Subbing During Internship

Teacher Certification

Interns may request permission to substitute teach in their internship classroom. All candidates (except MTF and WIETS) must complete the WWU Permission to Sub process and be approval to sub in their current internship even if you already hold a valid certificate for the district. 

Department Specific Requirements for Approval

  • Early Childhood Education: Interns are eligible to initiate the substitute certification process when the following two conditions are met: 1.) the first observation of your teaching by a field supervisor is complete and 2.) it is after midterm.
  • Elementary Education: Interns are eligible to initiate the substitute certification process when the following two conditions are met: 1.) the first observation of your teaching by a field supervisor is complete and 2.) it is after midterm.
  • Secondary Education: Must have completed 3 weeks in the internship. Your UIC must have had enough opportunity to observe that they feel comfortable assessing your readiness.
  • Inclusive/Special Education and EIE: You must have a completed midterm evaluation before the request will be considered. Your UIC will attach the midterm to the request before it is forwarded to the department chair for final approval.

Steps to receive substitute certification:

  1. Read the above requirements for your program to ensure you are eligible. Then, reflect on whether you want to pursue substitute certification--it is not required if you do not feel ready.
  2. Discuss subbing with your CT and building principal to assure they support hiring you as a sub. If they do, ask your CT and building principal to sign the School Request.
  3. Contact your UIC/Field Supervisor to make sure they are ready to support your request and to verify their WWU email address.
  4. Fill out the Permission to Sub During Internship Request Esign form.  Be sure to attach the signed School Request form to the Permission to Sub Esign form. 
  5. Submit the Permission to Sub Esign form to your UIC/Field Supervisor at their WWU email address. 
  6. Once final approvals are granted, you will receive an email you with instructions to apply for the certificate. If you don't hear back within a week, you may email ofe@wwu.edu to check on the status of your request. 

Frequently Asked Questions

You can ask the district to request either certificate, but ultimately it is at the district's discretion which to request.

You must hold valid certification for the district to serve as a substitute teacher. Either the Emergency Sub Cert or the Intern Sub Cert will allow you to sub in your internship classroom. Both certificates are valid only in the requesting district. Regardless of which certificate you get, you must have permission form Woodring to sub during your internship.

Intern Substitute Certificate

Valid only while assigned as a student teacher/intern and only in the classroom(s) to which assigned. Current OSPI application fee: $57.

Emergency Substitute Certificate

Allows you to substitute in your internship classroom during your internship and anywhere in the district after your internship ends. Current OSPI application fee: $63.

The Woodring approval process cannot be rushed. Once you have been approved to sub by Woodring and have applied for the certificate with OSPI, your school district can request a rush from OSPI on the processing - this has a 48-hour turnaround. This is the only part of the process that can be "rushed". 

What you can do to speed up the process:

  • Follow the instructions on the this page and on the eSign form carefully.
  • Make sure that your UIC/Field Supervisor is aware of the urgency, so that they will act on your eSign form as soon as you submit it to them. 
  • Work with your district to make sure that they input the request for an Intern Sub Cert or Emergency Sub Cert to OSPI as soon as possible, so that you will be able to apply for it as soon as you are approved to sub. You can't apply for the certificate if the district request is not there.
  • Apply for the certificate promptly when you are instructed to do so by the Woodring Certification Office.
  • The school district can submit a rush request to OSPI after you have applied.

You will still need to go through the above process to be approved to sub in your current internship. However, if your existing certificate (either Intern Sub or Emergency Sub) is for the same school district and is still valid, the district will not need to put in a request to OSPI and you will not need to apply and pay for it.  You will be able to sub with your existing certificate. Contact cert@wwu.edu.

 

The certificate will be issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) - the Washington State governmental agency that oversees teacher certification. 

OSPI charges an application fee of $57 for the Intern Sub Cert and $63 for the Emergency Sub Cert. This payment goes to OSPI for processing the application. It is not paid to WWU. 

An Emergency Sub Cert will allow you to sub in any classroom in the requesting district after your internship has ended and before your Residency Certificate is issued.  

The Woodring Certification Office will recommend you to OSPI for a Residency certificate when all program requirements are verified as being successfully completed and both grades and Bachelor’s degree are posted to your transcript.  The Woodring Certification Office will also email you regarding the timeline for completion during your internship.  You may also contact cert@wwu.edu with questions on the process or your certification status. 

Staying committed to your internship responsibilities in both classrooms is your primary obligation. If subbing for one of your teachers prevents you from participating in the other classroom, it will not be possible for you to serve as a substitute for your other CT.

For example, if you have one period with CT A and the rest with CT B, you could not sub for CT A all day and be absent from your classes with CT B.

If approved, you will receive an email notification to apply for the Sub Cert through the OSPI eCertification system.

If not approved, you will be advised of the rationale behind that decision, which is not subject to appeal.