English Composition 1
A standard first-year course that fills general hours toward 60.
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →IowaTeachers
The 60 college credits for an Iowa substitute teaching license
Checked 15 Nov 2026 by the team. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
The short answer
Without a teaching license, the Iowa substitute teaching license you need is the Substitute Authorization from the Board of Educational Examiners. It requires 60 semester hours or an associate degree from an accredited college, plus an approved course of at least 15 clock hours (282 IAC 22.2). It lasts five years. If you are short of 60, the gap can be closed with courses moved via a college transcript.
The rule
Under Iowa Code section 256.165 and 282 IAC 22.2, an Iowa Substitute Authorization needs 60 semester hours or an associate degree from an accredited college plus an approved substitute workshop of at least 15 clock hours, and it is valid for five years.
The rule asks for 60 semester hours (or an associate degree) plus a 15-clock-hour course. The legal source is 282 IAC 22.2.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| College credit | 60 semester hours or an associate degree, on official transcripts | [1] |
| Course | Approved substitute authorization workshop, at least 15 clock hours | [2] |
| Where you can sub | Any subject, grades PK-12; not long-term | [1] |
| Day limit | 10 days in a row in a 30-day period in the same assignment | [1] |
| Validity and renewal | 5 years; renew with 2 credits plus mandatory reporter training | [1] |
Who decides
Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE), Iowa Department of Education decides how this rule applies to you. We read its published rule and the pages below; each was checked on 15 Nov 2026.
Which credits count
What counts
- Semester hours shown on official transcripts from a U.S. Department of Education-accredited college or university, in any subject.
- An associate degree, in place of the 60 hours.
- Credit from other sources once a college posts it on its own transcript, if the board reads that transcript as college credit; ask first.
What does not count
- Hours that sit only on a provider record and not on a college transcript.
- The 15-hour substitute authorization course itself does not count toward the 60; it is a separate requirement from an approved provider.
- A paraeducator certificate alone gives only the Limited Substitute Authorization, which covers your own assigned classroom.
Courses that fit
Each course below is ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended for college credit. Whether it counts here is the decision of the college and of Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE), Iowa Department of Education.
College Algebra
Common general education math course.
Self-paced online College Algebra course (Math 111). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Introduction to Psychology
ACE- and NCCRS-recommended; useful background for classroom work.
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Educational Psychology
Directly about how students learn; NCCRS-recommended.
Self-paced online Educational Psychology course (Psychology 120). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Introduction to Sociology
ACE- and NCCRS-recommended social science credit.
Self-paced online Introduction to Sociology course (Sociology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
US History 1
General education history credit.
Self-paced online US History 1 course (HIST 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →The path via a college transcript
- Count the hours you already haveGather every college transcript and add up semester hours. Quarter hours convert at two-thirds of a semester hour.
- Ask the board how it will read your transcriptWrite to the Board of Educational Examiners and ask whether credit posted on a partner college transcript counts toward the 60 semester hours.
- Fill the gap with coursesPick general education courses you can finish quickly. Any subject counts toward the 60.
- Move the credit via a college transcriptTESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Once posted, send that official transcript with your application.
- Take the substitute authorization course and applyComplete the approved course (an AEA, NIACC, Eastern Iowa CC, Buena Vista, Iowa State or Iowa Western), the mandatory reporter training, and apply to the board.
TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit; your hours reach the board via a college transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
What it costs
| Option | Price | For this rule | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPI Study PRO | $99 a month, every course | $99 for each month you are subscribed; take as many courses as you finish in that time | 15 Nov 2026 |
| DMACC (Iowa resident) | $215 per credit hour (online +$30 per credit) | 15 credits: $3,225 in tuition, or $3,675 online | 15 Nov 2026 |
The substitute authorization course and the board's application fee are extra on either route. Check the board's answer about your transcript before you pay for courses.
What UPI Study cannot do here
- UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited; the credit reaches the board only via a college transcript.
- UPI Study does not offer the 15-hour substitute authorization course; that comes from an approved Iowa provider.
- UPI Study cannot issue, speed up or promise a substitute authorization; only the Board of Educational Examiners decides.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
Confirm in writing first
Ask the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners in writing whether credit on your partner college transcript counts toward the 60 semester hours before you enrol.
Substitute license or substitute authorization in Iowa: which one is yours
Iowa has three routes, and the right one depends on what you already hold. A Substitute License is for people who hold or can hold a full Iowa teaching license; it covers any PK-12 subject and allows long-term subbing. A Substitute Authorization is for people without a teaching background. A Limited Substitute Authorization is for certified paraeducators who have not reached 60 semester hours; it covers only their own assigned classroom.
Most people searching for an Iowa substitute teaching license without a degree need the Substitute Authorization, and the 60 semester hours are the part that takes the longest.
Iowa substitute teacher requirements, step by step
The board's page lists what goes into a first application:
- Official transcripts showing 60 or more semester hours, or an associate degree.
- An official transcript for the substitute authorization course from an approved provider (the self-paced AEA option runs about 15 hours online).
- Mandatory reporter training for child abuse.
- Citizenship or work authorization documents, required from 1 July 2026.
What the Substitute Authorization lets you do
You may substitute for a contracted teacher on leave in any subject in grades PK-12. You cannot serve as a long-term substitute, fill open positions, or stay in one assignment for more than 10 days in a row in a 30-day period. If you want long-term assignments, the Substitute License is the route, and it needs a teaching license first.
The authorization lasts five years. To renew it you need 2 renewal credits plus mandatory reporter training, so plan your next credits early.
Questions people ask
how to become a substitute teacher in iowa
Without a teaching license, apply to the Board of Educational Examiners for a Substitute Authorization. You need 60 semester hours or an associate degree on official transcripts, an approved substitute authorization course of at least 15 clock hours, and mandatory reporter training. Licensed teachers apply for the Substitute License instead.
do you need a degree to substitute teach in iowa
No bachelor's degree is needed for the Substitute Authorization. You need 60 semester hours of college credit or an associate degree, plus the approved substitute course. Certified paraeducators without 60 hours can get a Limited Substitute Authorization for their own classroom.
how long is an iowa substitute authorization good for
Five years, under 282 IAC 22.2. To renew it, the board asks for 2 renewal credits plus mandatory reporter training for child abuse. An extension is available if you need more time to finish renewal.
how many days can a substitute teach in the same position in iowa
With a Substitute Authorization, no more than 10 days in a row in a 30-day period in the same assignment. Long-term subbing needs the Substitute License, which is for people who hold or can hold a full teaching license.
can online credits count toward iowa's 60 semester hours
The board reads official transcripts from accredited colleges. Online credit counts if it appears on such a transcript and the board reads it as college credit. Ask the board in writing before you enrol, and move ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit via a college transcript.
where can i take the iowa substitute authorization course
The board lists all Iowa AEAs (virtual instructor-led or self-paced), NIACC, Eastern Iowa Community College, Buena Vista, Iowa State University and Iowa Western Community College. The self-paced AEA course takes about 15 hours online.
Read next
- How to substitute teach in Iowa without a degreeYou can substitute teach in Iowa without a bachelor's degree. The Substitute Authorization asks for 60 semester hours or an associate degree, an...
- Does transfer credit count toward the Iowa substitute credit rule?Iowa's board counts semester hours on official transcripts from a U.S. Department of Education-accredited college. Transfer credit that a college has...
The same topic in nearby states
Ready when you have it in writing
Close your credit gap, then send the board a college transcript.
Sources
- Iowa Board of Educational Examiners: Substitute Authorization (official)60 or more semester credit hours or an associate degree on official transcripts from a U.S. Department of Education-accredited college, plus the substitute authorization course; PK-12; no long-term subbing; 10 days in a row in a 30-day period in one assignment; valid 5 years; renewal 2 credits plus mandatory reporter training. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Iowa Administrative Code 282 IAC chapter 22, rule 22.2 (Substitute authorization) (official)282 IAC 22.2 (effective 26 Feb 2025): applicants meet Iowa Code section 256.165 and complete an approved workshop of at least 15 clock hours (classroom management, strategies for learning, diversity, ethics); valid five years. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Iowa Department of Education: Pathways to substitute teaching (30 Sep 2025) (official)Three routes: Substitute License (for licensed teachers, long-term subbing allowed), Substitute Authorization (60 semester hours plus the course), Limited Substitute Authorization for certified paraeducators (own classroom only). Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Des Moines Area Community College: Tuition and Fees (official)Iowa resident tuition $215 per credit hour for Fall 2026 to Summer 2027; online courses add a $30 per credit fee. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- DMACC Tuition and FeesPrice for DMACC (Iowa resident), checked on 15 Nov 2026.