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Many requirements, qualifications to become a sub

HANCOCK – For anyone wanting to become a substitute teacher in Michigan, prospective applicants must meet many state-mandated requirements and qualifications, as well as incurring fees and costs directly associated with the application process. The process, however, begins with obtaining an application through the Copper Country intermediate School District (CCISD).

“Anyone wanting to apply could either pick up an application here, download it from our website, or we can male the packet to them,” Peggy Myllyoja, executive secretary to the superintendent said. “The application asks where they want to sub. We cover three counties, so there are some who want to just stay within their county. Others are willing to work anywhere in the three-county area.”

After the application has been filled out and returned, the CCISD must conduct, by law, a criminal history records check, and unprofessional conduct check, and must provide court documents concerning any offense that is on their record, regardless of the severity or nature of the offense.

“The applicant pays for the background checks,” Myllyoja said, “but they will make up the cost on the first day substitute teaching.”

In addition to the criminal background checks, anyone applying for a position of any kind in any school in Michigan must also be fingerprinted.

“You can be fingerprinted at the Houghton, Baraga, or Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Department,” Myllyoja said.

The cost of being fingerprinted is paid by the applicant, and is $60, according to the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department.

Applicants must also meet certain education requirements, according to the CCISD Substitute Teaching Information brochure.

Candidates must either possess a valid or expired Michigan teaching certificate, or have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours of satisfactory college credit, consolidated at one four-year degree college or university which is accredited by either a regional accrediting agency or by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Anyone possessing a Michigan teaching certificate does not need a teaching permit, the brochure stated. If an applicant does not possess a certificate, the ISD will apply for a permit on behalf of the applicant, provided he or she meets the education requirements mandated by the state.

There is annual fee for this permit, however. By law, the applicant will receive a bill from the Michigan Department of Education, via email, which will include a link for paying the fee online. The information brochure states the applicant cannot be placed on the sub list until the permit bill has been paid. If the bill is not paid by the deadline stated in the billing email, the state will rescind the permit.

In considering the state-mandated criminal background and unprofessional background checks, fingerprinting, and permit fees, by the time the application process has been completed, the applicant will have paid approximately $175. The daily pay rate for substitute teachers ranges from $70 to $85 per day, depending on the school district.

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