2026-2027 Substitute Teacher

State of Missouri Substitute Certification

To substitute teach in a public school within the state of Missouri, applicants must obtain a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) issued substitute certificate. Substitute certificates can be obtained in one of the following ways:

• 36 hours of college 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.

• 
  Frontline Education Online Training Course (20 Hours) Frontline Training LINK

All applicants must also pass a background check as part of the DESE sub certification requirements. More information on how to apply for a Missouri Substitute Certificate can be found by clicking the following link: DESE Substitute Teacher Checklist

NOTE: 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.

Once the on-line application has been received by the district, certification through DESE and background check results are checked. Applications are then approved by the Board of Education during a regular board meeting. Once approved, the applicant will receive a packet in the mail with the Cassville R-IV Substitute Handbook, Technology Usage Agreement, Directions for mandatory on-line training, as well as, Payroll Paperwork. A letter included will outline directions for all paperwork needing to be returned to Central Office.