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OTTUMWA -- For the Facebook story of the day, our fans wanted to know what the requirements are for substitute teachers in Iowa.

All applicants must have a teaching certificate as a licensed teacher.  Other individuals with a four-year degree in something outside of education must take classes for substitute authorization.

Even with the certificates the school does issue background checks.

"There's a certain amount of background checks just to get a teaching license or substitute authorization,” said Evans middle school Principal Dan Maeder.   “I also know that our, at central office here in Ottumwa, we have a process that we follow to do some extensive background checks as well."

At any given school day across the Ottumwa school district, as many as 15 substitute teachers are teaching in the classrooms.  The district also has more than 300 available subs.