How does the Regents Alternative Pathway to Iowa Licensure program compare with traditional and MA programs?

Features Traditional license MA with license RAPIL
Program 4 years for BA, including licensure core; 2 years of only working on licensure core (includes a semester of student teaching). Licensure core: 2 years, which includes student teaching. 2 years, that includes a year-long internship. 22 credit hours are taken prior to the internship (August-Early July).6 credit hours are taken during the internship year.
Candidates From secondary school or community college or from life experience before the BA or from life experience after the BA or higher. From a baccalaureate degree or higher and with life experience. Must have a 4-year degree from a regionally accredited institution and at least 3 years work experience.
Licensure requirements Complete the BA (if not already earned); earn the content area endorsement; earn the teacher licensure core courses. Complete the MA requirements; add on the necessary content endorsement courses; complete the licensure core courses, complete student teaching. Teacher Intern License – complete first year RAPIL coursework, field experiences, and all endorsement coursework.
Initial License – Complete internship and Intern Seminar.
Course content Prescribed by state standards and professor/program syllabi. Prescribed by state standards and professor/program syllabi. Prescribed by state standards and professor/program syllabi.
Field experiences Minimum of 80 hours of field experience prior to student teaching. All placements made by institution. Minimum of 80 hours of field experience prior to student teaching. All placements made by institution. Minimum of 15 in classroom observation hours and 60 in classroom field experience hours. All placements made by the candidate in partnership with a school district.
Student teaching vs. internships Minimum of 14 weeks of student teaching. Supervised by cooperating teacher. Placement made by program. Minimum of 14 weeks of student teaching. Supervised by cooperating teacher. Placement made by program. One full year of internship at a district as the licensed, probationary teacher of record (Intern License). Contract rights and responsibilities are the same as any probationary first year teacher. Will participate in a district mentor program. Placement is NOT made by RAPIL, candidates will apply and interview for open teaching positions. Intern is supervised program faculty and evaluated by university faculty and the building principal. Interns complete 6 credit hours of coursework during the internship.
Evaluation tools Must meet program prescribed evaluation criteria, including the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium standards. Must meet program prescribed evaluation criteria, including the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium standards. Must meet prescribed program evaluation criteria.
Upon successful program completion Will be recommended for 2-year Initial Teaching license. Will be recommended for 2-year Initial Teaching license. Will be recommended for 2-year Initial Teaching License (Intern year counts as 1 year of experience toward eligibility for a Standard License)
Learning formats Usually face-to-face classes, conducted on specified sites between 8 and 4. Usually face-to-face classes, conducted on specified sites between 8 and 4. Hybrid delivery: Synchronous online classes through Zoom once a week, with an in-person class one Saturday per month.