Credential Information
Adult learners who successfully complete all the coursework and successfully complete their Practicum year will be awarded an AMS credential that will qualify them to be an educator in an Infant & Toddler Montessori classroom as a Lead Teacher. The credential requirements are as follows:
AMS Infant & Toddler Credential
An AMS Infant & Toddler Credential is awarded to an adult learner with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S college/university or its equivalent.
Participation in the Early Childhood Overview Course is required unless the candidate holds a recognized Montessori Early Childhood credential, or alternatively, participation in an AMS-recognized overview course.
For adult learners with post-secondary studies completed outside of the U.S.: An AMS Infant & Toddler Credential may be awarded to adult learners who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a college/university outside the U.S., even if the degree is determined to be non-equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution by a recognized credential evaluation service or a regionally accredited U.S. college/university. The degree must meet the post-secondary educational standard recognized in the state, province, or country where it was issued, and both the degree and country of issuance will be listed on the credential. Degrees with a regular program length of fewer than three years qualify the credential candidate for an AMS Associate Infant & Toddler Credential.
AMS Infant & Toddler Associate Credential
An AMS Associate Infant & Toddler credential is awarded to an adult learner with a minimum of a secondary level state approved/recognized (high school) diploma, a GED or the international equivalent, but who has not earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university or its equivalent as determined by a recognized credential evaluation service. Candidates for an AMS Associate Infant & Toddler credential must complete all requirements for the program in which they are enrolled. Upon completion, they should only represent themselves as holding an AMS Associate Infant & Toddler credential.
Applicants for the AMS Infant & Toddler course who do not have a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent are required to sign a statement verifying that they understand that some locations or schools may not accept an Associate credential as the qualification for full teaching responsibility
Holders of the AMS Associate Infant & Toddler credential are strongly encouraged to obtain their bachelor’s degree within seven years of credentialing.
AMS Statement for Associate Credential Candidates
All applicants for the Infant & Toddler Credential are required to sign a statement verifying their receipt of the EMTA Adult Learner Handbook and their acknowledgement that if they do not hold a Bachelor’s degree, they will be awarded an AMS Associate Infant & Toddler Credential. By signing this statement, the adult learner acknowledges that some schools or locations may not accept an Associate Infant & Toddler Credential as the qualification for full teaching responsibility. Find this statement in APPENDIX A.
AMS Credential Upgrade
Adult learners who receive their American Montessori Society Associate Infant & Toddler Credential and then obtain a US Bachelor’s degree are eligible to upgrade to a full American Montessori Society Infant & Toddler Credential. It is the responsibility of the individual wishing to upgrade to submit an official transcript, appropriate form, and upgrade fee directly to the AMS Office of Teacher Education. The individual must also be a current member of AMS at the time of the upgrade. Become an AMS member at amshq.org.
Eagle Montessori Teaching Academy holds Full Affiliate status for its Early Childhood course with the American Montessori Society through the year 2030 and also holds accredited status for its Early Childhood certification course level from the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) until the year 2030.
Students who successfully complete all the coursework and successfully complete their Practicum (student teaching) year will be awarded an AMS credential that will qualify them to be an educator in an Early Childhood Montessori classroom as a Lead Teacher. The credential requirements are as follows:
AMS Early Childhood Credential
Students who successfully complete this course and hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from the US are eligible for the American Montessori Society Early Childhood Credential.
Students who have a Bachelor’s degree from outside the US that has been determined not to be equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in the US but has met the nationally recognized post-secondary educational standard in the state, province, or country it was issued (three or more years of study), will be eligible for the American Montessori Society Early Childhood Credential. The name of the degree and the country in which the degree was awarded will be stated on the credential.
AMS Early Childhood Associate Credential
Students who do not hold a Bachelor’s degree are eligible for an American Montessori Society Associate Early Childhood Credential. The American Montessori Society highly recommends that all Early Childhood lead teachers hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, and we strongly encourage adult learners to obtain one within seven years from graduation from the EMTA program.
Students who have a Bachelor’s degree from outside the US that has been determined not to be equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in the US but has met the nationally recognized post-secondary educational standard in the state, province, or country it was issued (less than three years of study), will be eligible for the American Montessori Society Associate Early Childhood Credential. The name of the degree and the country in which the degree was awarded will be stated on the credential.
Candidates for an American Montessori Society Associate Early Childhood Credential must successfully complete all the requirements for the program they are enrolled in and represent themselves as only holding an AMS Associate Early Childhood Credential.
AMS Statement for Associate Credential Candidates
All applicants for the Early Childhood Credential are required to sign a statement verifying their receipt of the EMTA Adult Learner Handbook and their acknowledgment that if they do not hold a Bachelor’s degree, they will be awarded an AMS Associate Early Childhood Credential. By signing this statement, the adult learner acknowledges that some schools or locations may not accept an Associate Early Childhood Credential as the qualification for full teaching responsibility.
AMS Credential Upgrade
Adult learners who receive their American Montessori Society Associate Early Childhood Credential and then obtain a US Bachelor’s degree are eligible to upgrade to a full American Montessori Society Early Childhood Credential. It is the responsibility of the individual wishing to upgrade to submit an official transcript, appropriate form, and upgrade fee directly to the AMS Office of Teacher Education. The individual must also be a current member of AMS at the time of the upgrade. Become an AMS member at amshq.org.
