State Substitute Permit

General Information

Who Applies?

  • A state substitute permit is for applicants who have completed an educator preparation program through a college or university but may not have experience or the coursework needed to renew their regular teaching certificate.

Where is it valid? 

  • A state substitute permit is valid subbing in all Nebraska school systems. Someone who holds a state substitute permit may be employed to teach on a non-contractual basis (cannot be the teacher of record).

When does it expire? 

  • A state substitute permit is a 5-year permit and expires September 30th in the fifth year following the year of issuance.

What are the requirements? 

  1. An application and fee in the TEACH system  (Please note that registration for TEACH is required first; then an application can be submitted.)
  2. Fingerprints (required only if someone has lived outside of Nebraska in the past five years)
  3. Official Transcripts showing the completion of a program for teaching.
  4. Institutional Verification– If you currently hold or have held a regular teaching certificate in Nebraska in the past, this will not be required.
  5. Educator Certificate- A certificate is only required for those who have not been certified in Nebraska.
  6. Applicants must meet Nebraska Human Relations Training requirement.

Renewals

To renew a state substitute permit, you must submit the following:

  • Application and fee through TEACH
  • Evidence of having subbed in a Nebraska school system for at least 50 days in the past five years OR have received 3 semester credit hours in education in the past five years.

If you do not meet that requirement, you may change your permit type to a local sub permit.

FAQs

More information coming soon.

Updated June 11, 2025 11:30am