Teacher Apprenticeship Program (TAP)
Earn your bachelor's degree in education while you work — tuition-free
About the Program
A two-year work-based program that enables apprentices to earn while learning through competency-based instruction. Apprentice teachers will co-teach using team-teaching strategies with the support of a highly qualified mentor teacher. The Teacher Apprenticeship Program serves as a pathway for individuals employed as education support professionals to receive on-the-job training and related college instruction, enabling them to earn a bachelor's degree in education.
Apprentices must be employed at one of Broward College's partner K-12 schools, where they work alongside a mentor teacher while completing their bachelor's degree through fully online, competency-based coursework.
Through the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant, apprentices receive one year of paid tuition. Remaining coursework is the student's responsibility, and advisors will help you explore financial aid and scholarship options.
Program Benefits
One Year Tuition Paid
Fully Online courses
FTCE Exam Preparation
Competency-Based Training
Program Goals and Outcomes
The Teacher Apprenticeship Program aims to address teacher shortages by improving teacher training, support, mentorship, recruitment, and retention. Additionally, the program will function as an additional recruitment channel for local area school districts. Our recruitment efforts focus on individuals with experience in K-12 education, particularly education support professionals with associate's degrees. We are tailoring every aspect to enhance the availability of high-quality teachers in our local area.
Degree Programs Offered
The Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student Education is eligible for Florida Professional Certification in ESE K-12, Reading, and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages). The B.S. in ESE is designed to qualify its graduates to teach ESE placements for inclusive and self-contained settings in grades K-12.
Dates and Deadlines
At this time, the current cohort is full. However, you can complete the Teacher Apprenticeship Program Interest Form. If you meet the program eligibility requirements, we will add you to our waitlist and contact you if a position becomes available or when we begin recruiting for the next cohort.
Admission Requirements
- Completed Associate of Arts Degree
- 2.5 GPA
- Acceptance to Broward College as a degree-seeking student with all required admissions documents received by the admissions office
- Signed Candidate Contract-Agree to commit two years to team teaching and targeting FTCE study preparation
View the How to Apply to Broward College page and click Apply/Login in the Bachelor's Degree Application section to complete the BC application. We advise students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well and enter school code 001500.
Residency documents are submitted online via a dynamic form with a section to upload evidence documentation.
Students who were not born in the United States or a U.S. Territory must provide evidence of eligible legal immigration status before they may be considered for admission to the college and classification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. All students who apply online will be admitted as non-Florida residents until they provide the required supporting documentation needed to prove Florida residency before the first day of the term.
- Florida residents select: Florida resident form
- Non-Florida residents select: Non-Florida resident form
You must submit official transcripts for high school and all colleges and universities attended. The transcript(s) should show that there is no coursework in progress.
Submit your transcript to Broward College using one of the formats below:
- Contact the previous institution(s) you attended to request that your official transcript be sent electronically to Broward College (school code 001500)
- For schools that do not transmit electronically, mail an official and complete paper transcript(s) to:
Broward College Registrar's Office
4205 Bonaventure Blvd.
Weston, FL 33332 - Students may drop off a transcript in person at our Central, North, or South Campus locations during the following hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Complete the steps to register for placement via FieldPrint
- FieldPrint fingerprinting is the only provider for BCPS Security Badges. No other agency will be accepted. Please use the code below when prompted.
- Use vendor badge code FPBCPSEmpPreEDnet (cost will be $7.50)
An interview may be required to complete the admission process.
Program Requirements
- Completion of all required FTCE exams: General Knowledge, Subject Area Exam (related to the program of study), and Professional Educator Exam
- Completion of all related instruction requirements to obtain a bachelor's degree
- Satisfactory completion of On-the-job-training (OJT) hours
Forms
Teacher Apprenticeship Certificate: required to begin the apprenticeship program; must be submitted to the Florida Department of Education by staff upon candidate verification. Contact the coordinator upon completion of the BC application, submission of residency documents, transcripts, and receipt of the employment verification confirmation email.
Partner Schools
Apprentices are employed by one of Broward College's partner K-12 schools and earn a salary and benefits set by the employing school. Wages vary by school and position.
Current Partner Schools
The Charter School of Excellence
Additional partner schools are being added — check back for updates or contact the program coordinator.
Meet the Team
Dr. Ellie Ospina
Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant
Dr. Ellie Ospina serves as the Coordinator for the Pathways to Career Opportunities (PCOG) Grant at Broward College. With more than 20 years of experience across Pre-K through higher education, she has served as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, curriculum coordinator, English Learner advocate, instructional coach, and university professor. In her current role, she supports program coordination, partnership development, recruitment, and implementation of teacher apprenticeship initiatives that strengthen the educator workforce. Dr. Ospina is passionate about coaching and mentoring educators and advancing evidence-based instructional practices to improve teacher preparation and student success.
She earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Nova Southeastern University, an M.S. in Reading from Florida International University, and both an Ed.S. and Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University. She has also completed a Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University and graduate coursework in Special Education at the University of Florida.
Additionally, she holds a Leadership Experiences and Administrative Development certificate, an Instructional Coach credential, and a Florida Professional Educator's Certificate in multiple subject areas.
Dr. Elizabeth Carrandi
Dean of Academic Affairs, Grant Sponsor
Over the years, she has developed and delivered various trainings on pedagogy and innovative teaching methodologies to pre-professional and in-service teachers, and has taught bachelor's-level teacher preparation courses in classroom management and instructional strategies. Before working in higher education, Dr. Carrandi was an elementary school teacher in grades 4 and 5 in Miami-Dade County and a middle grades mathematics teacher in Volusia County.
Her accomplishments at Broward College include overseeing a $3.5 million Teacher Quality Partnership Grant, increasing pre-professional teachers' pass rates on certification examinations, and launching new program endorsements to meet local school district needs. Dr. Carrandi was selected as a 2022 National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) fellow, is a graduate of Leadership Florida Class IV, and recently co-authored the book Teach to Touch Lives: A Guide to the Profession of Teachers.
As a South Florida native and first-generation college student, she is passionate about refining teacher preparation and increasing the teacher pipeline. She keenly understands the current challenges in education and is deeply focused on improving teacher preparation to enhance K-12 learning.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, a Master of Science degree in Educational Technology Applications, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Leadership Administration from Barry University.
Contact
Dr. Ellie Ospina
eospina@broward.edu
954-201-2195
Education Pathway Resources
