MO-Substitute Teaching Certification

TWO TYPES OF CERTIFICATES

DESE issues two types of substitute certificates, depending upon the setting(s) in which an individual will be placed. Regardless of the type of substitute certificate, each applicant is required to complete a background check if he/she is requesting a new certificate or is considered to be a new hire at a school district. If an applicant has previously been fingerprinted for DESE, a new fingerprint clearance will be required if the previous one is over twelve months old. 

A Content Substitute certificate is for individuals wishing to substitute teach in the K-12 classroom setting (elementary, middle/high school content areas, special education, art, music, PE, etc.). A Content Substitute certificate may be granted to an individual who has completed a minimum of 36 semester hours of 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. International transcripts are evaluated by an approved credentialing agency. More information is available here.

This change from 60 semester hours of credit to 36 semester hours of credit occurred as a part of Senate Bill 681, which was signed by Governor Parsons and became effective as of June 2022.

The 20 hours of online training to be a substitute teacher is available through Frontline Education, Kelly Services, Inc., as well as several Missouri colleges and universities. A Content Substitute certificate may now be granted to an individual who has successfully completed a minimum of twenty (20) clock hours of department-approved substitute teacher training. Training is now available at the links below. Technical assistance for any issues or questions regarding the online training is provided by Frontline and the institutions can be accessed at the links below;

• Frontline Education 
• Approved Missouri Colleges and Universities 

A Career Technical Substitute certificate is for individuals who will only substitute teach in a career center or an approved vocational program in courses such as carpentry, welding, nursing, etc. A Career Technical Substitute certificate is granted based upon an applicant’s occupational experience and training in a specific field. Applicants must meet one of the following:

You will need to log on to the DESE Application Sign-In with your username and password. Once you have access to your profile page, the Certificate Status link is located in the menu to the left. By clicking on Certificate Status, you will see the box that says View Substitute Certificate. You will then be able to view and print your substitute certificate. This is just a placeholder to help you visualize how the content is displayed in the tabs. Feel free to edit this with your actual content.

A bachelor’s degree in an area appropriate for the career/technical area sought and four thousand (4,000) hours of locally approved, related occupational experience; or

An associate’s degree in an area appropriate for the career/technical area sought and five thousand (5,000) hours of locally approved, related experience; or

Six thousand (6,000) hours of locally approved, related occupational experience.

APPLY FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHER CERTIFICATION

All certification requests will be made through the online educator certification system.  

1. CREATE ACCOUNT

1. To access the system, you must first create and register a username and password on the Certification Account Portal. Click “Create Account” in the lower portion of the page.
2. Complete the registration questions
3. Click “Create Account” (a confirmation message will appear)
4. Click “Return to DESE Login page” link

NOTE: Do not create more than one username. Creating multiple usernames will cause the system to deny you access to your profile page and certification records. If you have forgotten your username or password, you can click on “Forgot Username/Password?” in the lower section of the login page to request your username or to reset your password.

2. CONNECT USERNAME/PASSWORD TO WEB APPLICATIONS SYSTEM  

1. Enter your username and password and click “Sign In” to access the Application menu page.
2.  Click “Educator Certification System – Request Educator Access” link (under Secure Access) 
3. Click “Submit”
4. Click “Close” in the small confirmation window
5. Click on “Educator Certification System” link
6. Enter your Social Security Number (SSN) and date of birth (DOB)
7. Click “Submit”
8. Enter or verify your Profile information (proper/legal name – no nicknames) and click “Save Profile”
9. Scroll down and complete or edit the Contact Information* section and click “Save”

    *An e-mail address must be included in this section, as all correspondence from Educator Certification will be sent to you by e-mail.

3. APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION

1. Locate the appropriate application (Initial, Substitute, Non-MO Graduate, etc.) under “Applications” in the menu on the left side of your Profile page.
2. Click on the application name link to open the application
3. Complete the application*
4. Click “Submit to DESE”
5. Mail supporting documents as indicated on application checklist, if applicable (NOTE: Your internet browser must allow “pop-ups” in order to view the application checklist.)

*Complete the application, answering the Professional Conduct questions on the application truthfully and reviewing the Sworn Statement before electronically signing by selecting “I accept.” This agreement provides DESE with permission to verify your professional conduct statements

REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION must be mailed to: Educator Certification, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480.

• ORIGINAL TRANSCRIPTS from ALL institutions you have attended. Please be sure to include your Social Security number or Educator ID number on all of the transcripts. Acceptable hours must be completed through a college or university that is regionally accredited through one of the following approved associations: AdvancEd, Higher Learning Commission, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Do not email copies of transcripts. Faxed, scanned, emailed, or photocopied transcripts will not be accepted. Electronic transcripts will be accepted directly from the National Student Clearinghouse. Transcripts become the property of the department and cannot be returned.
• INTERNATIONAL TRANSCRIPTS are reviewed by an approved credentialing agency. More information is available here.

OR

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FROM APPROVED SUBSTITUTE TRAINING and

COPY OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA Issued by a public school or accredited non-public school, GENERAL EDUCATION DIPLOMA (GED), OR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY TEST (HISET).  Please be sure to include your Social Security number or Educator ID number. Faxed, scanned, or emailed documents will not be accepted. These documents become the property of the department and cannot be returned.  

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FINGERPRINT/BACKGROUND CHECK

• A criminal fingerprint/background clearance must be obtained before a certificate can be issued. 

1. Complete 20-hr Training or College Credit requirements. If you do not meet the college credits, see “Frontline Course” button above.
2. Set up account on D.E.S.E. Application Site. See Application tab above.
3. Apply online to the school district of your choice through their website. Once they offer you employment, they will give you their specific code.
4. Schedule Fingerprints. You need the school district’s code before getting fingerprints done. See Fingerprints tab above.
5. Mail required supporting documents to D.E.S.E. See Required Documents tab above.
6. Submit D.E.S.E. application with $50 fee. See Application tab above.

Checking the Status

Checking the Status of your Application

1. Access your Profile page by logging in here with your username and password
2. Click “Educator Certification System“
3. Scroll down to and click on the gray “Application Status” bar or click on the “Application Status” link in the menu on the left side of your Profile page
4. Click on the blue application name link (Upgrade, Additional, Administrator, etc.)
5. Scroll to bottom of page to read the “Memo” Section
    

Checking the Status of your Background Clearance

1. Access your Profile page by logging in here with your username and password
2. Scroll down to and click on the gray “Fingerprint Information” bar on your profile page

Checking the Status of your Education Records

1. Access your Profile page by logging in here with your username and password
2. Click “Educator Certification System“
3. Click on “Education” in the menu on the left side of your Profile page to view your records
4. You may add the name and location of any colleges/universities you have attended that are not listed.  All other information will be entered by DESE upon receipt of original transcripts that must be mailed to:
   Educator Certification
   P.O. Box 480
   Jefferson City, MO 65102

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Viewing your Designated Assessment Scores

1. Access your Profile page by logging in here with your username and password
2. Click “Educator Certification System“
3. Scroll down to and click on the gray “Assessments” bar on your profile page
    

Viewing and Printing a Copy of your Missouri Certificate

Print the certificate

Access your Profile page by logging in here with your username and password

Click “Educator Certification System“

Scroll down to and click on the gray “Certificate Status” bar or click on the “Certificate Status” link in the menu on the left side of your profile page

Locate and click on “View Certificate” in the center of the page