New applicants can apply online to be a substitute teacher or substitute instructional assistant through the FCPS Instructional Talent Gateway.

When applying to be a substitute teacher or substitute instructional assistant, please have the following documents ready to upload:

• Resumé
• Proof of Qualifications
  • If applying to be a substitute teacher, a copy of your undergraduate college transcripts that show 30 credit hours or more (grade reports, or college diplomas are not accepted) is required*. For candidates who do not meet the minimum of 30 semester hours, the following exceptions can apply:
    • enrolled in an approved teacher education preparatory program
    • has completed a high school teacher preparatory course, like Teachers for Tomorrow
    • has been employed as an Instructional Assistant for at least one school year at a K12 organization
    • has one full year of experience teaching preschool or in a school-aged childcare program
    • has completed one full year as a classroom or a student monitor
  • If applying to be a substitute instructional assistant, a copy of your high school diploma is required*

*If your high school diploma or college transcript was issued outside of the U.S., an evaluation is required. No exceptions will be made. To learn more, view the Virginia Department of Education (MS Word) document for a list of approved agencies for obtaining an official U.S. degree equivalency evaluation of foreign credentials.

• References can be received in one of three ways:
  • Electronic Reference
    • When submitting your application, you may choose to include the names and email addresses of two references. FCPS will then send an electronic reference to the email addresses provided.
  • Reference/Recommendation Letter
    • When submitting your application, you may upload two reference/recommendation letters that must be dated and signed within the last 12 months. Reference/recommendation letters are not required to come from former employers.
  • FCPS Applicant Reference Form

References from family members are not accepted.

To expedite your application, please have all documents ready when you submit it.

Please check your email regularly, as FCPS will send you notifications of your application status.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email the Office of Substitute Employment at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 571-423-3030, option 1.

After completing the application process, you will be emailed employment information regarding our online onboarding system. This streamlined onboarding process will allow for expedited processing of employee information. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, employees can complete forms, view required FCPS training, and more from any Internet connection. 

After completing onboarding, please call the Office of Substitute Employment at 571-423-3030 (option 1) to confirm that you've completed the onboarding process and schedule an appointment for a required, two-hour orientation. All new applicants must come to the Gatehouse Administration Center for fingerprinting and a criminal background check.

When you come in to be fingerprinted, you must bring all of the following documents:

• Two forms of identification
• A negative TB screening test or chest x-ray results dated within the last 12 months signed by a physician
• I-9 documents

Applicants who arrive without all the required documents will not be processed.

If you have any questions, call the Office of Substitute Employment at 571-423-3030 (option 1)