OSSE Apprenticeship in Teaching Program

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is excited to announce a new, cost-free opportunity to becoming an Elementary, Early Childhood or Special Education teacher in DC: the OSSE Apprenticeship in Teaching Program! This innovative new program will remove financial barriers to entering the teaching profession by providing prospective DC educators with a tuition-free bachelor’s degree, flexible coursework offerings and paid on-the-job learning. Apprentices who successfully complete the program will be eligible for an OSSE standard teaching credential. The K-12 Teacher Apprenticeship is a four-year program combining hands-on experience and classroom instruction. Apprentices complete at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning, plus a minimum of 144 hours of related coursework annually. Throughout the program, apprentices will gain proficiency in key areas including Learner Development, Learning Differences, Content Knowledge, Instructional Strategies, and Professional Ethics. They will receive guidance from a mentor teacher, who will oversee their progress and ensure they develop the skills needed to teach effectively.