AMS & MACTE accredited · Ages 2½–6
Early Childhood Montessori Teacher Training in San Diego
Our Early Childhood Montessori teacher training prepares you to lead a Montessori preschool and kindergarten classroom. Earn your AMS Early Childhood credential through summer coursework, a year-long practicum and a final assessment.
Questions? Call our Program Director at (858) 673-1756
- About 300 hours of coursework
- 540-hour practicum
- High school diploma or GED to start
- 2027 dates coming soon
What you'll learn
The full Montessori Early Childhood curriculum
Learn to present every material in a 2½–6 classroom and to prepare an environment where young children work independently.
- Classroom areas: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, Physical and Life Science, and Social Studies
- Montessori philosophy and theory, child development and observation
- Classroom leadership and building community with families
- Art, music and movement for young children
How the program works
Three parts to your Early Childhood credential
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Academic coursework
About 300 hours, held mainly in the summer, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
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Practicum year
A full school year (540 hours) teaching at an approved Montessori school that you arrange. An MCTE field consultant visits to observe and support you.
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Final assessment
Return the following summer for two written exams and one oral exam. Then MCTE recommends you to the American Montessori Society for your credential.
The 2026 summer session ran June 22–July 31. 2027 dates are coming soon. See the schedule →
Credentials and cost
Choose the credential that fits your education
You don't need a bachelor's degree to start. Your degree decides which AMS credential you earn.
AMS Associate Early Childhood Credential
Complete the same program and earn the Associate credential. When you finish a bachelor's degree later, you can upgrade to the full AMS Early Childhood Credential through AMS.
AMS Early Childhood Credential
With a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, you are recommended for the full AMS Early Childhood Credential.
Tuition
Our 2026 Early Childhood tuition was $10,600 total. It covers AMS student membership, credentialing fees, all textbooks and teacher manuals and field consultant visits. 2027 tuition will be posted soon. Many Montessori schools offer tuition help in exchange for a commitment to teach there. Tuition details →
Questions
Early Childhood training FAQ
Who is the Early Childhood program for?
Adults who want to teach in a Montessori preschool or kindergarten classroom for children ages 2½–6, including classroom assistants, career changers and teachers adding Montessori training.
Do I need a bachelor's degree?
No. You need a high school diploma or GED to enroll. Without a bachelor's degree you earn the AMS Associate Early Childhood Credential, which you can upgrade to the full AMS Early Childhood Credential once you finish a bachelor's degree.
How long does the program take?
Plan on about a year: summer coursework, a practicum during the following school year, and a final assessment the next summer.
When do classes meet?
Summer coursework meets Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., in person at Country Montessori School in Poway. During the school year, seminars meet two Saturdays a month. 2027 dates will be posted soon.
Do you place me in a practicum school?
No. You arrange your own practicum at an approved Montessori school, such as a school where you already work or plan to work. An MCTE field consultant visits to observe and support you during the year.
How much does Early Childhood training cost?
Our 2026 Early Childhood tuition was $10,600 total. It covers AMS student membership, credentialing fees, all textbooks and teacher manuals and field consultant visits. 2027 tuition will be posted soon.
Ready to become a Montessori teacher?
Talk with Program Director Karin Osterberg about the 2027 Early Childhood cohort, or start your application today.
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.