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6
Required Items
1
Optional/Recommended
Hawaii requires substitute teachers to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. This requirement applies to all substitute teaching positions within the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) system. Candidates with advanced degrees or teaching credentials may receive preference for long-term substitute assignments.
All substitute teachers in Hawaii must pass a criminal background check that includes fingerprinting processed through the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and the FBI. Additionally, applicants must clear a sex offender registry check. Background clearance must be completed before any classroom placement can be made.
Substitute teachers in Hawaii must be at least 18 years of age. Given the bachelor's degree requirement, most substitute teachers in Hawaii are at least 21 years old at the time of their initial application.
Candidates apply through the Hawaii Department of Education's online application system. Hawaii operates as a single statewide school district, so one application covers all public schools across the islands. Applicants must submit official transcripts, background check documentation, and complete the HIDOE substitute teacher application form.
The Hawaii Department of Education provides an orientation for substitute teachers that covers HIDOE policies, school safety procedures, student privacy and confidentiality, and classroom management basics. Individual schools may also provide site-specific orientations. Training is typically required before the first substitute assignment.
Hawaii does not issue a separate substitute teaching permit or license. Instead, the Hawaii Department of Education directly approves and manages substitute teachers through its centralized hiring process. Approved substitutes are placed in a statewide substitute teacher pool and can accept assignments at any HIDOE school.
For more information, visit the Hawaii Department of Education - Substitute Teaching page.
City pay, district size, and the steps to apply in Hawaii.
Recommended training
$89one-time
The HIDOE application for substitute teachers requires at least two professional references. References from educators, school administrators, or supervisors who can speak to the applicant's professionalism and ability to work with children are strongly preferred.
Professional training with a certificate of completion. This does not replace your state's substitute permit or license. *Refund within 7 days if you have completed less than 20% of the course. Grab the free checklist if you are not ready to enroll.