Study.com survey suggests apprenticeship programs could help solve shortage of educators problem in USA
A new survey conducted by online learning platform Study.com finds teacher apprenticeships could be the key to solving the shortage of qualified educators across U.S. school districts.
Study.com surveyed 416 employees from K-12 schools and school districts across the U.S between April and May 2025. Three-quarters of respondents said teacher apprenticeships could help address educator shortages in their respective schools or districts.
Two-thirds of respondents said they see apprenticeship programs as a viable option to becoming a classroom teacher.
More than half of the survey’s respondents (57 percent) said they were unsure if their school or district offered apprenticeship programs, despite teacher apprenticeship programs having expanded to 45 states and the presence of more than 657,000 active apprentices in 2025.
Most of survey’s respondents saw benefits to educator candidates, with 60.3 percent noting the ability to earn a salary whilst learning.
"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," explains Dana Bryson, Senior Vice President of Social Impact at 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."
Survey respondents also shared which potential incentives they believed would make apprenticeships more appealing, with 53 percent wanting financial incentives and 45 percent asking for guaranteed job placements after completion.
Earlier this year, in an effort to address teacher shortages in the US and support high-quality education, Study.com announced a strategic partnership with Teach For America (TFA), to assist new educators in meeting certification requirements.
