Wisconsin approves Kelly Education to provide substitute teacher certification training | News

On Tuesday, Kelly Education announced that it was approved by The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) as an official substitute teacher certification training program. 

Wisconsin DPI approved the program in February. 

The approval allows Kelly Education to offer its online course to individuals looking to obtain a three-year substitute permit in the state. This comes as schools across Wisconsin, and the country, continue to grapple with ongoing teacher shortages.

To qualify for the three-year substitute permit, the State of Wisconsin requires that applicants hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university and successfully complete an approved substitute training program.

Kelly Education’s program provides a streamlined pathway for aspiring substitute teachers. Dr. Stephanie Wall, Director of Learning for Kelly Education, says the training can help fill critical gaps in Wisconsin classrooms.

“Often a substitute teacher is in that classroom until they do identify the certified teacher that’s going to go in there,” Wall said. “And so it’s really important, especially in those situations where you’re talking about core subject areas or really long term, you know, vacancies that these substitutes are filling, that you have folks that understand what it takes to keep learning moving forward.”

The Wisconsin DPI’s 2023 Educator Preparation Program and Workforce Analysis Report highlights the urgency behind such efforts. The report reveals that only 55.6% of a tracked 2023 cohort of first-time teachers remained in Wisconsin or in the profession after seven years. In addition, only 26.1% of teachers stayed at the same school over that time.

Wall believes Kelly Education’s program can help alleviate some of the strain on schools.

“I think [this] helps in the teacher vacancy situation, because we’re keeping the subs that really want to do this work, we’re keeping them longer, we’re helping them to be more successful, which I think just makes, you know, those vacancies feel a little bit less painful to our schools and to our students,” she said.

The Kelly Education training features a 20-hour comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare individuals for success in the classroom. It’s particularly aimed at retired non-certified school personnel, parents, healthcare professionals, and other community members interested in stepping into substitute teaching roles.

Key highlights of the certification process and Kelly Education training include:

• Eligibility: Applicants must hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

• Registration: Candidates can register at substituteteachingpathways.com.

• Training Fee: The course is currently offered at an introductory rate of $39.99 (normally $59.99).

• Completion Time: Once registered, applicants have 90 days to complete the training.

• Background Checks: Applicants must complete a background check if they are requesting a new certificate or considered a new hire at a school district. A new fingerprint clearance is required if their last one is over twelve months old.

Kelly Education is one of only three approved vendors in Wisconsin providing this type of training. According to Wall, “Our curriculum combines practical know-how with advanced instructional strategies, meeting state standards. This ensures that approved candidates can begin making an impact in the classroom promptly, providing necessary relief for schools across the State of Wisconsin.”

For more information on what it takes to be a substitute teacher in Wisconsin, visit the Wisconsin DPI substitute teacher site. 

​COPYRIGHT 2025 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.