Georgia offers a relatively flexible pathway into substitute teaching, especially compared to states that require a full professional teaching license for all classroom coverage. Rather than enforcing a single rigid credential, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) allows districts to hire substitutes under multiple qualification tiers, each with different education and training requirements.
In practice, Atlanta-area K-12 schools typically recognize three primary substitute roles: certified substitute teachers, non-certified substitute teachers, and paraprofessional substitutes. Each role serves a different classroom need and comes with its own eligibility standards, giving schools more staffing flexibility while still maintaining safety and instructional continuity.
Certified Substitute Teacher (K–12 — APS)
- Education: Bachelor's degree or above from a regionally accredited college or university or a GaPSC-approved institution.
- Certification: Valid or expired professional Georgia teaching certificate issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
- Clearance: Valid or expired Georgia Clearance Certificate, or GACE Educator Ethics completion certificate on file with GaPSC.
- Background: Clear criminal background check and fingerprinting.
- Age: 18+ per Georgia state baseline.
- Training: Exempt from the STEDI Online Substitute Training Course requirement.
- Long-Term: Can serve as a long-term substitute (20+ consecutive days) provided certification matches the assignment.
Non-Certified Substitute Teacher (K–12 — APS)
- Education: Minimum bachelor's degree or above from a regionally accredited institution.
- Training: Complete the STEDI Online Substitute Training Course (composite passing score of at least 80%), OR provide proof of a valid/expired teaching, paraprofessional, or professional certificate.
- Clearance & Background: Georgia Clearance Certificate / GACE Educator Ethics on file; criminal background check and fingerprinting required.
- Age: 18+.
- Long-Term Restrictions: Under GaPSC Rule 505-2-.20, any classroom vacancy lasting 46+ consecutive days must be filled by a certified, in-field teacher.
Paraprofessional Substitute (K–12 — APS)
- Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent (minimum).
- Role: Supports classroom and paraprofessional duties rather than serving as the lead classroom teacher.
- Training: STEDI course OR proof of an eligible certificate.
- Background: Criminal background check and fingerprinting required.
- Age: 18+.
Georgia State Baseline (Statewide — GaPSC Rule 505-2-.20)
- Education Minimum: High school diploma or GED equivalent.
- Training: Minimum four hours of initial substitute training from the employing district (certificate holders exempt).
- Age Minimum: 18 years old; individual districts may set higher thresholds.
- Assignment Limits: Subs holding only a high school diploma or GED may not work in any one classroom for more than 10 consecutive days.
- 46-Day Rule: Any teacher absence/vacancy lasting 46+ consecutive days must be filled by a certified, in-field teacher.
- Certification: Georgia does not issue a statewide substitute permit; each district sets its own hiring policies above the state floor.