Alameda County Office of Education

A teacher stands in front of a classroom, holding a paper and smiling at her students.

Pathway to Increase Community Teachers

The Pathway to Increase Community Teachers program (PICT) is designed to provide targeted communities with qualified substitutes that are familiar with the community in which they work. PICT will provide qualified community members the opportunity to support their community. This program will cover the fees necessary to qualify substitutes for employment, provide the support necessary to be successful in a classroom, and connect community members through a mentorship with veteran teachers.

Program Overview

This program is great for beginning substitutes and substitutes who would like additional training and support.
This program is also fitting for someone who has completed their BA as it is a requirement
This program is also for someone who has over 90 units/credits and enrolled in an accredited College/University to complete their BA.

Skill Development:

The program equips participants with essential skills in lesson planning, classroom management, and student engagement, ensuring they are well-prepared for substitute teaching roles.

Accessibility:

It is open to individuals with no prior teaching experience, making it an inclusive opportunity for anyone interested in entering the teaching profession.

Financial Support:

Participants receive a stipend upon successful completion of the training and are reimbursed for application and fingerprinting costs.

Employment Assistance:

The program offers support in securing substitute teaching positions.

Ongoing Support:

Graduates benefit from continued mentorship and networking opportunities, fostering professional growth and enhancing their teaching effectiveness in local classrooms.

Program Requirements:

Must have a completed BA or have over 90 units/credits and enrolled in an accredited College/University to complete their BA.
If you hold a degree from a foreign country, it must first be evaluated by a Commission-Approved Foreign Transcript Evaluation Agency to verify that it is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree.

Certificate of Clearance (COC):

To participate, you must have a valid Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

If you already hold a Substitute Teaching Permit, you’ve already met this requirement.
If you’re applying for a sub permit, the COC is part of that process.
Once your Certificate of Clearance is confirmed, you’ll be officially added to the participant list.

Next Steps:

Follow the instructions for applying for a substitute permit.
Complete the Substitute Permit Candidate Questionnaire so our Credentials Department can assist you.
PICT Application

Important Note for International Applicants

If your degree is from a non-U.S. institution, you must provide a transcript evaluation from a Commission-approved agency verifying it is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Please click on this link: Commission Approved Foreign Transcript Evaluation Agencies to view options for foreign transcripts evaluation businesses.

Note: The PICT program does not reimburse transcript evaluation fees.

Cohort Information

The PICT Fall Training for Substitute Teachers is currently paused until further notice. While we are not holding multi-day trainings at this time, we still want to support individuals interested in earning their Substitute Teacher Permit.

If you are interested in pursuing your Substitute Permit or have questions about the process, please contact us at:

subline@acoe.org

jmacias@acoe.org

We will provide guidance and resources to help you move forward while the PICT program is on hold.

Thank you for your interest and patience — we look forward to supporting your pathway to becoming a substitute teacher.

Training Details

When: September 22–25, 2025
Where: Alameda County Office of Education, 313 W. Winton Ave, Hayward, CA 94544
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Register Click here to Register
Deadline to register: September 4, 2025

What does Fall PICT look like?

7 days of training: 4 days virtual, 1 day in-person shadowing, and 2 follow-up sessions.
Support with job placement, mentorship, networking, and additional resources.
Stipend upon completion and reimbursement for application and fingerprinting fees.