How to become a substitute teacher in Washington D.C.

If you’re passionate about shaping young minds and making a difference in education, you’re in the right place!

We’ll cover the steps and requirements to become a substitute teacher in the vibrant capital city of Washington, DC.

Want a PDF that summarizes the steps on how to sub in Washington DC?

Download the Scoot guide

Why substitute teach?

Whether you want to work in education long-term or need something flexible between jobs, substitute teaching is a great next step. Here’s why:

Make a difference in your community

Substitute teachers are incredibly valuable to school communities and students. When teachers have to call out of work, it’s the subs who help keep schools open.

Even if you only see your students for one day out of the week, you play an essential role in keeping their education on track.

Learn transferable job skills

As a sub, you’ll develop valuable career skills such as public speaking, thinking on your feet, and problem solving. These skills help you no matter where you go in your career.

Create your own schedule

The best part about being a sub? You choose when you want to work—no questions asked. This flexibility is perfect for balancing other commitments.

As a Scoot sub, you can set your available hours and days using our Scoot2Work app. We only call you for jobs that suit your schedule.

Earn extra income

Many people substitute teach alongside other priorities. Whether you’re a student, stay-at-home parent, retiree, or pursuing other goals, subbing lets you earn money doing meaningful work.

Why sub with Scoot?

Join our community of educators, get personalized support from your consultant, and access professional development resources! Read our blog post to find out why educators love Scoot.

As of 2024 in DC, we’ve achieved more than 5,300 placements for our educators. And we have partnerships with 16 schools, some with multiple campuses.

Join a community of Scoot subs

Connect with other Scoot subs in your area! We host year-end celebrations and fun events to eat, drink, socialize, and celebrate your wins.

Get dedicated 1-on-1 support

Our DC consultant team has got your back! When you sub with Scoot, you’ll get paired with a dedicated Education Consultant.

Your consultant finds jobs that match your skills and preferences. They also check in after each assignment and offer coaching when you need it. Many of our consultants are former teachers who understand the challenges you face.

“My experience as a Scoot educator has been tremendous – I’ve grown professionally and gained valuable experience. My supervisors, especially my consultant Khiana, frequently checked in and kept an open ear to anything I needed throughout the role.”

-Ola Oduleye, Substitute Teacher in DC

Get free teacher preparation resources

We provide teacher tips and guides to behavior management, special education, and trauma-informed teaching mindsets. We also run summer professional development sessions for our subs in long-term positions.

DC substitute teacher requirements

Each school in Washington D.C. has its own hiring and onboarding requirements for substitute teachers. This is because the District does not offer a standardized substitute teacher certification process.

With Scoot, all you need is:

1. 60 college credit hours. You do not need a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.
2. Pass 3 background checks (one civil, two criminal checked against state and federal databases)
3. 3 references (one is from a supervisor)
4. Pass state-required and Scoot trainings

Steps to become a substitute teacher in Washington DC

Substitute teacher requirements vary between schools, which can be confusing. Each district has different rules, and you’d normally need to submit separate applications for each one.

Good news! With Scoot, you only need one application to work with any of our 16 partner schools.

Apply now

Here’s how you can become a substitute teacher in Washington DC with Scoot Education.

Step 1: Apply online

First, begin your application with Scoot online.

You’ll answer some screening questions and upload your resume (if you have one). If you don’t have one, you can fill out our questionnaire that builds a resume for you.

Then we’ll see if you’re a good match with us. Some things we check for are:

• What kind of teaching experience do you have?
• Do you hold any teaching credentials?
• If you don’t have classroom experience, have you worked with children before (i.e. tutoring, summer camp, sports)?

Step 2: Complete phone screen and interview

One of our Education Consultants will call you to discuss:

• Why you want to substitute teach
• Your experience working with students
• Your school preferences, availability, and location

This helps us match you with the right opportunities. If you ever want to branch out to new grade-levels or different subjects, just let us know. You can enjoy a variety of subbing opportunities with Scoot.

Step 3: Complete onboarding requirements

Great job! Once you’ve passed your interview and signed your offer letter, you’ll start onboarding with us. You’ll submit:

• Three references–including at least one supervisor and one person who can speak to your experience working with children
• Payroll information
• I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form
• Friendly, professional Scoot profile photo
• Complete three Scoot trainings:
  • Health and safety
  • Workplace violence
  • Creating inclusive classrooms
• Complete state-required Mandated Reporter Training

Step 5: Pass background checks

The District of Columbia requires 3 separate background checks, two of which are criminal and one civil, before you can start subbing:

• Civil: The Child Protection Register (CPR) which is a non-criminal check to see if an individual has record of substantiated abuse or neglect of a child
• Criminal: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which includes criminal and sex offender records from all 50 states
• Criminal: The local police department

All local and national records are kept highly confidential. Here’s how you can obtain clearance for each check.

Child Protection Registry

Complete and submit a DC CPR Check Request form online. Results typically take up to 21 business days to process, and there is no cost to the educator for this background check.

FBI Background Check

Get fingerprinted at a fingerprinting vendor. Scoot reimburses you for the FBI fingerprinting fee in their first paycheck!

Here are the steps to get fingerprinted:

1. Register for an account or login with an existing account on Applicant Services.
2. Fill out the questionnaire.
3. Select a location and time for your fingerprinting appointment.
4. Pay for the $47 fingerprinting fee. Scoot will reimburse you in your first paycheck after your first shift!
5. Take the form to the appointment.
6. Download a copy of your receipt to upload to us.

You’ll find your results on Applicant Services. Usually, results are returned on the same day, but sometimes can take up to 48 hours.

Local Background Check

Lastly, you’ll answer some questions online through Checkr, an online compliance screening platform. Checkr provides fast and fair background checks, so you can start teaching quickly.

Step 6: Pass the 20 Year Work History Verification

Top off your application by passing your 20 Year Work History Verification.

What is the 20 Year Work History Verification?

The School Safety Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 requires schools to take steps to ensure a positive social and emotional learning environment and to prevent sexual misconduct in schools.

As a result, all substitute teachers in DC must complete a work history review covering the last 20 years of employment involving direct interaction with children.

How do I pass this requirement?

Along with your three references for Scoot Education, please provide references from any previous jobs where you worked directly with children.

If a reference overlaps, please tell them to complete both the Scoot Education Reference and the DC 20 Year Work History check.

We will contact these references via email, text, or phone to verify your past work experience.

Commonly asked questions

1. Do I need a bachelor’s degree to become a substitute teacher in DC?

You don’t need a bachelor’s or associate’s degree. Scoot only requires 60 college credit hours, which aligns with DCPS requirements. Some other districts require a bachelor’s degree, but Scoot makes it easy to become a sub.

2. Do I need a substitute teacher certification or license in DC?

You don’t need a sub certification or license. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) stopped issuing substitute teacher licenses in 2016. However, if you have a DC or out-of-state teaching license, you can upload it when applying to Scoot.

3. How much does a substitute teacher make?

A substitute teacher’s pay in DC depends on assignment length, type of role, school, and certificate level.

DCPS substitute teacher pay specifies the following range:

• Daily Substitute: $160/full day; $80/half day
• Long Term Substitute: $200/full day

4. How do I find work as a substitute teacher?

Use our Scoot2Work app to set your work availability. You can set your daily, weekly, and monthly availability and indicate your “Ready2Work” status for last-minute, same-day assignments.

Substitute teach with Scoot Education

In summary, Scoot Education makes it easy to become a substitute teacher in DC!

• Get personalized support from our dedicated consultant team from hiring, onboarding, to working shifts.
• Join a community of educators locally and nationally.
• Access teacher professional development resources and summer training sessions.
• Submit only one application to teach at any of our 16 partner schools.
• We cover the full cost of your fingerprinting fee.

Subbing with Scoot means feeling supported in your work as a substitute teacher and getting benefits that independent subs don’t have.

Apply now