For the past 85 years, the U.S. government has run a registered apprenticeship program to train workers in the skilled trades, such as plumbers, electricians, or information technology specialists. In the past year, the government has added a new occupation to the list: teachers.

An apprenticeship program—an approach to job training that dates back to the Middle Ages and remains particularly popular in Europe—allows workers to train for a new career at little to no cost while earning a paycheck. President Joe Biden has prioritized the model throughout his time in office, including as a way to combat teacher shortages.