Become a Teacher
in Montana
Certification Roadmap
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Prerequisite Coursework
Teacher Preparation
Certification Reciprocity
Teacher Salary
Required Tests
Teacher Certification Information & Links
Montana Highlights
To become a certified teacher in Montana, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.
Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.
Prerequisite Coursework
All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. Here are Montana's undergraduate prerequisites for some of the most popular specialty areas:
- Elementary Education: To add an endorsement to a Montana License, you must complete the equivalent of a teaching major or minor from an NCATE or state approved college or university. The coursework requirements for an additional endorsement on your license are generally either: a. at least 40 semester credits in an extended major; or b. 30 semester credits in an approved major; or c. 20 semester credits in an approved minor. The college must make recommendation to this office for the endorsement to be added to your existing license.
- Secondary English/Language Arts: To add an endorsement to a Montana License, you must complete the equivalent of a teaching major or minor from an NCATE or state approved college or university. The coursework requirements for an additional endorsement on your license are generally either: a. at least 40 semester credits in an extended major; or b. 30 semester credits in an approved major; or c. 20 semester credits in an approved minor. The college must make recommendation to this office the endorsement to be added to your existing license.
- Secondary Mathematics: To add an endorsement to a Montana License, you must complete the equivalent of a teaching major or minor from an NCATE or state approved college or university. The coursework requirements for an additional endorsement on your license are generally either: a. at least 40 semester credits in an extended major; or b. 30 semester credits in an approved major; or c. 20 semester credits in an approved minor. The college must make recommendation to this office the endorsement to be added to your existing license.
- Secondary History/Social Science: To add an endorsement to a Montana License, you must complete the equivalent of a teaching major or minor from an NCATE or state approved college or university. The coursework requirements for an additional endorsement on your license are generally either: a. at least 40 semester credits in an extended major; or b. 30 semester credits in an approved major; or c. 20 semester credits in an approved minor. The college must make recommendation to this office the endorsement to be added to your existing license.
- Secondary Science: To add an endorsement to a Montana License, you must complete the equivalent of a teaching major or minor from an NCATE or state approved college or university. The coursework requirements for an additional endorsement on your license are generally either: a. at least 40 semester credits in an extended major; or b. 30 semester credits in an approved major; or c. 20 semester credits in an approved minor. The college must make recommendation to this office the endorsement to be added to your existing license.
Teacher Preparation
Teacher preparation includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program.
Alternative Certification
Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. Information about alternative certification in Montana is coming soon!
Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.
Certification Reciprocity
Montana will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the Montana Office of Public Instruction to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.
| Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California |
| Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida |
| Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois |
| Indiana | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana |
| Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan |
| Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska |
| Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico |
| New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio |
| Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island |
| South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas |
| Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington |
| West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming |
Teacher Salary
- Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Montana provides loan forgiveness support for teachers teaching in high needs schools and teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
- Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Montana has no induction policies in place
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in Montana makes $37,550
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in Montana makes$37,890
- Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Montana makes 115% of the salary of the average worker in Montana
- Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in Montana receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
- Number of Years to Tenure: Montana requires 3 years of teaching before a teacher is eligible for tenure
Required Tests
In order to become a certified teacher, you must satisfactorily complete the Basic Skill Test requirement and any Subject Area Competence assessments needed for your desired area of instruction.
Basic Skills Test
- Montana does not require a basic skills test for student teaching or for certification.
