Becoming a Substitute Teacher in Montana, MT

Montana, a state with 148,000 public students, ranks 44th in state population. Recently the state has been adding to its teaching force, which brings along the inherent need for more substitute teachers, making now a great time to look into the educational field. In becoming a substitute teacher it is important to understand the need for a flexible schedule, as you can be needed on very short notice. Many full-time salaried teachers started as subs and greatly appreciate the experience as it allows you to get a feel for the teaching industry without fully committing to a 4 year degree right off the bat. Many subs also enjoy the flexible work schedule as it allows them to pursue other ventures on the side, often times finishing up their Bachelors Degree or working part-time on the side. Another alluring aspect is that many states and districts do not require a Bachelors Degree in order to begin subbing, making it the perfect job if looking to work and complete a Bachelors at the same time.

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Required Training, Qualifications, and Education

Montana’s Bachelor Degree requirement varies by district, so be sure to communicate with the district you wish to sub in to meet the requirements. In all cases you will need to go in for state fingerprinting and state and federal background checks. Some districts may have other requirements so make sure to check before applying.

Licensure and Certification

The following situations are required for a substitute teacher license–

  • Submit the Substitute Application through a local school system
  • Include any official transcripts, references, or other relevant material
  • Include required Application fee/s
  • Must have Bachelors to work more then 30 consecutive days

Career Expectations For Substitutes in Montana

Future outlook for teachers is pretty good, as continually growing state and national populations comes with the need for more teachers to handle growing students populations. Forecasted population growth also bodes well for the teaching industry as teachers will continue to be in demand for quite some time. Montana is a state that varies by district on the requirement for a Bachelors Degree, however there are some districts that do not require one which makes subbing a very alluring prospect. Teachers managed fairly well through the recession, and are doing even better now through the economic upturn. Coming out of the recession has allowed most states, including Montana, to continue expanding their educational systems, which bodes well for job security as well as job availability. Since being a Substitute Teacher means you need to have a fairly open availability, many subs like to use time off to continue working on a Degree Program or finding other part-time work on the side to provide a boost to income.

Salary Expectation

Currently, the average salary for a Substitute Teacher in Montana is approximately $29,000 a year (according to bls.gov) which is about equal to the national average. It is important to understand that actual salary can vary greatly as pay is contingent upon experience, education, and district. Additional income can be gained during times when you are not substitute teaching through things like test proctoring as well as tutoring.