Some people begin their Montessori careers by working as aides or assistants in Montessori environments (classrooms) and then going to training. Others begin by going straight into training. While the choice is a personal one, it is helpful to receive guidance from a training center.

Montessori guides train for specific developmental levels: Assistants to Infancy (Birth to 3), Primary (3 to 6), Elementary (6 to 12), and Adolescence (12 to 18). There are in-person training programs and hybrid training programs. Hybrid training programs require periods of in-person coursework and periods of remote coursework. The length of a program depends on the developmental level and whether the program is in-person or hybrid.

Training includes a broad range of experiences: observing Montessori classrooms, attending lectures, writing theory papers, making Montessori materials, writing and illustrating your own Montessori albums (teaching manuals), practicing presentations (lessons), student teaching, and taking written and oral exams.

From school sponsorships to training center financial aid to formal scholarship programs, there are options for making training accessible.

Many Montessorians begin their careers as assistants or aides and gain access to training through sponsorship. A sponsorship is when a school or other benefactor pays some or all of a trainee's tuition in exchange for a commitment to work at the school for a certain amount of time after earning a Montessori diploma.

To learn which schools in your state offer training sponsorships, please visit AMI/USA.

Some training centers offer scholarships and financial aid. The availability of aid can vary from one training center to another, and from one year to the next, so it can be helpful to contact more than one training center to hear what is possible.

The Black Montessori Education Fund is working to increase the pipeline of Black Montessori educators in the US and overseas. The Willa Mae Golden Teacher Training Scholarship provides support for Black educators to access Montessori training.

The Black Wildflowers Fund invests in the future of Black leadership by providing grants to Black educators pursuing Montessori training through MACTE credentialed programs. Black Wildflower Fund's goal is to train and foster communities of practice for 60+ Black Montessori educators over the next three years. The Montessori Credential Grant provides financial support to aspiring Montessori educators, covering tuition and fees for their Montessori training to ensure they can pursue their credentials without the burden of debt.  Priority will be given to individuals who've already applied or been accepted to a Montessori training program. All Black educators interested in obtaining a Montessori credential are encouraged to apply!