Early Childhood Education Endorsement Certificate

Building a Strong Foundation for Success

Enhanced teacher preparation specific to early childhood education is proven to be effective in supporting the optimal development of young children, leading to tangible benefits across the lifespan including fewer student referrals to special education and higher rates of high school completion.

The Preschool - Grade 3 (P-3) Early Childhood Education Endorsement prepares participants as highly qualified early childhood teachers for our nation’s public schools, organizations such as Head Start and Early Head Start, and community-based early childhood programs.

The P-3 Endorsement meets Montana’s P-3 Early Childhood endorsement required for all public-school preschool teachers.

Early Childhood Education Bachelor of Arts:

Please reference the Elementary Education webpage.

Early Childhood Education Minor:

*Only available to elementary education majors.

Early Childhood Education Master of Education:

Please reference the Master's Degree webpage.

Early Childhood Education Graduate Level Endorsement:

Standalone graduate level endorsement available to currently licensed elementary education teachers, or those eligible for a Montana elementary teaching license, who desire the Early Childhood P-3 Endorsement Certificiate.

Additional Information:

  • All students enrolling in ECE programs must complete a Background Check as part of the application.
  • All Early Childhood Coursework requires a lab component.
  • Student must purchase or have access to a GoPro HERO camera (or equivalent) to share videos that demonstrate their implementation of lab activities.

Funding Opportunities:

Students interested in applying for either of these Montana funding opportunities must have a current Practitioner Registry Certificate at the time of application. The Practitioner Registry process takes several weeks – you are encouraged to complete this step as early as possible to streamline your application for funding.

  • Montana students enrolled in ECE programs who currently work in a qualifying early childhood program (licensed or registered child care, pre-school programs, Head Start or Tribal Head Start, or a Child Care Resources agency) for at least 15 hours per week are eligible for financial support administered through the Montana Early Childhood Project.
  • The Professional Development Incentive Award-Higher Education awards $400 for the completion of 2-5 credits per semester and $1,000 for the completion of a minimum of 6 credits per semester.

Contact Us

Undergraduate & Graduate Endorsement Info:

Department of Teaching & Learning
2nd Floor - Teacher Education Services
april.holder@mso.umt.edu 
406-243-6170 

Allison Wilson
Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education
Department of Teaching & Learning
allison.wilson@mso.umt.edu 

Licensure Related Inquiries:

Kathy Schneider
Licensure & Clinical Experience Specialist
Teacher Education Services
kathy.schneider@mso.umt.edu 
406-243-4846

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