AMS & MACTE accredited · Established in 1976
Montessori Teacher Training Courses in San Diego
MCTE offers accredited Montessori teacher training courses at three levels, for adults who want to teach children ages 2½–12. Each course blends Montessori philosophy, hands-on practice with the materials and a supervised practicum.
Questions? Call our Program Director at (858) 673-1756
Choose your level
Three accredited courses
Every course runs as in-person summer coursework in Poway, followed by a school-year practicum at a Montessori school you arrange.
Early Childhood
The full range of classroom materials, including Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math and Cultural Studies, with a focus on observation and preparing the environment.
Early Childhood training →
Elementary I
Lower elementary teaching across Mathematics and Geometry, Language, Geography, History and the Sciences, with an emphasis on hands-on discovery.
Elementary I training →
Elementary I–II
Builds on Elementary I with a 175-hour upper elementary component, preparing you to teach the full 6–12 range.
Elementary I–II training →Course objectives
Who our courses are for
- Adults preparing for a career as a Montessori teacher in private or public schools
- Current educators looking for professional development
- People interested in opening or leading a Montessori school
- Special education teachers who want to use Montessori's hands-on, sensory-based materials to support motor and cognitive development
Small cohorts, personal mentorship
Classes are small, so every adult learner gets individual support from experienced, AMS-credentialed instructors. Meet our Montessori teacher instructors →
Why MCTE
Why train with us
Established in 1976
Decades of preparing Montessori teachers in San Diego.
Accredited
Accredited by AMS and MACTE and approved by California's BPPE.
Experienced instructors
Instructors with decades of Montessori classroom and training experience.
Practicum support
An MCTE field consultant visits to observe and support you during your practicum year.
Questions
Montessori courses FAQ
Which Montessori teacher training course is right for me?
Choose by the age group you want to teach: Early Childhood for ages 2½–6, Elementary I for ages 6–9, or Elementary I–II for ages 6–12. Elementary courses require an Early Childhood credential or the 40-hour Early Childhood Overview.
Are the courses online?
No. Coursework is in person at Country Montessori School in Poway, in San Diego County.
Are the courses accredited?
Yes. MCTE is accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE), and approved to operate by California's Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).
How long does each course take?
Early Childhood is about 300 hours of summer coursework plus a 540-hour practicum. Elementary I is about 325 hours over two summers plus a 1,080-hour practicum and a final assessment. Elementary I–II totals 500 hours of coursework.
Do I find my own practicum school?
Yes. You arrange your practicum at a Montessori school, such as one where you already work. An MCTE field consultant visits to support you.
Not sure which course fits?
Talk with Program Director Karin Osterberg about your goals and background.
MCTE is a private institution and is approved to operate by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Approval to operate means compliance with state standards as set forth in CEC and 5, CCR.
Montessori Center for Teacher Education welcomes diversity in our student body, faculty and staff. We adhere to a policy of non-discrimination in regard to race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity.