Substitute Teaching Experience and Creditable Years of Service

Several conditions must be met for substitute teaching experience to qualify for creditable service.

Beginning with the 1998–1999 school year, work as a substitute teacher qualifies for creditable service if the substitute held a valid Texas teaching certificate, or valid teaching certificate from the state where the substitute service occurred, during any given year of service. Entities needing to verify service after hire for teachers reporting prior substitute service should ensure that the service was earned after the teacher became certified.

Timing

Education entities typically determine service either upon request or at the end of the year for substitutes identified as qualifying. Anecdotally, HR professionals report a preference for making determinations upon request because they only receive two to three requests in a given year.

Whether making determinations when requested or annually, the process is simplified by utilizing a substitute management system.

Further guidance

Requirements regarding which entities are recognized for years of service and a definition of a certified substitute can be found in the Commissioner’s Rules on Creditable Years of Service (Title 19, Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §153.1021).

The recent HRX article, Creditable Years of Service Reviewed, outlines procedures for tracking service, correcting errors, and calculating days. Additional HRX articles regarding Creditable Experience for Paraprofessionals Transitioning to a Teaching Role and Salary Placement for Career and Technical Education Teachers are also available.