10 Things You Never Knew About Being a (Released Time) Seminary Sub

I am well into my second year as a released time seminary substitute, and let me tell you, it is my dream job! Any time I tell someone what I do, I get a ton of questions! Growing up in Utah, I just assumed most people knew what released time seminary is. But I have quickly found that is not the case. So, before I tell you everything you never knew about being a released time seminary sub, let me first explain what released time seminary is!

Released time seminary is time set aside during school hours for students to receive off-campus private religious education. I believe all Utah schools offer released time seminary, and some schools in other states including Idaho and Arizona. If you’re not familiar with released time seminary, your area probably does early-morning seminary.

Now back to your questions! Here are 10 things you never knew about being a released time seminary sub.

You Apply Through Your Local Seminary & Institute Division

Let’s start with the question I get asked most: How can I become a seminary sub? Check with your area’s Seminary and Institute division. You can do this on the Church’s website and see what openings there are. Or you can visit your local S&I headquarters. They will direct you in the application process.

You Work For the Church

If you get hired, you are an employee of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yes, the Church has a business entity and education system. There are tens of thousands of employees throughout the world with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

It is Not a Calling

Unlike most seminary teachers worldwide, teaching release time seminary is a full-time job. And being a substitute is considered a part-time job.

Release Time Seminary is Held During the School Day

Which brings me to this next point. I’ve had several questions about how teaching seminary can be a full time job. Seminary is held during the school day and part of students schedules. So, seminary teachers are teaching 3-4 classes per day that are about 80 minutes long each (at least in my school district). And that doesn’t even count all the lesson prep. Just like a regular school teacher.

You Get Paid

This might actually be the second most-asked question. As teaching seminary throughout the world is mostly a church calling, people are shocked to learn that I get paid to substitute seminary. But since we have established that it is indeed a full-time job, hopefully it’s not so surprising anymore.

You Don’t Need a Teaching Certificate

Unlike teaching full-time seminary, a released time substitute does not need a teaching certificate. You do have to go through quite the application process, but no college degree or certificate is needed.

You Can Have Little Kids

I believe that the old rule for women teaching released time seminary was that they couldn’t have young kids, or that it was at least strongly discouraged. That is not the case anymore. Both men and women can be hired to teach regardless of their parental status.

You Often Get Asked the Morning Of

When I was hired as a seminary substitute, I was told that full-time seminary teachers are discouraged to plan vacations during the school year. Therefore, most of the instances I would be subbing would be if the teachers were sick. Which means that it’s usually a last minute call. Occasionally I get asked weeks in advance if there’s a teacher training or something like that. But I would say that most of my calls (texts) come the night before, the middle of the night, or the morning of.

You Usually Don’t Get a Lesson Plan

Since subbing seminary is usually last minute, I don’t get a lesson plan. This is why I started creating Last Minute Lessons. These are lessons I can use anytime – no matter what the students happen to be studying that week. They really come in handy and are also great for last minute Sunday school lessons or Family Home Evening lessons.

Lessons Follow the CFM Schedule

Luckily, I can also plan a lesson based on the Come Follow Me schedule, as seminary follows along with it just like home and church do. Isn’t it wonderful that members of all ages are learning the same stories and principles? This Church really is amazing.

Well, those are probably my most asked questions when it comes to substituting released time seminary. What other questions do you have for me?