Montana Teacher Certification

How to Become a Teacher in Montana

Each state has its own requirements for certification, and Montana teacher certification is no different. Like many other states, multiple levels of licenses are issued. The initial certificate that is issued is called a Class 2 Standard Educator License. This license is issued once a candidate receives a bachelor’s degree and completes an accredited professional educator preparation program along with supervised teaching experience. Teaching experience may be gained as part of the educator preparation program or at an accredited school district.

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A teacher may upgrade a Class 2 license to a Class 1 Professional License by earning a master’s degree in professional education or an endorsable content area and by successfully teaching for three years.

A Montana teaching license is valid for five years. In addition to the requirements described above, teacher candidates must be fingerprinted for a background check through the Montana Department of Justice.

Montana Teacher Education Requirements

A teacher education program must be completed by those who are interested in becoming a teacher in Montana. Teacher education programs at nine post-secondary schools have been approved by the Montana Board of Education to prepare candidates for certification.

Profiles of Well Known Schools

Montana State University: Located in the beautiful city of Bozeman, the Montana State University College of Education, Health and Human Development offers students a wide variety of degree options that cover the spectrum of higher education from undergraduate to doctorate. Students can prepare for career as elementary teachers, high school teachers, counselors, and administrators. The human development department offers majors that lead to rewarding careers in community health, exercise scientists, nutritionists, dieticians, and more. The College of Education and Human Development is one of the largest in terms of student population on the MSU campus. The college consistently trains some of the state’s best educators. Some of the degrees include BS in Elementary Education, BS in Secondary Education, BS in Educational Technology, MA in Adult and Higher Education, Principal Certification and a Doctor of Educational Leadership.

University of Montana: University of Montana is located in Missoula, Montana and is home to the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and Human Sciences. The College houses five departments including Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Counselor Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, and Health and Human Performance. All of the departments are equally important, but the heart of the College is definitely the Curriculum and Instruction department that trains future teachers for placement in the k-12 system. Current and future educators are able to earn one or more degrees in several dozen majors and areas of emphasis. Students are able to curtail their education to fit their personal and professional needs as they see fit. All of the faculty within the department of Curriculum and Instruction are themselves licensed educators.

Montana Teacher Testing Requirements

Unlike most other states, teacher candidates are not required to pass a basic skills or state licensure exam in Montana.

Montana Teacher Salary and Jobs

Type	Number Employed	Average Annual Salary
Preschool Teachers	800	$25,590
Kindergarten Teachers	580	$40,950
Elementary School Teachers	4,960	$43,750
Middle School Teachers	1,650	$43,200
Secondary School Teachers	4,300	$43,160

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Montana

Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Montana

Carroll College
1601 N Benton Ave
Helena, MT 59625-0002
(406) 447-4300
www.carroll.edu/prostudents/

Montana State University
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-0211
www.montana.edu/admissions/

Montana State University-Billings
1500 University Drive
Billings, MT 59101-0298
(406) 657-2011
www.msubillings.edu/reg/

Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology
2100 16th Ave S
Great Falls, MT 59405
(406) 771-4300
www.msugf.edu/adm_records/index.htm

Montana State University-Northern
300 W 11th St
Havre, MT 59501
(406) 265-3700

Rocky Mountain College
1511 Poly Drive
Billings, MT 59102-1796
(406) 657-1000

The University of Montana
Missoula Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-0211
admissions.umt.edu/admissions.html

The University of Montana-Western
710 S Atlantic
Dillon, MT 59725-3598
(406) 683-7011
www.umwestern.edu/admissions/

University of Great Falls
1301 Twentieth St S
Great Falls, MT 59405-4996
(406) 761-8210

Page edited by Charles Sipe.