Credential Options

FULL MONTESSORI CREDENTIAL

The candidate for the AMS Early Childhood and Infant & Toddler credential holds a minimum of:

1.     A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university or its equivalent.

2.     For adult learners whose post-secondary studies are outside of the U.S.:  An AMS Early Childhood credential may be awarded to adult learners who hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a non-U.S. college/university that is determined not to be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university by a recognized credential evaluation service or a regionally accredited college/university, while still meeting the nationally recognized post-secondary educational standard in the state, province, or country of issuance. The degree and country in which the degree was awarded are indicated on the credential.  To qualify, the degree’s regular program length must include a minimum of three years of study – degree programs of less than three years qualify the credential candidate for an Associate Early Childhood credential.

ASSOCIATE MONTESSORI CREDENTIAL (IT and EC Only)

1.     An AMS Associate Early Childhood credential is awarded to an adult learner with a minimum of a secondary level state approved/recognized (high school) diploma, 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 Early Childhood credential must complete all requirements for the course in which they are enrolled. Upon completion, they should represent themselves only as holding an AMS Associate Early Childhood credential.

2.     Applicants for the AMS Early Childhood 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.

3.     Holders of the AMS Associate Early Childhood credential are strongly encouraged to obtain their bachelor’s degree within seven years of credentialing. 

4.     Teachers with an Associate Early Childhood credential are eligible for upgrade to an AMS Early Childhood credential upon completing the bachelor’s degree requirement. An official transcript documenting this completion and appropriate form and upgrade fee must be sent to the AMS office of teacher education by the individual receiving the degree. To upgrade a credential, the individual must be a current AMS member.  

See the Associate Credential Signature form in the Adult Learner Forms Section at the conclusion of our Adult Learner Handbook

 TRANSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS FOR ADULT LEARNER APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT HAVE A BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER FROM A REGIONALLY ACCREDITED U.S. COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

 A transcript from a regionally accredited college/university outside the USA must be submitted to a recognized U.S. credential evaluation service (e.g. an evaluation service that is a member of NACES – the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) for credit equivalency evaluation. Accredited colleges and universities in the United States may also make such evaluations. If the evaluation determines the studies completed outside the U.S. to be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree or higher in the U.S., the adult learner will satisfy the bachelor’s degree requirement for an AMS credential upon successful completion. The official credential evaluation is to be submitted to the AMS office of teacher education by the TEP director in lieu of the college transcript when recommending the individual for a credential.  

An official transcript is required for all adult learners in the USA.  Adult learners who earned a bachelor’s degree from an international college or university outside the USA and that college or university does not issue official transcripts to graduates, the following steps must be taken to prove that a bachelor’s degree has been earned:

In lieu of a transcript the following may be submitted to validate that the adult learner has fulfilled the education requirement for an AMS credential:

1.  Originals and official translations in English by a government-authorized translator in the country of origin or the USA of the following:

  • An official statement from the college or university that it does not issue official transcripts to graduates of their college or university. This statement must include the length of study—in academic years—for the degree earned by the graduate, at the time of their graduation.

  • If the county’s central department of education issues a publication regarding courses and credit hours required for the degree, this must also be included in the documentation, and must reflect the particular years of study of the candidate.

  • Official university diploma or notarized copy from a notary recognized by the country’s government.

  • Validation of degree earned by the Government Registry or Ministry of Education in the country awarding the degree.

OR

  • In the event that the country has a national registry system where one can access proof of bachelor’s degree or above showing a minimum of three years of study and proof of graduation, this can be used in lieu of the requirements shown above in A.  An official translation must accompany the original:

  • A statement from the TEP citing that based on their review of the AMS-required documentation, the transcript is not accessible or not offered by the country issuing the diploma and the country or university only issues diplomas. If the reason for the absence of transcripts is inaccessibility due to extenuating circumstances—such as natural disasters, etc., -- these circumstances must be stated. 

  • A statement by the candidate that all documentation they have submitted is true, complete, and correct.

  • A transcript from a non-U.S. regionally accredited college/university must be submitted to a recognized U.S. credential evaluation service (e.g. an evaluation service that is a member of NACES – the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) for credit equivalency evaluation. Accredited colleges and universities in the United States may also make such evaluations. If the evaluation determines the studies completed outside the U.S. to be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree or higher in the U.S., the adult learner will satisfy the bachelor’s degree requirement for an AMS credential upon successful completion. The official credential evaluation is to be submitted to the AMS office of teacher education by the TEP director in lieu of the college transcript when recommending the individual for a credential.

  • A credential is awarded to those whose degree is officially determined not to be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university, but which still meets the nationally recognized post-secondary educational standard in the state, province, or country of issuance, including a normal program length of a minimum of three years. This credential will state the degree and the name of the country in which the degree was earned. The official equivalency evaluation is to be submitted to the AMS office of teacher education by the TEP director in lieu of the non-U.S. transcript when recommending the individual for credential.

  • Candidates whose non-U.S. degree that is determined to be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university will be awarded the full AMS credential. (7/22 AMS Handbook)