Eagle Montessori Teaching Academy is seeking American Montessori Society (AMS) affiliation and accreditation through Montessori Accreditation Council for Education (MACTE) at this time, and any references to AMS or MACTE are solely to indicate that those standards and requirements are being followed. Once accredited, Eagle Montessori Teaching Academy will be authorized to offer the following:
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.