How can we help you?

Your Regional Action Commissioners are here to help! Email Marie Conti at marie@amshq.org and she will connect you with your Regional Action Commissioner! THANK YOU for being an AMS member!

Use the RAC contact information to reach your Regional Action Commissioner. Your Regional Action Commissioner will help you identify organizations in your area or at the national level that can support you in developing a state organization. Email Marie Conti at marie@amshq.org.

The RAC was created by the AMS board in 2022 to support local outreach, bring more services and professional development to Montessori educators across the United States, help members feel more connected, and promote AMS membership.

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.

When you observe a Montessori teacher at work you may be surprised! You will not see them standing in front of the classroom teaching the same lesson to the entire class, because the Montessori curriculum is individualized to the needs, interests, and learning style of each child. Often you will find the teacher on the floor, working with an individual child. With the older children, the teacher may be giving a small group lesson, or demonstrating a lesson or activity that the students will then complete on their own. One of the many roles of the Montessori teacher is to observe each child and the classroom community as a whole and make adaptations to the environment and lesson-planning as needed to support each child’s development. As the Montessori teacher observes, they are determining when and how to introduce a new challenging lesson to a student, and when to review a previous lesson if a skill has not yet been mastered. While a Montessori student may choose their activities on any given day, their decisions are limited by the materials and activities in each area of the curriculum that the teacher has prepared and presented to her. The teacher’s observations inform each child’s personalized learning plan and allow each child to move through the curriculum at an appropriate pace and level of challenge.

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.

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.

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

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.

Learn more about earning a Montessori credential from an AMS-affiliated TEP here.

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.

Montessori teachers are conduits between their students and the vast world of knowledge and discovery that surrounds them. Their role is to observe students, identifying their needs and responding with appropriate individualized guidance and instruction. Montessori teachers empower students by establishing trusting, respectful relationships that nurture children’s responsibility and joy in their own learning. Of course these are elements that enable teachers to thrive in the profession, as well. In the classroom, the Montessori teacher prepares a rich educational environment designed to create natural opportunities for independence, citizenship, and accountability. With the guidance of their teachers, students work to meet rigorous learning objectives and pursue passionate inquiry. Learn more about becoming a Montessori teacher here, or if you’re ready to get started, find an AMS teacher education program here.

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.

We have several frequently asked questions regarding teacher education programs on this page, and have an entire page dedicated to outlining how to become a Montessori educator here. However, if you’re unable to find the answer you’re looking for, please reach out to the AMS Teacher Education team at affiliation@amshq.org.

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.

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.

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.

Detailed instructions on accessing your certificate. A laptop or desktop will work best: Log into your AMS Account Click AMS Learning in the menu at the top Click My Videos. You may see the session title listed here in which case you can skip the next step. If you have a number of products in your dashboard, you can use the Filter by Certificate/CE dropdown and select “Passed.” This will show you all the videos you have completed. Click the title of the video Under the contents tab, click the Certificate of Professional Development section to expand the box Click the View/Print Certificate button to print or download your certificate Don’t forget to log on your AMS professional development log!

Please be sure you are letting the videos run from beginning to end as there is a minimum watch time set for each video. Certificates are only released when the entire video is viewed in the browser window. Sometimes if work periods within the videos are utilized by pausing and then fast-forwarding, the system doesn’t register the time watched. Also, sometimes people fast-forward through a section that is specific to an age group they do not work with. This also impacts the time logged. It is very helpful if the videos are allowed to play from beginning to end without interruption at regular speed. Desktops or laptops are also more successful, unfortunately than mobile devices. Chrome is the best browser.

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.

Please see our professional development policies.

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.

You will be emailed a certificate within 30 business days. If you’re having trouble with credentials, please visit our Credential Services page for more information.

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.

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

Your certificate class will be offered in a learning management system called Canvas. As part of your learning experience, you will have access to Canvas’ 24/7 Chat and Phone Support Services. You can reach out to them for support submitting assignments, reviewing feedback, participating in discussions, etc.

Email pd@amshq.org

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.

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.

Your credential will become inactive—not expired.

Fulfill the 50-hour professional development requirement and log the information using 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. Upon approval of your professional development, we will reactivate your credential.

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.

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.

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.

Yes.

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.