The substitute teaching license is issued through the ODE to qualified individuals at the request of a school district (e-signature of superintendent). The substitute license is available for periods of one year or five years and may be renewed online after Jan. 1 of the year the license will expire. 

 New Substitute Teaching License (1 year or 5 year)

Applicants will select teaching field(s) based on the post-secondary degree(s) they hold.

• Post-secondary degree in Education:

  • Issued with a teaching field of “Education Degree-Unlimited.”

  • Valid for teaching unlimited days in a specific class in any subject or grade level, including intervention specialist areas.

• Post-secondary degree in a subject related to an area of licensure:

  • Issued with a teaching field in a designated subject area related to the post-secondary degree (e.g., Integrated Mathematics). Review the list of subject areas available here.

  • Valid for teaching unlimited days in the designated subject area in any grade level.

  • Valid for teaching one semester in a specific class in other subjects with local board approval.

• Post-secondary degree in a subject unrelated to any area of licensure:

  • Issued with a teaching field of "General Substitute."

  • Valid for teaching one semester in a specific class at any grade level with local board approval (the employing Ohio school board must approve extended assignments).

• For individuals who are limited to one semester in a specific class, the local board of education may approve additional subsequent semesters in the same class.

• Career-Tech Workforce Development (CTWD) – The district e-signer must electronically approve the online application to verify that you have the necessary skills and/or education to serve in the teaching field requested. Be sure to indicate in the application which Ohio school district or career center your application is to go to for electronic approval. Review the list of CTWD subject areas available here

• Reminder: Substitute teaching licenses are for substitute teaching. Substitute licenses do not meet proper certification requirements as required in Revised Code section 3319.074

Please DO NOT apply for this license (new) through the ODE online system (OH/ID Account) until you have notified and/or completed the process at the Ohio school, district or educational service center for which you are interested in serving as a substitute teacher.  You will need to notify the organization that you will be selecting as you apply online; the organization's e-signer will need to electronically sign your license application.  Otherwise, it is possible that your application will be declined.

Following the recent passage of House Bill 583, the Department will be issuing nonrenewable temporary substitute teaching licenses. The 1-year temporary non-bachelor's substitute teaching license allows applicants who do not have a post-secondary degree, but meet the employing school or district’s set of educational requirements, to serve in the role of a substitute teacher.  

For further information about substitute licenses and the application process, click the Ohio Department of Education link below:

 Ohio Department of Education Substitute and Temporary Substitute License Information