Ignite Your Impact with AMS: Professional Development Rooted in the Montessori Mission
The American Montessori Society empowers educators worldwide to shape thriving learning communities through equity, innovation, and human-centered practice.
Our professional development pathways align with AMS’s strategic mission—cultivating leaders, advancing the Montessori movement, and meeting the evolving needs of a global society.
Live Certificate Programs
Earn specialized certificates while learning from experienced instructors in interactive online courses focused on today’s most relevant Montessori topics.
Self-Guided Classes
Learn at your own pace with flexible online courses that deliver practical strategies and professional development when it fits your schedule.
AMS Academies
Advance your leadership and professional practice through immersive, cohort-based learning designed for Montessori educators and leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Professional Development FAQs help you navigate these opportunities with clarity, so you can take your next step with confidence.
Do college credits count toward my professional development requirement, and if so, how many continuing professional development hours are they worth?
Coursework completed at an accredited college or university counts toward your continuing professional development hours. One credit hour will be counted as 15 hours of continuing professional development.
Are there scholarships for me to take a professional development class?
Yes, we do offer scholarships. For more information, please visit this page.
Do I receive professional development (PD) certifcates for attending AMS Learning Live?
Our webinars are free for all, but only members receive certificates.
Do the credit hours I acquire for my state teaching license count toward my continuing professional development requirement?
Yes.
Does AMS offer group rates for professional development?
Our school membership offers teacher bundling rates. Learn more about school membership here.
How can I get professional development hours or opportunities through AMS?
AMS members have access to free and discounted professional development through AMS Learning, our online learning platform. AMS Learning offers both self-paced, on-demand courses and live virtual professional development programs designed for Montessori educators.
Explore the live class catalog to browse upcoming instructor-led courses, or visit the AMS Learning course catalog to discover on-demand professional development opportunities.
There are also opportunities to earn professional development hours by attending in-person events such as The Montessori Event, Regional Symposia and Labposium, and AMS Certificate Programs.
AMS offers thought-provoking, Montessori-relevant professional development tailored to educators at every stage of their careers. To determine whether an event you’ve attended qualifies toward the 50-hour professional development requirement for AMS credential holders, visit the Professional Development Attendance Request page.
How do I know that my tracking form showing my professional development hours has been received by AMS and approved?
We will send you confirmation that we’ve received it. If you do not receive the confirmation, contact us.
We will send you a second email after we’ve reviewed your hours, either to notify you that they’ve been approved to request clarification or additional hours.
How many hours of professional development do I need to maintain my AMS credential?
You must complete 50 hours of continuing professional development every 5 years for the credential to remain active. The first 5-year period begins on the date your credential was issued.
Once you have completed your 50 hours of professional development, we require that you log your hours on our Professional Development Submission Form, which is accessible when you log into your AMS portal. The link to the submission form is on the Professional Development Requirement page.
If you are an instructor or director of an AMS-affiliated teacher education program, you must complete 30 hours of continuing professional development every 3 years, and capture this information in your teacher education program’s Annual Report.
Learn more on our Professional Development Requirement page.
If I don’t earn 50 hours of professional development in the time required, will my credential expire?
Your credential will become inactive—not expired.
When do I need to begin logging professional development hours to maintain my credential?
You need to begin logging your professional development hours in the first 5-year period of receiving your credential. Educator credentials require 50 professional development hours, and administrator credentials require 30 professional development hours every 3 years. Learn more on our Professional Development Requirement page.
AMS Members can track their professional development hours on their professional development hours submission form, which is accessible when you log into your AMS portal. The link to the submission form is on the Professional Development Requirement page.
When I log my hours, can I save my progress or must I complete them all in one sitting?
You can save your progress. Think of the system as a digital file cabinet. You may log your hours after they occur. Once you reach 50 hours, you can submit them for approval.
Will my school pay for professional development (PD)?
Yes, nearly all AMS member schools support professional development – check with your school to find out if they will pay for your AMS professional development.