Key Aspects of Registered Teacher Apprenticeships
Industry-Driven Design
Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (RTAP) are employer-led, meaning Kentucky school districts can tailor their programs to address local workforce needs, including critical shortages and community priorities.
Strong Partnerships
RTAP operate through partnerships between school districts, educator preparation providers (EPPs), and other community stakeholders, including regional education cooperatives and workforce development boards.
“Earn While You Learn” Model
Apprentices receive a salary and benefits while they work in classrooms and complete coursework.
Structured, On-the-Job Training
Apprentices are paired with experienced mentor teachers (“journey workers”) who provide direct support, coaching, and feedback. Simultaneously, apprentices’ complete coursework aligned with licensure requirements.
Expands Opportunity to the Profession
By offering paid pathways, it supports individuals desiring to enter the profession with additional viable option to learn, earn and seek their degree leading to their certification as an educator. (Degreed Apprenticeship Track)
How to Get Started in Kentucky
Whether you’re an aspiring teacher, school district leader, or educator preparation provider, here’s how to take the first step:
Aspiring Apprentices (Future Teachers)
School Districts and Employers
Higher Education/Educator Preparation Program Partners
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a registered apprenticeship pathway designed to prepare future teachers through a combination of paid, structured on-the-job learning and related instruction through an educator preparation pathway.
It can support individuals pursuing a pathway into the teaching profession. Specific eligibility, hiring requirements and program design may vary by participating school district and educator preparation provider.
A registered teacher apprenticeship requires partnership. Depending on the local program, partners may include a school district or other employer, an educator preparation provider (EPP), the apprenticeship system, and other workforce or education partners.
Yes. The apprenticeship model combines structured and supervised on-the-job learning with related technical or academic instruction. This allows the apprentice to develop skills in an actual educational setting.
Registered Apprenticeship is an earn-and-learn model. Apprentices are employees and receive wages while completing structured on-the-job learning. Registered Apprenticeship also includes progressive wage growth as skills increase.
Yes. The apprenticeship does not replace educator preparation. Coursework and clinical/work-based experiences are intentionally connected so the apprentice can build the knowledge and skills required for teaching.
High-quality programs aim to eliminate or significantly lower tuition costs, so participants do not accumulate massive debt. Many programs partner with local community colleges or state universities and use federal or state workforce funds to cover expenses.
No. Registered Apprenticeship is employer driven. Local programs are built around required apprenticeship standards while allowing partners to design a pathway that meets workforce needs and aligns with educator preparation requirements.
Recruit, hire and train the candidate. The district/employer is central to the apprenticeship. It employs apprentices, provides structured on-the-job learning, supports supervision and mentoring, and works with partners to help the apprentice progress through the program.
The EPP provides the educator-preparation coursework and helps align academic preparation with the apprentice’s school-based learning experiences and pathway toward teacher certification.
Registered Apprenticeship includes structured and supervised on-the-job learning with support from experienced professionals. Kentucky teacher apprenticeship programs should clearly identify how mentoring and supervision will be provided throughout the pathway.
The exact timeline depends on the approved apprenticeship design and the apprentice’s preparation pathway. Registered Apprenticeship programs establish the required on-the-job learning, related instruction and competencies that must be completed.
No. Apprentices must still satisfy the applicable Kentucky requirements for educator preparation and certification. An apprenticeship is a structured pathway that helps participants work toward those requirements.
Potentially. Teacher apprenticeship can be an important grow-your-own strategy for developing existing talent, but eligibility depends on the design and requirements of the participating local program.
It can help districts build a local educator pipeline, recruit and develop future teachers, provide job-embedded preparation, strengthen partnerships with educator preparation programs, and create a more intentional pathway from preparation into the profession.
Apprentices gain practical school-based experience, mentoring and structured preparation while earning wages. The model connects what participants learn in preparation coursework with what they experience on the job.
Begin by identifying the district’s educator workforce needs and potential apprentice candidates. Next connect with the accredited and approved educator-preparation program and other potential apprenticeship partners to determine readiness and the steps for developing a Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program.
Contact:
Office of Industry and Apprenticeship Services
Department of Workforce Development
apprenticeship@ky.gov
502-401-6954
TRACK Youth Apprenticeship FAQ
TRACK stands for Tech Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky. It is a Youth Apprenticeship program that partners the Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education with the Education and Labor Cabinet. TRACK gives high school students a seamless pathway into Registered Apprenticeship.
Contact:
Mary Taylor
Office of Career and Technical Education
mary.taylor@education.ky.gov
(502) 564-4286 Ext. 4237
TRACK is designed for high school students in Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways. Employers can select the students and CTE courses that align with their apprenticeship program.
Students can take approved career and technical education (CTE) courses and complete paid on-the-job training while in high school. Their high-school coursework and on-the-job hours may count toward post-secondary Registered Apprenticeship training.
Yes. Students can be paid for on-the-job training in their career pathway while also receiving course credit.
Yes. Students can receive course credit, and their on-the-job hours can count toward apprenticeship completion. Credit for prior learning may also be applied toward Related Technical Instruction.
A student who successfully completes Youth Apprenticeship may be accepted into the Registered Apprenticeship program.
TRACK helps districts prepare students for the local workforce, build partnerships with community, engages students in practical and hands on learning, reinforces employability skills and supports that lead to teacher/industry certification.
TRACK connects career and technical education (CTE) students with employers creating a pipeline into Registered Apprenticeship. It allows students to continue their education while beginning a career, while helping employers develop future employees who already have foundational preparation and interest in the occupation.
