1. (1)(a) "Apprentice" means a paid employee of an LEA who participates in structured on-the-job learning to prepare for a successful career as a teacher.

   1. (b) An apprentice earns a progressive wage as the apprentice's skills and productivity increase.
   2. (c) An apprentice may not be a teacher of record or long-term substitute teacher for an LEA.
2. (2) "Competency" means evidence established through demonstration in a higher education setting or pre-kindergarten to grade 12 classroom setting of successful application of knowledge and skills.
3. (3) "DOL" means the United States Department of Labor.

4. (4) "Education related expenses" may include:

   1. (a) tuition;
   2. (b) books;
   3. (c) fees; or
   4. (d) supplies.
5. (5) "Employer partner" means an LEA employing a participant, whether or not the LEA is a party to an apprenticeship agreement with the participant.

6. (6) "Individualized Professional Learning Plan" or "IPLP" means a plan developed for each participant, which shall include:

   1. (a) for an apprentice:

      1. (i) all requirements for a professional license, as described in Rule R277-301; and
      2. (ii) all competencies for an apprentice's professional license areas of concentration and endorsements; or

   2. (b) for a pre-apprentice:

      1. (i) all requirements for a paraeducator as described in Section R277-324-5; and
      2. (ii) the Utah Standards for Instructional Paraeducators incorporated by reference in Section R277-324-3.

7. (7) "Institution of higher education" or "IHE" means:

   1. (a) a college or university that has a physical location in Utah where students attend classes; or

   2. (b) an online college or university, which:

      1. (i) has its primary headquarters in the state; and
      2. (ii) is licensed to do business through the Utah Department of Commerce.

8. (8) "Journeyworker paraeducator" means an experienced paraeducator who:

   1. (a) has attained a mastery level of skill, abilities, and competencies required for the profession;
   2. (b) has met the paraeducator qualifications as described in Section R277-324-5; and
   3. (c) may evaluate a pre-apprentice's competencies.

9. (9) "Journeyworker teacher" means an experienced teacher who:

   1. (a) has attained a mastery level of skill, abilities, and competencies required for the profession;
   2. (b) oversees and guides the work of an apprentice in an on-the-job placement;
   3. (c) has an assignment from an LEA as a teacher in a Utah public school;

   4. (d) has a professional license area of concentration in:

      1. (i) Deaf education;
      2. (ii) Early Childhood education;
      3. (iii) Elementary education;
      4. (iv) Secondary education;
      5. (v) Special education; or
      6. (vi) Preschool special education;

   5. (e) has a professional or associate endorsement in:

      1. (i) instructional coaching;
      2. (iii) journeyworking teaching; or
      3. (ii) teacher mentoring; and
   6. (f) may evaluate an apprentice's competencies.
10. (10) "LEA" includes, for purposes of this rule, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

11. (11) "On-the-job learning" means:

    1. (a) time spent in a public school working directly with a journeyworker;
    2. (b) experiences that provide fully supported, increasingly demanding opportunities to apply learning, reflect on practice, and demonstrate competency under supervision of a journeyworker; and

    3. (c) time spent directly with students or performing other aspects of teaching under supervision of a journeyworker, such as:

       1. (i) professional learning;
       2. (ii) extracurricular activities;
       3. (iii) lesson planning; and
       4. (iv) parent communication, as outlined by the LEA.
12. (12) "Participant" means a registered apprentice or registered pre-apprentice.

13. (13) "Pre-apprentice" means a paid employee of an LEA who:

    1. (a) participates in structured on-the-job learning to prepare for a successful career as a teacher;
    2. (b) earns a progressive wage as the apprentice's skills and productivity increase; and
    3. (c) may not serve as a teacher of record or long-term substitute teacher.
14. (14) "Registered Apprentice Partners Information Database System" or "RAPIDS" means the DOL case management system for all registered apprenticeship programs.

15. (15)(a) "Registered Apprentice Program for Teachers" or "RAPT" means an industry-driven, high quality career pathway where:

    1. (i) employers can develop and prepare the future workforce; and

       1. (ii) an individual can:

          1. (A) obtain paid work experience;
          2. (B) receive progressive wage increases;
          3. (C) receive supplemental education; and
          4. (D) qualify for a Utah professional educator license, which is a portable, nationally-recognized credential.
    2. (b) The "RAPT" is industry-vetted and approved and validated by the DOL and the Board.

16. (16) "Related instruction provider" means an entity that:

    1. (a) provides related supplemental education to a participant;
    2. (b) offers a competency-based postsecondary general education course online or in person; and
    3. (c) is accredited by an organization recognized by the United States Department of Education.
17. (17) "Sponsor" means the Superintendent operating in coordination with the Utah Department of Workforce Services and the DOL to coordinate, administer, and oversee all aspects of the apprenticeship program.
18. (18) "Supplemental education" means learning experiences required to successfully demonstrate all required competencies and meet professional educator license requirements.

KEY: apprentice, license, RAPT

Date of Last Change: October 8, 2025

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Article X, Section 3; 53E-3-401(4); 53E-6-201(3)(a); 53E-6-206