Substitute Teaching: SubCentral
Grant Wood Area Education Agency houses a computer system called 'SubCentral' that processes substitutes for teachers at 16 school districts including Alburnett, Anamosa, Cedar Rapids, Central City, Center Point-Urbana, College Community, Grant Wood, Marion, Lisbon, Linn-Mar, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Iowa City Regina Catholic, Springville, Summit, and Xavier Catholic Schools.
Steps to Apply for a Substitute Authorization
Get Authorized Access SubCentral
Substitute Authorization
Visit the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) to learn more information about this license, including renewal requirements and application process.
The Substitute Authorization course addresses the four components that the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) requires: Classroom Management, Strategies for Learning, Diversity and Ethics.
Requirements
A Substitute Authorization may be issued to an individual who:
- Has successfully completed all of the requirements of the approved Substitute Authorization course
- Has achieved at least one of the following:
- Holds an associate’s degree or has completed 60 semester hours through an accredited institution
- Holds a Paraeducator Certificate from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE)
- Has successfully completed an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and national criminal history background check
Authority
Receiving a Substitute Authorization will allow an individual to substitute teach in any subject for grades PK-12 and up to ten consecutive days within a 30-day period in the same assignment.
Paraeducators who hold a paraeducator certificate with the limited substitute authorization may serve as a substitute only in their own special education classroom. If the paraeducator holds a full substitute authorization, they may serve as a substitute teacher in any classroom except Driver’s Ed.
Term
A Substitute Authorization is valid for five years.
Step 1: Complete the Substitute Authorization Course
- Statewide virtual Substitute Authorization Courses, offered by AEAs across the state.
- Iowa Substitute Teaching Authorization Self-Paced Course, offered by AEA Learning Online
Step 2: Submit an Application to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners
The application instructions and assistance will be provided during the Substitute Authorization course. The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners’ application system is entirely online on its website.
Background Check and Fingerprinting
All new applicants for Iowa licensure must undergo a background check and fingerprinting as part of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners’ application process. The application fee is currently $85, and the background check fee is $35 (+ a $3 convenience fee), payable to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. Applicants will complete their background screenings through Iowa Fieldprint and pay a fee of $34.35.
All fees are subject to change.
Employment
Once you have obtained your Substitute Authorization, you can apply to your preferred school district(s) or apply with SubCentral at Grant Wood AEA, which processes substitutes for teachers at 16 participating school districts:
- Alburnett
- Anamosa
- Cedar Rapids
- Central City
- Center Point-Urbana
- College Community
- Grant Wood
- Marion
- Lisbon
- Linn-Mar
- Monticello
- Mount Vernon
- Iowa City Regina Catholic
- Springville
- Summit
- Xavier Catholic Schools
Substitute Authorization vs. Substitute License
A Substitute Authorization is not the same as a Substitute License. To obtain a Substitute License, you must have completed a full state of Iowa-approved teacher preparation program and have held an Iowa teaching license.
Paraeducator Generalist Certification
Visit the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) to learn more information about this license, including renewal requirements and application process.
A paraeducator is an employee who works under the supervision of teachers or other licensed personnel by providing assistance within the classroom and to a variety of students, including those with and without disabilities. They work in a range of educational settings, such as general education classrooms, school buses, playgrounds, and school media centers.
Prerequisites for Obtaining Certification
- Minimum of 18 years of age.
- Verification of high school completion or equivalence.
- Participants must have access to a computer/internet to take the courses.
- It is required that participants be employed by an accredited Iowa school district as a practicing paraeducator, work as a substitute paraeducator in an accredited Iowa school district or have a teacher and administrator who are willing to mentor you through the certification program.
Authority
Student assistance - not leading any direct instruction.
Term
A Paraeducator Certification is valid for five years.
Step 1: Complete Paraeducator Certification Courses I, II, & III
To obtain a Paraeducator Generalist Certification, you must successfully complete the following three courses. It is strongly encouraged that participants take Foundations (Course 1) before Courses 2 and 3.
- Course I - Introduction/Foundation
- Course II - Instructional Support
- Course III - Behavioral Supports
Each of the three Paraeducator Generalist Certification courses involves virtual meetings and the completion of online units. Participants need to have access to a computer and the internet to complete these courses.
Fee for each course: $120 (Total $360)
To view a list of courses offered across the AEAs, visit our statewide Paraeducator Generalist Certification courses.
Step 2: Monitoring Process
Participants must have a certified mentor to support them with course activities, oversee a clinical experience, and complete observation.
An AEA certifying official must provide an applicant with a signed Paraeducator Certification Recommendation form to obtain a Paraeducator Generalist Certification or add an Area of Concentration to a license.
Find your local AEA Certifying Official
Step 3: Submit an Application to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE)
The application directions and assistance will be provided during Course III. The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners’ (BoEE) application system is entirely online at the BoEE website.
Verification of High School Completion
As part of the online application process, you will need to upload verification of high school completion. This may be a scanned or electronic copy of a diploma, transcripts, letter from the school district on school letterhead, or verification of GED completion.
Accepted forms of verification include:
- High school diploma
- High school transcripts with graduation date
- Certificate of GED completion
- Letter on school letterhead from school district individual graduated from with year graduated listed
- Letter from program GED was completed from including year completed
- Letter from the State Department of Education verifying graduation or GED completion
Note: If you completed high school outside of the United States, you will still need to verify your completion. This can be a diploma, a letter from a state agency or a letter from the school. Proof of any education completed above and beyond high school would also be accepted. If you completed a college degree or even several courses from a college or university, that verification would be accepted. If you can have your verification translated into English, that would be helpful. If you are unable to, still submit it to the BoEE, and they will see what they can do. They just need verification that high school was completed.
Background Check and Fingerprinting
The application fee is currently $40, and the background check fee is $35 (+ a $3 convenience fee) payable to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (fees subject to change by BoEE). Applicants will complete their background screenings through Fieldprint® Iowa and pay a fee of $34.35 to them.
All fees are subject to change
What Substitute Teachers Can Expect:
- Pay for substitute teachers at the 16 SubCentral school districts is $18.75 per hour. (Effective July 1, 2025)
- Substitute teachers can pick the days they work.
- Perform all related duties in the absence of the regular teacher.
- Provide continuity in the day to day classroom environment while supporting student achievement.
Who Can Be A Sub?
It's now easier than ever to qualify to substitute teach!
Recent Iowa legislation changed the degree requirements for substitute authorizations. These requirements are now:
- Must be at least 18 years of age;
- have a substitute authorization (sub authorization courses linked below). Educators who already have a teaching license need not receive a substitute authorization.
- An Associate's Degree or completed 60 semester hours through a regionally accredited college or university, or a Baccalaureate degree
Individuals meeting these requirements may work as a substitute teacher in preK-12 classrooms for no more than ten consecutive days in a thirty-day period in one job assignment for a regularly assigned teacher who is absent.
Additionally, full substitute authority is available to additional license types. The following licensure will provide an individual with full substitute authority and up to 90 days in the same assignment.
View Licensure Options
• Initial teaching license*
• Standard teaching license
• Master educator license
• Exchange license (teacher or administrator)
• Initial administrator license*
• Professional administrator license
• Initial professional service license*
• Full professional service license
• Full career and technical authorization
• Full native language teaching authorization
• Permanent professional
• Substitute license
*substitute experience cannot be used to move to the next license level
What Training Is Required?
The following key resources/link offer you a quick resource for Substitute Authorization throughout the state of Iowa.
- Substitute Authorization Courses Offered Across the AEAs
- This course may be completed through any AEA and should only be taken once.
- Iowa Substitute Teaching Authorization Self-Paced Course:
- Statewide course option
- This is a course to obtain an initial Iowa Substitute Teaching Authorization. This authorization makes you eligible for districts to hire as a substitute teacher.
- This course cannot be used for License Renewal Credit.
- Required Trainings for Licensed Educators:
- During the substitute registration process additional training is made available at no charge through SubCentral. Substitute teachers can expect to complete:
View Requirements
- Bloodborne Pathogens Training
- Overview of State Requirements Regarding Seclusion and Restraint: Chapter 103
- Mandatory Reporter: Child Abuse
- Suicide Prevention and Postvention
- Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Training will be available through AEA Learning Online.
Additional employee training may be required by the district.
Additional Information:
Grant Wood AEA Professional Development
Professional Learning Registrar Contact: professionallearning@gwaea.org
319-399-6767
How The Selection/Placement Process Works Once You Are In The System
Each sub will select which district(s) they are interested in working in by completing all of the online payroll paperwork as part of the initial registration. Substitute teachers can always choose to add or delete districts at any time by either requesting to be removed or completing new district paperwork.
Questions?
Sheryl Dolley,
SubCentral Operator
subcentral@gwaea.org
Help Desk: 319-399-6761
Are you already eligible to substitute teach? We are hiring!
Apply Today Through SubCentral
Become a Paraprofessional/Associate
Paraprofessionals provide assistance to a variety of students including those with and without disabilities, health needs, limited English, etc. They work in a range of educational settings including general education classrooms, lunchrooms, playgrounds, school buses, vocational work sites, computer labs, and school media centers.
Paraprofessionals are needed at these six school districts: Alburnett, Cedar Rapids, College Community, Grant Wood, Linn-Mar, and Springville.
Benefits:
- You decide the days you'd like to work.
- Pay is determined by the school district.
- Help your community when paraprofessionals are needed the most!