Point Park University’s School of Education Welcomes Teacher Apprentices in an Innovative Program to Address PA Teacher Shortage

Point Park University’s School of Education has been chosen to provide instruction for teacher apprentices, part of Pennsylvania’s Supporting Certified Teacher Registered Apprenticeship, an innovative and rigorous effort to offer para-teachers or classroom aides an opportunity to become certified teachers.

The Certified Teacher Registered Apprenticeship (CTRA) is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). It is a cornerstone of the state’s overall $7.76 million investment to increase the number of teachers in Pennsylvania schools.

“We are honored to be a part of the state’s effort to offer those already working in classrooms an opportunity to earn a certified teaching degree,“ said Virginia Chambers, Ed.D., interim dean of the School of Education.

As a provider institution for the CTRA program, teacher apprentices will enroll in the School of Education’s Residency program — a teacher pathway — to become a certified PreK-4 or Special Education teacher. The teacher apprentice positions are fully funded so that those participating can pursue their teaching degrees, free of charge, while working full-time.

Under the CTRA program, through designated partner institutions, paraprofessionals, teacher or classroom aides will enroll in Point Park University’s fully-online Residency program to earn their certification. The Residency program incorporates a teacher apprentice’s on-the-job experience as well as offers mentorship and support.

“Point Park University's Residency program offers the unique advantage of allowing participants to earn certification as special education teachers while actively working in the field, allowing for immediate application of skills,” said Katie Majewski, an instructional supervisor at the Western PA School for Blind Children, an education partner in the Residency program. “Point Park’s program’s efficiency — particularly the clear and consistent communication among partners — has proven to be highly effective,” she added.

The School of Education at Point Park University will work with the following partner institutions to support the CTRA programs:

“What makes this program compelling is that we can take a paraprofessional’s unique in-classroom experience and build on it with online education and training,” explained Chambers. “For individuals who work dedicatedly in classrooms across our state, with no formal teaching certification, this is a critical program to help them obtain professional certification,” she added.

Point Park University’s School of Education Welcomes Teacher Apprentices in an Innovative Program to Address PA Teacher Shortage Thursday, June 26, 2025