which specifies accommodations, modifications, and services the student is legally entitled to. An individual cannot be placed in a special education program without meeting the education requirements for that setting, including at least a bachelor’s degree.2State of Michigan. Teacher Permits
Pay and Automatic Retirement Enrollment
Districts set their own substitute pay rates, and the range is wide enough to shop around. Daily rates generally fall between $100 and $175, with some districts posting rates near $130 per day for the 2025–2026 school year. Long-term assignments and districts facing severe shortages sometimes pay more. Your actual rate depends on the district, your education level, and whether you’re working through a staffing agency that takes part of the billing rate.
Michigan automatically enrolls substitute teachers in the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System. Temporary and intermittent employees, including substitutes, are considered MPSERS members unless they fall into a narrow excluded category.11Michigan Legislature. HB4752 Summary – MPSERS Forfeiture Expand Exemptions A percentage of your daily pay goes to retirement contributions. The exact rate depends on your plan tier, but employee contributions for the 2025–2026 fiscal year run between 3% and 6.4% of compensation.12State of Michigan. MPSERS Contribution Rates Effective October 1, 2025 Through September 30, 2026 On a $130 daily rate, that works out to roughly $4 to $8 per day before it hits your paycheck.
Substitutes are generally not eligible for health insurance or other full-time benefits through the district. Clarify compensation details before accepting your first assignment so the MPSERS deduction isn’t a surprise.