Elementary I–II Montessori Teacher Training Program
Course Description
The Elementary I–II Montessori Teacher Training Course prepares adult learners to teach children ages 6 to 12. This comprehensive program, accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) and accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS), integrates Montessori philosophy with in-depth study of academic and cultural subjects across the full elementary span.
Core areas include Mathematics and Geometry, Language, Geography, History, Biology, Physical Sciences, Curriculum Design, and Classroom Leadership. Additional coursework covers Montessori Philosophy, Child Development, Practical Life, Movement and PE, Art, and Music.
This course is ideal for educators seeking an AMS-recognized credential to teach ages 6-9 and 9-12 within one continuous training sequence.
Prerequisites
An Early Childhood Credential from an AMS-, NCME-, or other approved Early Childhood Montessori Teacher Education Program is required — or completion of a 40-hour Early Childhood Overview.
Note: The Overview Course cost is not included in the Elementary I–II tuition.
Participants must have at least 60 college units to enroll for credential credit. A bachelor’s degree is required to enter the credential component (practicum and final assessment). Applicants without 60 units may attend as audit students for professional enrichment.
Credential Pathway
The AMS Elementary I–II Credential (ages 6–12) is granted upon completion of all Elementary I (6-9) coursework plus the Elementary II (9-12) component.
The combined 6–12 course includes an additional 175 instructional hours beyond the 6-9 program. The 9-12 segment is offered every other year, typically in the summer following the second year of Elementary I training.
Montessori materials for ages 9–12 are presented daily, and participants receive a comprehensive set of support materials — including illustrations for charts, timelines, and classified nomenclature — at no additional cost.
Course Components
The Elementary I–II course includes three core components:
Academic Component: 500 hours of instruction, primarily over two summers (Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.), plus school-year seminars on two Saturdays or one Wednesday per month (3:15–5:15 p.m.).
Practicum Component: A 1,080-hour internship in an approved Montessori school spanning a full academic year after the academic phase.
Final Assessment Component: Held the summer following the end of the practicum phase and consisting of two written examinations and one oral exam.
All programs operate under California state approval by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), ensuring compliance with educational and licensing standards.
Early Childhood Overview
For adult learners without an AMS-recognized Early Childhood credential, a 40-hour Early Childhood Overview Course is required. This online component must be completed prior to the final assessment for the Elementary I–II credential (preferably before academic coursework begins).
The Overview introduces core Montessori principles and practices for children ages 2½–6. Understanding these foundations is essential, as many Early Childhood materials reappear in the Elementary I classroom in more advanced forms. Together, these courses create a seamless educational continuum for children from ages 2½ through 12.
