Step 1: Seek and Obtain a Sponsor School District or Organization for Criminal History Record Clearance.

The sponsoring organization should be the candidate’s teacher preparation program, school district, or vendor organization that the candidate will serve. If the candidate plans to substitute in multiple school districts, he or she must select at least one for application purposes.

Please use Henry Hudson Regional School District (25-1456) or Contractor Code (ESS) as your sponsor school.

If you are already a staff member and are looking to obtain your substitute license, please notify Mr. Ralph W. Barth that you are applying so a letter of Continuous Employment can be sent to the county office.

Step 2: Complete Fingerprinting/ Criminal History Record Check Process

Print the instructions found in the attachment on bottom of this page, be sure you are connected to a printer and have your credit card ready.

Ø  Be sure to select ‘substitute teacher’ as the position whether you are a new applicant or archiving your prints. If you are a substitute in another district, you can select the transfer option.

Ø  Approximately 7 business days after

you are fingerprinted, the approval letter can be found online at http://www.nj.gov/education/crimhist/. Select ‘Applicant Approval Employment History’, enter your SSN and birth date and print the approval document

Step 3: Apply for the Substitute

Credential Online and upload your criminal history approval

Please refer to the addition instructions “Applying for Sub Credentials Oct 2023)

While you are waiting for your criminal history approval: Create an account in the new NJEdCert system.

Follow the directions provided to complete the application – be sure to select the correct certificate (60 credit or 30 credit) and pay the $125.00 application fee. If you select the wrong certificate, it will delay the process.    For the 30-credit credential, you must be currently enrolled in an accredited college program and

be 20 years of age or older. Verification of enrollment will be required.

  Be sure to note your case number.

Once you receive your criminal history approval, upload it directly to your account.

For login issues, please email

[email protected]

Step 4: Send official transcripts

Have your college/university email your transcripts to:

[email protected]

Step 5: Notify HR office

Send an email to Mr. Ralph W. Barth, HR Coordinator (mailto:[email protected]) with the date of your application and your case number and confirm the following:

Ø  Criminal History approval was uploaded

Ø  Transcripts were sent to the above noted email

Step 6: Find your Substitute Certificate

Once everything is completed, it takes some time for the certificate to be issued. Please check your NJEdCert account periodically. You cannot be approved as a substitute until the certificate is received.