Support for
Educators

There are in-person and hybrid course options – it all depends on the program you choose. Please note that AMS does not affiliate fully-online teacher education programs. To search for an AMS-affiliated teacher education program, click here.

All AMS-affiliated programs result in an AMS credential upon successful course completion, a signifier of quality that will open a range of job opportunities and more professional growth to you.

Yes, we do offer scholarships. For more information, please visit this page.

Yes, we do offer scholarships. For more information, please visit this page.

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.

No, we do not require you to have a credential from an AMS-affiliated program. Each AMS school creates their own teacher certification requirements based on state requirements and/or the school’s AMS Pathway of Continuous School Improvement or accreditation status. However, teacher education programs that successfully undergo the process of affiliation by the American Montessori Society are affirmed as meeting rigorous, internationally recognized standards of Montessori teacher preparation.

In order for a school to earn AMS Accreditation, all lead teachers must hold Montessori teaching credentials for the ages they are teaching. Visit our AMS Accreditation Standards page for more detail – including which credentials are valid.

You do need to have a current membership to receive your AMS credential. This is generally covered by the adult learner membership, but if their studies are delayed, individuals may have to purchase individual membership.

The adult learner membership comes with your enrollment to an AMS-Affiliated teacher education program (TEP). This membership is valid for two years.

Our webinars are free for all, but only members receive certificates.

Yes.

AMS members have access to free and discounted professional development via our an online professional development platform called AMS Learning that features both an on-demand video library, as well as opportunities to participate in live programs. Explore our extensive live class calendar here, and the on-demand video library here.

There are also opportunities to earn professional development hours by attending in-person events such as The Montessori Event and Regional Symposia and Labposium, certificate programs, and more. We offer thought-provoking, Montessori-relevant professional development tailored to a comprehensive range of needs and interests. If you are looking to request a record of attendance for an event, or see if an event you attended qualifies towards the 50 hour professional development requirement for credential holders, please visit this page.

AMS offers certificate classes through a learning management system called Canvas. You are invited to start learning about how to navigate Canvas by taking this free, self-paced class: Introduction to Online Learning.

*Please note that Introduction to Online Learning does not count toward professional development hours and is not a class through which you need a Canvas account. You will need a Canvas account for paid certificate classes and that process will be communicated prior to the start of your paid certificate class.

In order to enroll in an AMS-affiliated Teacher Education Program (TEP), one must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. College/ university, or its equivalent. At the Infant & Toddler and Early Childhood levels, an associate credential is awarded to those who do not hold a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent.

There are in-person and hybrid course options – it all depends on the program you choose. To search for an AMS-affiliated teacher education program, click here. For more information on how to become a Montessori Educator, please visit this page.

Events that qualify for the AMS professional development requirement may be face-to-face or online, and may address any of the topics listed below. The event host must provide written verification attesting to your participation. Be sure to hold onto it; it is your proof of attendance.

For a complete list of events, please visit our Professional Development Requirement page.

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.

To see if your event qualifies, and to learn how to request record of attendance check out this page.

Typically, it takes 1 – 2 years to earn an AMS credential. This includes academic hours that take place in person with an instructor, or as a blend of in-person and online experiences. These hours vary by course level and include invigorating classroom discussion as well as hands-on activities. Find out more here.

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.

As a member, you have access to the AMS professional development library, AMS Job Board, AMS Connect where you can chat with other AMS members, and AMS Member Resources for sample materials. Visit our Individual Membership page for a comprehensive list of benefits!

You need to have a current membership to receive your AMS credential. This is generally covered by the adult learner membership, but if their studies are delayed, individuals may have to purchase individual membership.

Your credential will become inactive—not expired.

If you are looking to blend the intensive focus of Montessori teacher preparation with the breadth of knowledge offered by a college or university program, please visit this page for more information and the list colleges and universities that offer credits to AMS credential holders.

We offer in-person professional development, hybrid classes, fully self-guided classes, and the AMS Learning Library of on-demand videos. To learn more please visit our information page.

One must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. College/ university, or its equivalent, as well as a Montessori credential. AMS has several affiliated techer education programs available to earn Montessori credentials across all age groups.

An associate credential for Infant & Toddler and Early Childhood levels is awarded to those who have completed high school but do not hold a bachelor’s degree.

For more information on how to become a Montessori Educator, please visit this page. To learn more about AMS-affiliated teacher education programs (TEPs), visit this page.

There are two types of AMS-affiliated TEPs: college/university programs and free-standing programs. University programs enable you to earn bachelor’s or master’s degrees at the same time as your AMS credential, while free-standing programs offer AMS credentials. Select free-standing programs allow you to earn credits toward bachelor’s or master’s degrees via partnerships with higher learning institutions. There are in-person and hybrid course options – it all depends on the program you choose. 

To search for an AMS-affiliated teacher education program, click here.

Whichever type of program you choose, all AMS-affiliated programs result in an AMS credential upon successful course completion, a signifier of quality that will open a range of job opportunities and more professional growth to you.