- 1). Possess a high school diploma. The minimum requirement to be substitute teacher in Maryland is having a high school diploma. If you do not have your high school diploma, you will need to get your GED. Most areas of Maryland require more than a high school diploma so be sure to ask the local school district that you are interested in what their minimum requirements are for substitute teachers. To find your local school district location, visit the Maryland State Department of Education Website and click on "Directory of Maryland Public Education 2008-2009" on the right sidebar (see Resources). Then scroll down to the "Local Education Agencies" section of the page to see school districts listed in alphabetical order.
- 2). Take some college classes. In some areas of Maryland, substitute teachers are required to have at least 30 to 60 hours of college coursework completed. The coursework can be in any subject area, but it must be from an accredited university or college.
- 3). Earn a Bachelor's degree. Substitute teachers with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest pay in Maryland. Your Bachelor's degree can be in any subject and there is no minimum GPA requirement. The degree does need to be from an accredited school.
- 4). Attend an orientation session. The school districts in Maryland all have orientation sessions throughout the school year for people interested in substitute teaching in Maryland. To attend a session, contact the school district you are interested in substitute teaching with for the date and time of the next session using the Directory of Maryland Public Education 2008 to 2009 from the Maryland State Department of Education website (see Resources). At the session, you will be able to get an application and the paperwork for a background check and fingerprinting. You will actually do the fingerprinting part of the application process at the session and the school district will forward it to the Maryland State Department of Education.
- 5). Submit a completed application and background check form. All prospective substitute teachers in Maryland have to submit to a background check and fill out an application complete with college transcripts and a resume. All of this needs to be done through the Maryland State Department of Education. After filling out the application and signing your consent to a background check you will need to mail in the completed application and background check form to the Maryland State Department of Education at 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.
- 6). Get certified. In order to get work as a substitute teacher in Maryland you have to get certified. Substitute teaching certification is handled by the Maryland State Department of Education. After you undergo the background check submit your application to Maryland State Department of Education they will make the decision on whether or not to certify you as a substitute teacher in Maryland. You will not need to take any type of test in order to substitute teach in Maryland.
- 7). Get on the subbing list. Once you have attended an orientation session, submitted your application and background check form and got your certification you are ready to get on subbing lists. The only way to get work as a substitute teacher in Maryland is through a school district. There are no temporary staffing agencies that can help place you in a classroom. You will need to contact the school districts you are interested in and ask to be added to their substitute teacher list, which is sometimes referred to as the subbing list. You will have to get an application from each school district you are interested in so that you can get into their system and onto that subbing list. You can get contact info for the school districts from the Directory of Maryland Public Education 2008-2009 from the Maryland State Department of Education website (see Resources). Once you submit your application you can expect to be on their list of active substitute teachers in an average of four days. Some districts in Maryland have a number that they will give you to call each day to see if any positions are available and other districts will actually call you if they need you. The school district will let you know about its policy when you submit your application.
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