​​​​In order to be a substitute teacher in Santa Clara County, you will need to obtain an Emergency 30-day Substitute Teacher Permit from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

The Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit authorizes the holder to serve as a day-to-day substitute teacher in any classroom, including preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1-12 inclusive, or in classes organized primarily for adults. The holder may serve as a substitute for no more than 30 days for any one teacher during the school year, except in a special education classroom, where the holder may serve for no more than 20 days for any one teacher during the school year.

This permit is valid for one year and is renewable.

To Qualify for an Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teacher Permit you must meet the following requirements:

1. Proof of Bachelors’ Degree or higher verified by one of the following:
   
   
   • Official Transcripts with a Bachelors’ or higher degree conferred from a regionally accredited​ College or University       
     • Official transcripts must be original and have the Registrar’s signature and/or University Seal affixed
     • No photocopies, pdfs, or web printouts
     • Electronic transcripts must be sent  to credentialservices@sccoe.org from the University to be considered official.
       
     • Please note that transcripts sent directly to Credential Services will be kept for no longer than 1 year from the date received.
       
   • Foreign Transcript Evaluation if the degree is from another country.  (For a list of the agencies approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to evaluation out of country transcripts click here)
     
     PLEASE NOTE:  If you are only interested in substitute teaching, a summary evaluation is sufficient.  However, if you think you may want to pursue a teaching career in the future, you should request the course-by-course evaluation.
     
     
2. Completion of the Basic Skills Requirement
   • Learn ways to fulfill this requirement
   • ​The basic skills requirement for a substitute teacher permit has been waived until 06/30/2024.
     

APPLICATION PROCESS:

The application process for a substitute teacher permit is completely electronic. I’ve included the step-by -step instructions below, you should skip any steps that you have already completed. If you have not already done so, you will need to be fingerprinted for the Commission on Teacher credentialing (CTC). Please use livescan form 41-ls. Your application will not move forward without completion of fingerprints with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. You must use the attached form and go to any local fingerprinting agency. The agency will send your fingerprints directly to the Commission.

Here are the steps to a Substitute Teacher Permit application:

1. Fingerprint for the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Please use livescan form 41-ls, you may go to any local fingerprinting agency with this form and they will deliver your fingerprint results directly to the Commission.
2. Register at our SCCOE website: https://credentials.sccoe.org/credregistration.aspx
3. Go to www.ctc.ca.gov to create an educator account, be sure your name is exactly as listed on your Social Security card.
4. Order an official electronic transcript delivered directly to SCCOE Credential Services at credentialservices@sccoe.org (do not send to EPP) *See below for foreign transcripts.
5. Email your basic skills (BSR) results to credentialservices@sccoe.org, such as CBEST, SAT, ACT… or request a BSR waiver. Recent legislation SB1397 is waiving the basic skills requirement effective 1/1/2023 to 6/30/2024. If you require an evaluation of coursework to satisfy basic skills we will need all of your official transcripts in addition to your bachelor’s or higher degree.
6. FEES: On-line payment will be required in the amount of $102.65 payable with credit card; after we submit your recommendation you will receive an email with instructions to complete the payment process.

When these steps are complete send an email to credentialservices@sccoe.org and we will submit your recommendation to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing electronically. We will notify you of the recommendation and send you instructions to complete the process.

*If you have a foreign transcript, it must be evaluated by an approved agency from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing list here. Submit your original foreign transcript evaluation report with US equivalent bachelor’s degree to our office and we will scan it into our electronic files and return the original to you. Please include your name, address and email and note that it is for a substitute permit. Foreign transcript evaluation reports must be mailed or dropped in our box, see below.

We have a drop box available on the Brokaw Road side of the building. The box is labeled MC 255. The box is available Monday - Friday 8am-4:30pm, CLOSED on HOLIDAYS.

If you can’t access our drop box you can mail everything to:

Santa Clara County Office of Education
1290 Ridder Park Drive
San Jose, CA  95131
MC 255  Attn: Credential Services

Should you have any additional questions or concerns regarding the application for a 30-day Substitute Permit, please email us at credentialservices@sccoe.org and please write “Sub Permit Application” in the subject line of your email.