As educator shortages continue to plague districts across the country – across urban and rural districts – the solution could be in plain sight. According to a recent Study.com survey of employees in K-12 school districts, 75% of respondents indicated they believe teacher apprenticeships can help address educator shortages in their respective schools or districts. Additionally, two-thirds of district employees view apprenticeship programs as a viable option to becoming a classroom teacher.
The challenge is lack of awareness of offerings in schools and districts: More than half of respondents (57%) reported they were unsure if their school or district offered apprenticeship programs. Teacher apprenticeship programs have expanded to 45 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. With more than 675,000 active apprentices in 2025, survey respondents have a positive perception of those programs despite their level of knowledge on a local level.
Even still, the survey found that district employees believe apprenticeship programs offer tremendous benefits to those educator candidates interested in becoming a classroom teacher, including:
- 60.3% of respondents noted the ability to earn a salary while you learn
- 42.3% indicated the opportunity to follow a low or no cost pathway to certification
- 39.4% report the benefit of direct hands-on classroom experience
“The growth of teacher apprenticeship programs has exploded in the past few years with more educator candidates looking for alternative programs to entering the classroom,” explained Dana Bryson, SVP of Social Impact, Study.com. “The increase in teacher shortages combined with the number of Americans looking for career workforce pathways through apprenticeships is reaching a perfect storm. Our role is to provide schools, districts and educator candidates with the tools and resources needed to be successful in their certification exams.”
In fact, the cost of certification (including for courses and exams) is the number one barrier for respondents not entering an apprenticeship program:
- 32% indicated the cost of certification as a top concern
- 28% reported concern about the time commitment
- 20% referenced the need to balance family or personal responsibilities
There remains an opportunity though to encourage potential candidates to pursue an educator apprenticeship program. Among the factors respondents indicated would make them take the next step include:
- 53% indicated wanting financial incentives
- 45% asked for guaranteed job placement after certification
- 42% said paid time to study would make a difference
- 22% cited access to exam prep tools and resources
The survey indicates that school staff already have the passion, perspective and proximity to make a difference in the classroom given the right resources and support. Teacher apprenticeship programs can transform school employees into certified teachers that can help address existing shortages.
Methodology
The “Teacher Apprenticeship” survey was conducted online from April 28 – May 14, 2025, and included 416 K-12 school and district employees across the country (not including certified teachers). For a full version of the report, please visit: https://study.com/resources/teacher-shortage-solution-apprenticeships.html.
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