The Academic Phase of our program takes place over 17 weekends from September to May during a regular school year. This year we have extended the weekend schedule which allows us to incorporate virtual training every other Thursday evening in place of our onsite Friday classes. This will allow you the flexibility to attend class without missing your normal work schedule. It also will accommodate learners who choose to do their Practicum Phase (a 9-month supervised teaching experience) simultaneously. Adult learners who successfully complete the Academic Phase and Practicum Phase simultaneously will complete all requirements for the credential in 9 months.

Learners also have the option to do their Practicum Phase the year following their Academic Phase; for them the program lasts 21 months (note that this option requires regular attendance of classes during the Academic Phase). AMS requires that the Practicum Phase be completed within three years of beginning the Academic Phase to receive your credential.

No. Our 9-month program during the school year (September through May) allows enrollees to take credential courses on the weekend at the same time they are involved in the Practicum (supervised classroom teaching) part of the program. This ability to combine coursework and classroom experience is a key component to the success of our graduates and sets our program apart.

To receive a full AMS Early Childhood Credential through our program, you must have a bachelor’s degree (it does not matter if it is in education or a different area).

If you do not have a bachelor’s degree, but you do have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent, you can earn an AMS Associate Credential through our program. However, AMS strongly recommends that you complete a bachelor’s degree within seven years of receiving the Associate Credential; you can then contact AMS have your credential upgraded.

Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute accepts as many qualified applicants as it can properly serve. Our class size each year is determined by our capacity to best serve the needs of our adult learners while maintaining a high-quality program.

When examining applications, we look at your qualifications, background, interests and needs to determine whether you will succeed in our program and have the ability and motivation to become a competent Montessori educator.

Send a completed Application and Information Form (Packet #1) to 1257 E. Siena Heights Dr. Adrian, MI 49221) with a $200 non-refundable application fee and arrange to have us receive original and official transcripts from the institution where you completed your highest academic degree (high school, college or graduate school).

Next, we will send you Reference Forms (you will need to arrange for three individuals to fill them out and forward to us) and a tuition agreement (Packet #2).

Finally, if you are accepted into our program, you will receive Practicum Forms to fill out (Packet #3).

See the Timeline for Applying and our How to Apply page for more detailed information and links to the application packet.

We do not use a formal interview as part of the application process, but we encourage all applicants to speak to our administrative staff—by phone or in person—prior to applying. Ideally, we recommend applicants visit our campus for a tour before the start of the program.

Not at this time. Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute is classified by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as a vocational school. Due to the complexity and amount of documentation required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, we are not accepting students who require a visa to study in the United States.

In order to apply to our program, you must have your college or university transcript analyzed and evaluated by a qualified service.

Our past applicants have had success with an organization called Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ece.org). Other acceptable evaluators can be found through this website: www.naces.org.

Please allow enough time to have your transcript sent, evaluated and processed (approximately two weeks).

Select people who know about your academic and professional background whenever possible. Each letter of recommendation should address who you will be as an adult learner and as a professional educator working with children in a Montessori setting.

Generally once all your paperwork from Packet #1 (Application/Information Forms) and Packet #2 (Letters of Reference and Tuition Contract) is finished and submitted, you will be notified within two weeks whether you are officially accepted to our program.

Yes, we will consider requests for deferring your admission for one year. Requests for deferment should be made in writing and sent to our Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute office in care of our Director.

Please note that if your deferment is granted, your tuition rates will NOT be 'frozen' and you will be expected to pay tuition rates for the year you actually attend our program. However, you can begin payment plans and make deposits on your tuition account (see our office manager for details).

Yes! However, a nonrefundable $100 late application fee will apply. It is in your best interest to apply early to the program in order to complete Orientation assignments and independent study work. If you choose to apply late, your acceptance is at the discretion of our administrative staff. Enrollments are usually not accepted after September 10th.

A Practicum is a student teaching position (internship) in a classroom at a Montessori school working with children ages 2.5-6 years of age under the direction of an AMS- or AMI-credentialed teacher. The Practicum takes place either concurrent with your Academic Phase or during the school year immediately after you complete the Academic Phase.

The Practicum site is selected by you, under an arrangement that must be approved by the Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute Director. Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute faculty will visit your practicum site periodically to observe your teaching. The Practicum must entail a minimum of nine consecutive months (600 hours) of working in the classroom. Working at a school for Practicum requires you to abide by local and state regulations, meaning you must complete criminal background checks, TB testing, etc.

Your Practicum Coordinator will assist you, but cannot guarantee you a position. Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute has collaborated with Montessori schools in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, as well as in other parts of the United States. You are encouraged to contact Montessori schools in your area to investigate practicum possibilities. The American Montessori Society (AMS) has a directory of member schools on its website.

Practicum sites will vary in their ability to offer a paid or unpaid practicum experience. Practicum sites must meet the requirements of AMS, as our program is affiliated with that organization.

Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute graduates work in private and public Montessori schools all over the world. Please note that in order to teach in a Montessori Public School in the U.S., you must have a state teaching certificate as well as a BA or BS, in addition to your Montessori credential.

Most Montessori schools are required to have credentialed teaching staff, whether this be through AMS, Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), or a program recognized by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE). You can find locations and listing of Montessori schools on their respective websites.

Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute is a nonprofit program that strives to keep tuition rates affordable for enrollees. We do not have a financial aid program, but we do offer various payment plans to help with tuition payment.

The American Montessori Society (AMS) has a need-based scholarship you are welcome to apply for. Some of our enrollees have received this scholarship in the past. Information on this scholarship is available on the AMS website (www.amshq.org). You must apply to Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute by April 1st and be accepted before applying for the AMS scholarship; their scholarship application deadline is May 1st.

Many schools will sponsor adult learners for our program. This can be accomplished in the form of a loan or scholarship. In exchange for this assistance, schools normally ask the adult learner to sign an agreement to work for the school for a specific period following certification.

The Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute has limited partial scholarships of $500.00 and $1000.00 available.  The scholarships are awarded and based on need.  Scholarship monies are paid directly to the Institute toward your tuition.  The application for this scholarship is February through May.  Please contact admtei.debra@gmail.com to request an application after you are accepted into the program.  All scholarships will be awarded in June.

No. Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute is not funded by the government, and therefore federal student loans are unavailable to our students.

Private loans can be obtained through a student's personal financial institution such as a bank or credit union. If you cannot cover the cost of tuition up front, we recommend that you secure a personal loan.

Yes! Three payment plan options are available and detailed specifically on our Tuition contract.

If you pay the full tuition by August 15, you will receive a $250 discount.

A split-payment option allows you to pay half of the tuition by August 15 and the other half by Janaury 15. There is no fee for this option.

A monthly payment option allows for 10 monthly payments, August through May. There is no fee for this option.

See our Tuition page for more details. Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute accepts credit cards, checks, and money orders for tuition payments.

Adrian Montessori Teacher Education Institute has been educating Montessori teachers from around the U.S. and the world since 1971, and we have extensive experience with preparing Montessori educators for a wide variety of settings in public and private education. Our faculty has a wealth of Montessori experience and is committed to keeping up-to-date with the latest research. The majority of our faculty have advanced degrees in education. Each faculty member is passionate about the Montessori Method; each will present to you their specialty area of expertise, allow you time with materials, and be available for your questions.

Our program offers access to a local Montessori school for learning and observation and we also provide our adult learners with academic counseling. Finally, our weekend schedule provides adult learners with a very effective and efficient timeline for acquiring their AMS Early Childhood credential.

We serve our adult learners across the Midwest, visiting them at their practicum sites and providing educational support throughout their time in our program.

Yes! Just contact our office at (734) 926-8620 and we can put you in touch with an alum or current enrollee.