How to Train as a Montessori Teacher in Arizona
Arizona has two MACTE-accredited teacher education programs — one AMI, one AMS. Here is what each covers, what the credential levels mean, and how to check a program's status before you enroll.
·6 min read
Arizona has close to a hundred Montessori schools and a persistent shortage of credentialed guides to staff them. If you are thinking about training, the good news is you do not have to leave the state: there are MACTE-accredited routes here, covering infancy through elementary.
The confusing part is the alphabet. Here is what actually matters before you hand over tuition.
First: check it is MACTE-accredited
MACTE — the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education — accredits the training programs themselves, and has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education since 1995. A credential from a MACTE-accredited program is the one that travels: many states recognize it toward licensure, it carries internationally, and employers can read it as a known quantity.
Crucially, MACTE accredits programs, not people. You will never be “MACTE certified” — you hold a credential from a MACTE-accredited program. We unpack that distinction, and what AMI, AMS, and IMC each mean, on our Montessori credentials page.
The two Arizona routes
Southwest Institute for Montessori Studies (SIMS)
Phoenix · AMI affiliated
SIMS states it holds accredited status from MACTE for all three of its certification courses — 0–3, 3–6, and 6–12 — which makes it the broadest single route in the state. It is the AMI tradition: closely tied to Montessori's original sequence and materials. Osborn School District sent its first two Montessori teachers here when it built what became Phoenix's first public dual-language Montessori.
sims-ami.org →Arizona Montessori Teacher Education Program (AMTEP)
East Valley · AMS affiliated
AMTEP is the AMS-affiliated route, directed by Jane C. Lemon. Its MACTE listing shows Elementary I with full accreditation running to 2032. AMS training is the more adaptable tradition — explicitly built to sit alongside state standards and conventional assessment, which is part of why it turns up so often in charter and district Montessori.
MACTE listing →Read the listing carefully — status is per level and site
This is the part worth slowing down for. A MACTE directory entry is not one status; it is a grid of levels and locations, each with its own state and expiry. AMTEP's entry, for instance, shows Elementary I fully accredited through 2032 alongside earlier sites marked Site Withdrawn — a program can stop offering a level at a location without anything being wrong.
So “is this program accredited?” is the wrong question. The right one is: is the level I want to teach, at the site I would attend, currently accredited — and until when? Look it up in MACTE's directory before you enroll, not after.
Pick your level before your program
Montessori credentials are age-banded, and they do not transfer across bands. Training for 3–6 does not qualify you to lead a 6–9 classroom. The usual levels:
- Infant & Toddler (0–3) — the fastest-growing demand in Arizona, where most schools are early-childhood
- Early Childhood / Primary (3–6) — the classic Montessori classroom, and the most widely offered
- Elementary (6–9, or 6–12) — fewer Arizona schools go this far, so credential holders are scarcer
- Secondary and Administrator — rarer still; you may need to look out of state
Where the jobs are
Worth knowing before you choose a level: more than half of Arizona's Montessori schools do not go beyond the primary years. An 0–3 or 3–6 credential opens the most doors here by a wide margin. An elementary credential is rarer and so is the demand — but the schools that need one tend to be the larger, more established programs.
If you want to see the landscape before committing, our map of every Montessori school in Arizona shows what is within commuting distance, and each listing notes the ages served.
Before you enroll, ask
- Which MACTE level and site am I enrolling in, and what is its current status and expiry?
- What does the practicum require, and will you help me place it?
- Is this AMI, AMS, or another MACTE Recognized Organization — and does that match the schools I want to work in?
- What is the total cost including materials, and is the program Title IV eligible for federal aid?
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Montessori credential to teach at a Montessori school in Arizona?
It depends on the school. Charter and district Montessori programs require standard Arizona teacher certification, and most also want a Montessori credential for the age level taught. Private Montessori schools set their own bar — a credential from a MACTE-accredited program is the recognized standard, but not every school requires one, which is part of why the quality range between schools is so wide.
How long does Montessori teacher training take?
It varies by level and format, but expect a substantial commitment rather than a short course — typically an academic year of coursework plus a supervised practicum, often structured around summers so working teachers can attend. Ask any program directly for its schedule and practicum requirements.
Is an AMI or an AMS credential better?
Neither is better; they are different traditions. AMI training holds closely to Maria Montessori's original method and materials. AMS training adapts Montessori to the American school system, including state standards and testing. Both run MACTE-accredited programs. Which suits you depends on the kind of school you want to work in.
Can I train in Arizona for the elementary years?
Yes. Arizona has accredited routes covering elementary as well as early childhood — SIMS lists accredited status for 6-12 alongside 0-3 and 3-6, and the Arizona Montessori Teacher Education Program's MACTE listing shows Elementary I with full accreditation. Confirm current levels and start dates with each program.
Program details are from MACTE's accredited-program directory and each provider's own site, checked at the time of writing. Accreditation status and course offerings change — verify both directly with the program and with MACTE before enrolling. We are a directory and have no affiliation with either program. Something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.