Finish Line Certification

Introducing the UMSL Finish Line Teaching Apprenticeship from the Department of Labor and University of Missouri–St. Louis.

The UMSL Finish Line Teaching Apprenticeship from the US Department of Labor (DOL) is a high-quality, industry-driven career pathway that helps school districts develop and prepare their future workforce to use paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a nationally recognized portable credential through the DOL.

Components of the apprenticeship include:

• Paid position
• Work-Based learning
• Mentorship
• Classroom learning
• Missouri teacher certification
• National apprenticeship certificate

The U.S. Department of Labor’s role is to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, ensure equality of access to apprenticeship programs and provide integrated employment and training information to apprenticeship sponsors and the local employment and training community.

UMSL serves as the sponsoring agency and a conduit between the partnering school district and the DOL. UMSL’s College of Education provides all the instruction for the candidate to receive their Bachelor of Science in Education degree as well as DESE certification.

Benefits to School District Partners

You provide employees, mentors and job-embedded experiences. UMSL COE provides an accredited, experienced, and trusted pathway to teacher certification.

• Retain valued staff in need of a bachelor’s degree and advance them to the classroom as certified teachers.
• Sustain relationships between your students and apprentices who remain on the job in your district throughout the program.
• Provide school-based learning experiences to apprentices.

Program Requirements

• Meet 42 credit hours including general education requirements.
• Pass designated DESE program entry exam.
• Remain in a paid position with school district partner.

How the UMSL Finish Line Teaching Apprenticeship Works

Year 1-2: Fellow Apprentice

• Complete required coursework.
• Maintain position with district partner.

Year 3: Provisional Eligibility (Resident Apprentice)

• Obtain provisional teacher certification.
• Hired as teacher of record in area of certification.
• Complete required coursework