Inspired to be a Teacher or earn your degree?
If you’ve always dreamed of leading your own classroom but weren’t sure how to start, the Teacher Apprenticeship Degree (TAD) program helps you earn your associate degree while you work — tuition-free. It’s the perfect first step on your educational journey to becoming a teacher.
Program Overview
The Teacher Apprenticeship Degree (TAD) Program at Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) offers paraprofessionals working in neighboring school districts the opportunity to earn their Associate Degree with a focus on Elementary Education. TAD strengthens both your theoretical knowledge and hands-on classroom experience, helping you grow as an education professional and advance in your career. Completing the program can increase your earning potential and allows you to transfer many of your credits toward a bachelor’s degree—bringing you one step closer to becoming a licensed teacher. We understand that returning to school can feel like a big step, but we’re here to support you every step of the way!
Why Choose the TAD Program?
- You’ll receive a tuition-free education through MassEducate and MassReconnect*
- Courses are designed for working professionals with flexible hybrid options.
- You’ll gain hands-on classroom experience and mentoring while earning your degree.
- Support is built in — from academic advising to on-the-job coaching.
Program Highlights
- Flexible & Convenient - Courses designed with the schedule of paraprofessionals in mind. This encompasses hybrid and online classes that are offered outside of the paraprofessionals workday.
- Learn & Earn - TAD students continue to work while gaining invaluable experience in the classroom, on-the-job training, and mentoring and development opportunities.
- Train for your next step - Prepare yourself for career opportunities you’ll be ready to thrive in, or further education with transferrable coursework.
Outcomes
- Wage increase at district employer (please see your school districts salary grade for more information)
- The opportunity to transfer your credits to a four-year institution to obtain your bachelor’s degree
Important Dates
- Application Period: Open Now - apply as soon as possible to secure your spot.
- Priority Deadline: July 1, 2026
Commitment
- Core education courses are held in a hybrid format on Wednesday evenings
- Non-education courses can be taken to fit your personal schedule
- Modalities include:
- Hybrid, online, asynchronous and in person. This depends on your preference!
- Weekly check in with the apprenticeship advisor
- This is a two-year fulltime program
- Modalities include:
Eligibility/ Requirements
- High School Diploma, HiSet, GED or any similar credential
- Employed by a partner district as a paraprofessional
- Lives in Massachusetts
- MassEducate and MassReconnect eligible*
Current District Partners
- Everett Public Schools
- Chelsea Public Schools
Apply Now
- Email apprenticeships@bhcc.edu to see if you meet the eligibility requirements.
- Meet with the apprenticeship team
- Start the college onboarding process:
- Apply to BHCC
- Submit transcripts and identification
- Official high school transcripts sent directly from your school or brought to BHCC in person with your photo ID. If you received your high school diploma outside of the United States, you will need to provide an official English translation of your diploma and transcript.
- Complete Math and English Placement tests
- Attend Start Now and meet one-on-one with the Apprenticeship Counselor!
- Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to receive MassEducate/Reconnect funds.
Approved Translation Agencies
Recommended Translation Services for Foreign High School
Center for Education Documentation (CED)
Address: 20 Park Plz Ste 515, Boston, MA 02116
Website: www.cedevaluations.com/about-ced/
Email: info@cedevaluations.com
Phone: (617) 338-7171
Asian American Civic Association (AACA)
ONLY offers translation services from Chinese or Vietnamese to English
Address: 87 Tyler St Ste 5, Boston, MA 02111
Website: www.aaca-boston.org
Email: info@aaca-boston.org
Phone: (617) 426-9492
International Document Center
Address: 398 Columbus Ave, PMB 343, Boston, MA, 02116
Website: www.eurasiacom.org/index.html
Email: info@eurasiacom.org
Phone: (617) 427-9813
SpanTran: Certified Translation Services
Website: www.spantran.com/web/services/evaluations
Email: status@spantran.com
Phone: (646) 475-2570
World Education Services (WES)
Website: www.wes.org
FAQ: www.wes.org/help/
Phone: (800) 361-3106
Note from BHCC Admissions
Submitting via email:
Once your high school documents have been professionally translated, please attach both a copy of the original document and the translation in an email and submit to admissions@bhcc.edu
Dropping off to BHCC Charlestown Campus:
Admissions Office | B-203
250 New Rutherford Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02129
Submitting via mail:
Bunker Hill Community College
ATTN: Admissions Office
250 New Rutherford Avenue |Boston, Massachusetts 02129
Recommended Evaluation Services for College or University Transfer Credits
If you earned credits at a university located outside of the United States, and want to request transfer credits you must obtain a detailed course-by-course evaluation of your international transcripts utilizing a credential evaluation service.
Please note that an official translation of transcripts is not sufficient for receiving transfer credits at BHCC as we require a course-by-course evaluation by a credential evaluation company. If you have questions regarding your translation or evaluation, please email transferservices@bhcc.edu
Note: Most Canadian transcripts do not require an evaluation. Please email an unofficial copy of your Canadian transcript to transferservices@bhcc.edu to confirm if an evaluation is needed.
Evaluations can also be considered for admissions purposes
- The Center for Educational Documentation (CED): www.cedevaluations.com
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE): www.ece.org
- SpanTran has a custom application for BHCC students to make sure the right kind of evaluation is selected.
- World Education Services (WES): www.wes.org
- Legacy Translations LLC
867 Boylston St
Suite 500, Unit #414
Boston, MA · 02116
(857) 316-7770
contact@legacytranslations.com
We also accept credential evaluations from organizations with AACRAO membership and organizations endorsed by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Visit their websites for a full list of members:
NACES: www.naces.org | AICE: www.aice-eval.org
Note from BHCC Academic Records
Submitting via email:
Once your college transcripts have been professionally translated and/or have had a course-by-course evaluation, please send original and translated document(s) to academicservices@bhcc.edu. Please note that official translations and evaluations must be emailed directly from the service used.
Dropping off to BHCC Charlestown Campus:
Translation and evaluations must be in a sealed envelope directly from the service used.
Student Central |250 New Rutherford Avenue, |Boston, Massachusetts 02129
Submitting via mail:
Bunker Hill Community College
ATTN: Academic Services |250 New Rutherford Avenue |Boston, Massachusetts 02129
For School districts and employers
Partnering with Bunker Hill Community College through the TAD program helps districts build a sustainable teacher pipeline, improve retention, and invest in the professional growth of their staff — all at little to no cost.
Benefits at a Glance
- Build a qualified teacher pipeline from within your district
- Retain talented paraprofessionals by offering a career pathway
- Strengthen community ties through workforce development
- Improve morale and reduce hiring costs
Steps to Partnership
- Connect with BHCC’s Apprenticeship Team to explore your district’s needs.
- Identify paraprofessionals interested in earning their degree.
- Customize a program model that fits your staffing and schedule. Apprentices will take their practicum course during their second year.
- Launch and support your apprentices!
*The MassEducate and MassReconnect programs allow Massachusetts residents who have not yet earned certain degrees to attend any of the state’s 15 community colleges, including BHCC, for free. No tuition. No fees. And both programs include an allowance for books and supplies for certain students.
*Students must be Massachusetts residents and submit a FAFSA application. MassEducate and MassReconnect are last dollar financial aid grant awards that are applied to a student’s account after all other state and federal financial aid and grants are applied.