Follow the steps below to apply for a substitute permit in California. As a reminder, you
- must have a bachelor's degree or higher to qualify for a substitute permit
- should have ordered a digital copy of official transcripts to prove your degree
- should be prepared to pay the $102.65 application fee
(Already applied and need to get fingerprinted? Click here to view the Guide to Fingerprinting in California.)
Creating a CTC Account (Commission on Teacher Credentialing)
Go to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing website.
Click the link on the page to Create Educator Account (or login if you already have an account).
On the next screen (creating a new account), enter your personal information into the fields and click the “OK” button. This screen will repeat a second time after the website affirms that you are not already registered. Enter your information again, and click the “OK” button.
Next, you will create your account by entering all required information. Click the “Next” button when finished.
The website will confirm that your account has been created in the CTC system, showing your username. Click the “Return to Login” button to proceed to apply for a substitute permit.
Applying for a Substitute Permit
After logging in to the CTC website, you will be taken through a series of screens to fill out your educator profile. Read the information page and then click the “Next” button.
Complete the required fields on this screen and hit the “Next” button.
On the next screen, you will now see a number of buttons below your information. Click the “New Credential Application” button.
(If you previously had a substitute permit and need to renew, you can click that button instead.)
Next, you will click the “Create New” button at the bottom to start your application.
Next, you will need to select the correct options on the two dropdown menus.
For the General Application Category, select Substitute Permits.
For the Type of Credential/Permit Requested, select 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit. (This is the permit for daily substitute teaching; other substitute permit options are for special circumstances and have specialized requirements.)
On the next screen, you will need to upload the digital copy of your official transcripts showing that you have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. If you have not already ordered these, you may do so in a separate Internet window/tab. If your session times out, you can simply log back in and resume your substitute permit application.
Click the “Upload File” button to upload your official transcripts. Then, at the bottom of the screen, select “Yes” from the dropdown menu and click the “Next” button.
Next, you need to respond to the Professional Fitness Questions. Read through the instructions on this screen, and then proceed to answer the questions. (Note that if you answer “Yes” to any of the questions, you will need to upload a document explaining the circumstances.)
Next, you will see that your 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit is ready to submit. You need to read the information provided on this screen and complete the required fields. Then you will click the “Complete Submission” button. This will take you to the payment screens.
To pay for the permit application, click the “Process Payment” button.
The next screen shows the cost for the application and the state website service fee, which comes to a total cost of $102.65. Click the “Continue” button to enter your payment information.
Choose your method of payment and complete the required fields. Then click the “Continue” button to complete the payment.
Once you have submitted your application for a substitute permit, the next step is to get fingerprinted (if you have not already done so). For step-by-step instructions, view our Guide to Fingerprinting in California.
