As with AR programs, traditional programs vary. They can vary within instructional practices, field experience expectations and instructional responsibilities. There is a gap between what teachers are learning and the expectations of teachers in the field (Cibulka, 2009)
Both Traditional and Alternative routes to certification seem to have the same goal and that is to produce competent teachers who can endure and grow through the first years of teaching. But having the same goal doesn’t mean you take the same path to that goal.
PDS partnerships and ARC partnerships differ in three ways. First, the ARC partnership is a shorter program and heavily field based in comparison to PDS. Secondly, the delivery of instruction is different in ARC than PDS. Typically, in PDS, the information is delivered during university course work, whereas with ARC it is delivered at workplaces, online or other learning centers. Participants in ARC are mostly comprised of “career changers” that is, people who have been in the workforce and ready to make a change. PDS usually draw younger university- type students.
The question still remains…. which one is best? Each individual must look through his or her own lens in order to answer this question for himself.