Educational institutions frequently utilize the interim teacher position to address immediate staffing gaps and widespread teacher shortages. This role serves as a temporary measure, ensuring continuity of instruction for students when a fully certified professional is not immediately available. The position is inherently transitional, providing a structured entry point into the teaching profession.
Defining the Interim Teacher Role
An interim teacher is an individual hired to assume the full responsibilities of a classroom educator, typically filling a specific, long-term vacancy within a school or district. Unlike fully licensed staff, these educators do not yet possess the standard professional teaching license or certification required by the state for permanent employment. The need for this role frequently arises from acute staffing deficits, such as a sudden resignation or a persistent shortage in high-demand fields like mathematics, science, or special education.
Schools issue these contracts to maintain operational continuity and avoid leaving students without a dedicated instructor. The status is granted under specific, temporary authorizations, allowing the individual to teach while actively working toward full credentials.
State Requirements and Qualifications
Obtaining interim teaching status begins with meeting baseline educational requirements, which universally include possessing a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Many districts prefer or require that this degree aligns with the subject area the candidate intends to teach. A non-negotiable step involves the successful completion of comprehensive state and federal background checks and fingerprinting to ensure student safety.
The formal authorization to teach is granted through a temporary or emergency permit, issued directly by the state’s professional licensing body. Requirements for securing this initial permit vary significantly between jurisdictions. Some states may primarily focus on the degree and background check, while others mandate that applicants first pass specific initial competency examinations, often referred to as basic skills or general knowledge tests.
The variability in requirements means that a candidate qualified for an interim role in one state may not meet the temporary thresholds in another without further testing or coursework. The temporary nature of the permit is explicitly linked to the requirement that the educator enrolls in an approved certification program soon after hiring.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
The daily life of an interim teacher mirrors that of any established educator, as the individual is responsible for the complete instructional cycle of their assigned students. This includes the preparation and delivery of daily lesson plans, curriculum mapping, and the creation of assessments to measure student comprehension. Interim teachers are solely responsible for grading assignments, maintaining accurate student progress records, and managing the overall classroom environment.
They are also expected to participate in mandatory school functions, such as faculty meetings, individualized education plan (IEP) meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and required professional development workshops. Despite their temporary licensure status, interim educators are held to the same performance standards as their fully certified peers. Performance evaluations are often conducted by school administrators, assessing effectiveness in instruction, classroom management, and adherence to school policies.
The Bridge to Full Certification
The interim teaching role is designed as a structured employment pathway that facilitates the transition toward earning full professional licensure. Upon hiring, the educator is typically required to immediately enroll in an approved alternative certification program or begin a prescribed sequence of university coursework mandated by the state. This educational track often focuses on pedagogical theory, classroom management techniques, and specialized instruction methods not covered in the initial bachelor’s degree.
Districts frequently mandate participation in formal mentorship programs, pairing the interim teacher with an experienced, certified faculty member for guidance and observation. This mentorship provides crucial on-the-job coaching in areas like differentiated instruction and parent communication, serving as a practical component of the training. The interim teacher must document this mentorship and submit evidence of growth to the state licensing body.
The educator must complete these academic and practical requirements within a strict time limit, typically ranging between one and three years. The final step toward full certification involves successfully passing all required professional examinations, such as the Praxis Subject Assessments or state-specific content and pedagogy tests. Failure to complete all components—coursework, mentorship, and final exams—within the designated window generally results in the expiration of the temporary permit, preventing the individual from continuing to serve in the classroom.
Interim Teacher Compared to Other Roles
Interim Teacher vs. Certified Teacher
The fundamental distinction between an interim teacher and a certified teacher lies in their licensure status and the obligations attached to their employment. A certified teacher holds a permanent, standard license, signifying that they have completed all academic, testing, and student-teaching requirements established by the state. In contrast, an interim teacher possesses a temporary permit and is obligated to complete the remaining educational requirements and examinations while simultaneously performing their teaching duties.
Interim Teacher vs. Substitute Teacher
The interim role represents a long-term, contractual commitment to a specific classroom, school, and curriculum, whereas a substitute teacher generally provides short-term, day-to-day coverage. An interim teacher is fully responsible for curriculum development, long-term student progress, grading, and parent communication. A substitute typically executes lesson plans prepared by the absent teacher and often lacks responsibility for long-term planning or formal student assessments. The pay structure and benefits package reflect the interim teacher’s status as a contracted professional staff member, differing significantly from the per-diem nature of most substitute positions.
Interim Teacher vs. Provisional Teacher
The terms “interim teacher” and “provisional teacher” are frequently used interchangeably across different state educational systems to denote an educator on a temporary license. Where a distinction exists, the “provisional” status sometimes implies a more formal and pre-planned entry through a structured program, often with a university partner. The term “interim” can sometimes be used to describe a more immediate or emergency hiring situation to fill an unexpected vacancy. Regardless of the label, both roles require actively pursuing full, permanent state licensure within a fixed period.