STRS Membership Eligibility

Mandatory Membership

Academic employees are mandated for membership in the State Teachers' Retirement System under the following conditions:

1. Full-time academic employees qualify for membership the first day of the pay period in which work is performed.
2. Substitutes qualify after performing 100 days of substitute service in one school district. The membership date is the first day of the following pay period in which the additional service is performed.
3. Part-time employees qualify for membership after completing 60 hours in a pay period, or 10 days in a pay period on a daily basis, in one school district. The membership date is the first day of the following pay period in which the additional service is performed.

Optional Membership

Academic employees may elect membership under the following conditions:

1. Substitute or part-time academic employees employed for less than 100 days in a school year or 60 hours in a pay period may irrevocably elect membership. The effective date is the first day of the pay period in which the election is made. The election must be made during a period in which service is performed.
2. STRS members changing to classified positions which qualify for Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) membership, have 90 days from the start of employment in the new position to elect in writing to STRS that they wish to become a member of PERS. If no election is made, membership will continue in STRS.
3. PERS members changing from classified to academic positions which qualify for STRS membership have 90 days from the start of employment in the new position to elect in writing to PERS that they wish to remain a member of PERS. If no election is made, membership is established in STRS.