Becoming a Substitute

Becoming A Substitute

Application Procedures

Note: Until further notice, Chicago Public Schools is currently only accepting applicants who hold an Illinois State Teaching Certificate and have a degree in Education.

To become a substitute teacher with Chicago Public Schools, you must complete the following steps:

Step I

Obtain an Illinois State Teaching Certificate - All substitute teachers are required to have a Substitute/Teaching Certificate. Certificates can be obtained from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The ISBE requires an official set of college/university transcripts. Photocopies of transcripts will not be accepted.

Note: (1) This set of transcripts is in addition to the set required by Chicago Public Schools. (2) Teachers who are state certified do not need an additional Substitute Certificate.

Step II

Complete a Background Investigation Authorization and Release Form - This form is provided to all candidates who request a Substitute Teacher Applicant Package, and show proof of state certification with the ISBE.

Note: Employment as a substitute teacher is contingent upon successfully passing a criminal background investigation.

Request a Substitute Teacher Application Package - This package is provided by Substitute Services to all candidates who are interested in becoming substitute teachers.

Note: The applicant package should be completed and retained by the applicant for future processing. Please do not mail the applicant package to us.

Step III

Complete a Physical Examination Form - The physical examination must be completed on the Chicago Public Schools' Medical Form by a licensed physician, prior to becoming a substitute teacher. A TB skin test or chest x-ray must be performed in order to comply with Illinois State Law.

Click here to view a list of the City of Chicago Department of Health Clinics.

Note: Employment as a substitute teacher is contingent upon successfully passing a physical examination.

Provide Original Transcripts - Chicago Public Schools currently requires an original set of college/university transcripts with the degree posted. Photocopies of transcripts will not be accepted.

Submit a Resume - The applicant should provide a current professional resume.

Note: All items listed above in Step III should be retained by the applicant for future processing. Please do not mail these items to us.

Step IV

Please allow one week from the date of your background investigation before returning to Employee Services with your completed documents, unless you are told otherwise. You must bring proof of state certification, the completed Application Package, and completed copies of documents as stated in Step III.

Provide Proof of U.S. Citizenship and Establish Identity - Chicago Public Schools requires documentation that provides proof of U.S. citizenship and establishes identity.

If you are a U.S. Citizen, you must provide one of the following documents:

Original Birth Certificate

Current U.S. Passport

If you are NOT a U.S. Citizen, you must provide one of the following documents:

Resident Alien Card

Employment Authorization

You must also provide one of the following documents to establish identity:

Current Driver's License or State ID Card

Current U.S. Passport

Other Current Picture Identification

Note: Chicago Public Schools will ONLY process a substitute application packet if you have all the necessary documents. We will NOT accept an incomplete application packet.

Step V

Receive Employee Photo Identification Badge - Once your applicant package has been reviewed and approved, you will receive your employee photo id badge. You are required to take your badge with you to each assignment to establish identity and for payroll purposes. You will receive a directory of our schools and information on making yourself available for substitute teaching. An employment specialist will be available to answer your questions during your enrollment.

Note: In order to remain an active substitute teacher, you must work at least one day every 90 days (excluding summer school). If you do not work at least once every 90 days, you will be vacated from the Chicago Public Schools eligibility list, and may be required to complete a new background investigation and physical examination in order to re-activate substitute status.

Note: Some of the above documents are available in the Portable Document Format (PDF). Download the free Acrobat Reader plug-in if you cannot view PDF files.

If you have any questions, please contact the Chicago Public Schools, Department of Human Resources, Substitute Services at (773) 553-1080 (Phone) or (773) 553-1081 (Fax) or subservices@cps.k12.il.us (Email).

Legal Statement (Title IX): It is the policy of the Board of Education of the City of Chicago not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability or sex. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the regulations promulgated thereunder concerning sex discrimination should be referred to the Title IX Officer, Chicago Public Schools, 125 S. Clark St., Chicago, Illinois 60603, 773-553-2688 (TTY-773-553-2699).