Montessori Teacher Education
The Montessori Teacher Education Program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and state requirements to teach in a Montessori setting. Our program offers three Montessori Preparation Tracks:
- Infant-Toddler: Birth through Age 3 — An AMS-Affiliated Teacher Education Program (TEP)
- Early Childhood: Ages 3 through 6 (Preschool – Kindergarten) — An AMS-Affiliated Teacher Education Program (TEP)
- Early Elementary (EL1): Ages 6 through 9 (Kindergarten through 3rd Grade) — The Elementary 1 level of the University Montessori Teacher Education Program at UC Irvine has applied for affiliation of its Elementary 1 Credential by the American Montessori Society and been granted AMS Applicant Affiliate status, and is an Applicant in Good Standing for Accreditation with the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education.
This is the only program in Southern California providing University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) course credits recognized by Community Care Licensing or applicable toward a State Teaching Credential.
Program At-A-Glance
| Format | All programs are hybrid, incorporating online learning components through CANVAS as well as scheduled in-person sessions. |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10-12 months |
| Tuition | Pay-as-you-go. Payments are scheduled for the day prior to the start of each quarter. Approximate total tuition ranges from $4,900 – $5,325. |
| Credential | Completion of the Infant-Toddler or Early Childhood program leads to a prestigious AMS/MACTE National Credential and UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education credits. |
Who Should Enroll
The program is designed for working adults preparing for caregiving and teaching in a Montessori environment. The coursework is designed to be immediately applicable to a student’s current work setting.
Additionally, parents wishing to hone parenting skills or teachers looking to expand their pedagogical strategies may benefit from individual courses such as Studies for Infant & Toddler Caregivers or Montessori Philosophy and Pedagogy.
Note: This program is not designed for international students and does not meet student visa requirements.
Program Benefits
- Expert Instruction: Learn from highly qualified instructors with extensive real-world Montessori experience, many of whom hold advanced degrees and all of whom hold AMS credentials.
- Personalized Mentoring: Enjoy limited class sizes and a hybrid design that allows for individualized instructor support and convenient learning.
- Practical Application: Participate in a full academic year hands-on practicum, applying new knowledge immediately in a classroom setting with ongoing instructor support.
- Modern Integration: Utilize technology and AI applications to streamline teacher administrative tasks, classroom documentation, and parent presentations.
- Comprehensive Resources: Gain membership in the American Montessori Society, providing access to professional seminars, research-based resources, and networking opportunities.
- Professional Readiness: Acquire in-depth training in teacher presentation skills, curriculum design (Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, and Culture), and professional portfolio development.
Enrollment Eligibility and Requirements
Participation begins with enrollment in the first class of the series for your desired age group. To earn a credential, students must also enroll in a practicum.
Practicum Prerequisite
Students should have a commitment from a Montessori school in the age range for which they are seeking a credential in order to complete their practicum requirements. The practicum consists of a full academic year of Montessori classroom experience supervised by a credentialed Montessori teacher. Students are responsible for securing a practicum site by the first class meeting/orientation and must present site details including the address, director contact information, and the supervising teacher's Montessori diploma. While most practicums are full-time paid positions, students may contact Cheryll Ruszat for information regarding part-time or unpaid practicum options.
Educational Prerequisites
Infant-Toddler and Early Childhood: To qualify for classroom adult/child ratios under State of California licensing requirements, students must complete two prerequisite courses:
- Child Growth and Development
- Child, Family, and Community
These courses are available through community colleges. A transcript reflecting completion must be submitted at orientation.
Early Elementary (EL1): A U.S. bachelor’s degree is required. Related coursework is optional but beneficial.
Transcripts and Documentation
Students must provide the following at the required orientation:
- Official Transcripts: A hard copy reflecting your highest level of education and completion of prerequisites. AMS credentials are issued based on degree level; those without a bachelor's degree receive an Associate Montessori credential.
- Foreign Evaluations: Transcripts from non-U.S. institutions must be evaluated and certified by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
- English Proficiency: All UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education programs require professional-level proficiency in listening and note-taking, reading comprehension and vocabulary, written expression, and oral presentation.
Accredited by MACTE and Affiliated with AMS
MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education) is the international standard-setting and accrediting body for Montessori teacher education, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information, visit Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education.
AMS (American Montessori Society) Teacher Education Programs are required to fulfill not only MACTE requirements but additional AMS standards as well, offering authentic, research-based professional preparation for Montessori teachers at every level. This dual recognition ensures that graduates are equipped with outstanding skills and a globally recognized credential. For more information, visit American Montessori Society.
Contact Information
If you are new to the field of Montessori education or need assistance securing a practicum site, please contact:
Cheryll Ruszat, MA ECE, AMS EC
Program Director & Instructor
Phone: (949) 854-6030
Email: cruszat@irvinemontessori.com
Licensure and Certification Disclosures
Review important information from University of California’s Office of the President regarding Professional Licensure and Certification.
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Program
Approximate Tuition
$4,900 - $5,325Format
UC Irvine CampusDuration
10-12 monthsEnroll and pay for courses as you go.
Course Schedule
Enrollment in the program is limited to a specific start and end date, meaning students cannot join the program at any time. The Early Childhood Program is a 10-month program that starts in August and ends in June. The Infant & Toddler Caregiving Program is a 12-month program that starts in July and ends in June. Course schedules are subject to change.
Early Childhood Program
Infant-Toddler Caregiving
Early Elementary
Frequently Asked Questions
The Early Childhood Program (preschool – ages 2.5 through 6) is a 10-month program that starts in August and ends in June.
The Infant & Toddler Caregiving Program (infants and toddlers – ages birth through 3) is a 12-month program that starts in August and ends in June.
*You cannot join the program at any time. You must start the program and end the program at the time stated above.*
This AMS/MACTE certified training is offered through the University Montessori Lab School in collaboration with UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education. Students register through UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education, which provides students with the academic credits to document their studies. Course fees are paid to the UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education with additional fees paid to the University Montessori Lab School and accrediting agencies. Fees paid to the lab school include the cost of course materials, field consultation visitations, and AMS/MACTE credentialing. Please note that the field consultation visitations fee might increase if the student’s practicum site is outside of Orange County.
For the early childhood program: The total fee paid to UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education is $1,900. You pay at the time of enrollment for each course and thus you do not pay the $1,900 all at once. The fee paid to the lab school ranges from $3,425 to $3,800 based upon the practicum site location* (subject to change). Ms. Ruszat will be able to provide you the exact fees for the upcoming school year. Like the fees you pay to the UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education, the fees paid to the lab school are paid each quarter, not all at once.
For the infant & toddler program: The total fee paid to UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education is $1,475. You pay at the time of enrollment for each course and thus you do not pay the $1,475 all at once. The fee paid to the lab school ranges from $3,425 to $3,800 based upon the practicum site location* (subject to change). Ms. Ruszat will be able to provide you the exact fees for the upcoming school year. Like the fees you pay to the UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education, the fees paid to the lab school are paid each quarter, not all at once.
*Internships outside of Orange county may have additional cost for Field Consultant Observations of the student in their practicum site.
The fees listed above do not include the cost of course textbooks.
Please contact Cheryll Ruszat at the University Montessori Lab School for additional information regarding this program and the additional fees paid to the lab school.
There is a REQUIRED orientation for both the early childhood and infant & toddler program. At the orientation, you will be required to provide documentation that you have met all of the prerequisites:
- The name of the your Practicum/Internship site including the address, phone, and director’s name, director’s contact information, supervising teacher contact information and Montessori diploma, number of children and age range of the children in the class being used for practicum
- An official hard copy College Transcript (non-electronic) reflecting completion of the courses in Child Development and Child, Family, Community (which is the minimum coursework requirement to work in a school for your practicum) OR a certified copy of your high school diploma. If you have a foreign transcript will need to be evaluated and certified by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
- English Proficiency Requirement: All programs at UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education (classroom and online formats) require professional-level English language proficiency in listening and note-taking, reading comprehension and vocabulary, written expression, and oral presentation.
The orientation date of the Infant & Toddler program is the first day of EDUC X321.54 (July) and the orientation date of the Early Childhood program is the first day of EDUC X321.21 (August).
The courses are held on the UC Irvine campus at the University Montessori Lab School; thus, parking is free when you park in the University Montessori School of Irvine’s school parking lot. The courses are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. with some occasional all-day Saturday class meetings from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Internet access is required to participate in the program since all courses have accompanying online coursework and EDUC X321.10 is a fully online course.
| Quarter | Course | Units | Fees | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | EDUC X321.21 Montessori Philosophy and Pedagogy (EC/Preschool) | 4.5 | $446 | Hybrid |
| Fall | EDUC X321.10 Preventative Health Practices for Young Children in Childcare | 1 | $210 | Online |
| Fall | EDUC X321.55* Montessori Practicum | 4.5 | $446 | Online |
| Winter | EDUC X321.07 Montessori II: Practical Life, Sensory Education, Art, Music and Movement (EC/Preschool) | 4.5 | $446 | Hybrid |
| Spring | EDUC X321.32 Montessori III: Math, Language, Geography, Social Studies, and Science (EC/Preschool) | 4.5 | $446 | Hybrid |
| Total course fees to UC Irvine DCE (not including lab school fees) | 19 | $1,994 | ||
*The Montessori Practicum courses run from the fall to the spring quarter.
| Quarter | Course | Units | Fees | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | EDUC X321.51 Montessori Overview of Philosophy/Pedagogy for Infant & Toddler | 4.5 | $446 | Hybrid |
| Fall | EDUC X321.10 Preventative Health Practices for Young Children in Childcare | 1 | $210 | Online |
| Fall | EDUC X321.55* Montessori Practicum | 4.5 | $446 | Online |
| Winter | EDUC X321.54 Studies for Infant & Toddler Caregivers | 4.5 | $446 | Hybrid |
| Winter | Continuing Practicum | |||
| Spring | Continuing Practicum | |||
| Total course fees to UC Irvine DCE (not including lab school fees) | 14.5 | $1,548 | ||
*The Montessori Practicum courses run from the fall to the spring quarter.
The Montessori credentialing requires a full academic year of concurrent Monday through Friday internship in a Montessori Early Childhood Program under the direct supervision of an experienced Montessori teacher in the age range for which you seek credentialing.
If you have further questions on the practicum requirements or how to go about finding an internship, you may contact the instructor/coordinator of the Montessori program, Cheryll Ruszat, at (949) 854-6030 or email crruszat@uci.edu.
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