Requirements - First Issuance
- Associate's degree or 60 semester hours or higher and the completion of an approved substitute authorization course. You can download an Instruction Sheet for help completing the application.
- Mandatory reporter training for child abuse.
Term
5 years
Authority
Substitute teach for a contracted teacher out on leave in any subject grades PK-12. Cannot serve as a long-term substitute. Limited to 10 days in a row in a 30-day period in the same assignment. Cannot fill open positions.
Paraeducators who hold a paraeducator certificate with the limited substitute authorization may serve as a substitute only in their own special education classroom. If the paraeducator holds a full substitute authorization, they may serve as a substitute teacher in any classroom except driver’s ed.
Renewals
2 renewal credits and the mandatory reporter training for child abuse.
Extension
Yes - if more time is needed to complete renewal requirements.
Course Providers
The easiest way to find the providers is to google Iowa substitute authorization course.
- All Iowa AEAs have the substitute authorization program
- Iowa Substitute Teaching Authorization Virtual Instructor Led (by zoom and online): The AEA has a spreadsheet of their statewide course offerings. The AEA maintains this spreadsheet, so please be sure to follow up with the individual AEA to verify course time, date and availability.
- Iowa Substitute Teaching Authorization Self-Paced Course: Complete the course in 15 hours at your own pace online.
- NIACC - contact Josie Siemons
- Eastern Iowa Community College - contact Heather Neavor
- Buena Vista - contact Emily Sangwin
- Iowa State University - contact Teresa Kahler
- Iowa Western Community College - contact Kelly Stuckey