Teaching Degrees in Montana

Anyone who plans to earn a teaching degree in Montana and/or wishes to teach in the Montana public school system needs to know some important information about:

• The impact of a master’s degree
• Scholarships and grants
• Montana teacher certification

Also included here is a list of additional resources and a comprehensive directory of fully accredited teaching degrees in Montana.

Teaching Degrees in Montana

A bachelor’s degree is required in order to obtain a teaching degree in Montana. There are 16 colleges and universities that offer teaching degrees in Montana. Currently, 33.4 percent of Montana teachers possess a Master’s degree or better. Having this higher degree can mean an average salary increase of around $6,340 per year when compared to Montana teachers who hold only a bachelor’s degree.

Teaching Scholarships, Grants, and Assistantships in Montana

For those pursing a teaching degree in Montana, it is wise to research the many scholarships and grants that are available. These forms of financial assistance are funded by the state, organizations, schools, and by individuals and can help offset the out-of-pocket costs of a teaching education. Some examples include:

Montana Teacher Certification

Those interested in pursuing a teaching degree in Montana should be aware of the certification requirements. This state currently offers five types of teaching certificates/licenses. These are:

• Class 1: Professional License – For teachers holding a master’s degree, who meet all qualifications for a Class 2 license, and have three years verifiable experience as a licensed teacher.
• Class 2: Standard Educator License – For teachers who hold a bachelor’s degree, have completed an accredited professional educator program in a state-approved area and have completed a supervised teaching experience.
• Class 4: Career and Technical – For those who do not have a degree in education, but have degrees, licenses, industry standard designations and 10,000 or more hours of work in the teaching area of interest.
• Class 7: Native American Language and Culture – For those specializing in Native American education, this license is granted upon a tribe’s recommendation.
• Class 8: Dual Credit-Only Post-Secondary Faculty License – For college instructors teaching courses that are available for high school students. These courses provide a combination of high school and college credits upon completion.

Montana state teacher certification requirements include:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher
• Successful completion of an accredited teacher certification program
• Completion of a supervised teaching experience
• Passing the Praxis II exam
• Fingerprinting and background check

Montana teachers must participate in continuing education. The state requires a combination of ongoing college courses and what are called OPI renewal units. These are Office of Public Instruction approved courses. The recertification requirements vary by the type of license held, but the majority of license holders must complete a minimum of 60 OPI renewal units in order to be eligible for recertification.

Additional Resources about Teaching in Montana

The following resources provide additional information for those pursuing teaching degrees in Montana.