An apprenticeship allows an aspiring teacher to learn the profession while working as a teacher and earning a salary. In most cases, apprentices work as full-time teachers, however, apprenticeship programs give schools and districts a great deal of autonomy in creating a program that best meets their needs as employers.

While each apprenticeship can be customized, there are apprenticeship standards that are universal and include that all participants are provided with a mentor, classroom instruction, and complete on-the-job learning standards.

Two registered apprenticeship programs impact the teaching pipeline. The first is a K12 program. This apprenticeship generally requires that the apprentice meet the minimum standards to serve as a teacher of record. These apprentices typically have a college degree and are currently eligible to teach (i.e. emergency certifications, waivers, etc.).

Another type of registered apprenticeship is the Teacher Aide 1 work schedule. This program is designed to support paraprofessionals. In most cases, the eligibility requirements are more liberal allowing apprenticeships to support aspiring teachers who have at least a high school diploma in most states.

Keep in mind that every apprenticeship program is unique and tailored to the employer (school or district).

To answer this simply, a teacher residency is a type of apprenticeship. Registered Apprenticeships are a specific type of apprenticeship that is approved through the Department of Labor.

In general, apprenticeships add greater programmatic flexibility in exchange for a slightly more administrative and reporting structure. Both are great options to strengthen and diversify your talent pool and, in many cases, can be run concurrently.

Funding is a bit complex for apprenticeships. Similar to the education sector, apprenticeships are funded through federal grants, state grants and incentives, and in some cases in partnership with local workforce boards (sort of like school boards but for labor).

We are learning that with some administrative adjustments and expansion of eligibility criteria, apprenticeships can become eligible for apprenticeship funding programs from the Department of Labor. Here is a guide provided by the US Department of Labor outlining some of the existing programs. We will update our resources as they become available.