Montana Teacher Licensure Guide for Online Master's Students

Who Licenses Teachers in Montana, and Which Exams Does It Use?

Montana licenses teachers through Montana Office of Public Instruction, and the exams it requires are the Praxis tests from ETS.

For the programs themselves, the online master's in education programs at universities in Montana are ranked at the in-state price, and the national and specialty lists cover schools in other states.

How Do I Get a Montana Teaching License With an Online Master's?

Getting a Montana teaching license with an online master's begins with the Class 2 Standard Teaching License, and the Office of Public Instruction requires a degree, a completed educator preparation program with supervised teaching, and accreditation of that program by AAQEP, CAEP, MACTE or a state agency. The master's earns the Class 1 Professional license: a master's in education or an endorsable teaching area, or National Board certification, plus eligibility for Class 2.

A holder of a Class 2 license applies through TeachMT for the upgrade, which does not change the license's effective dates. A master's in curriculum and instruction or elementary education can serve that purpose.

Which Exams Does Montana Require for Teacher Licensure?

Montana requires a Praxis subject assessment for teacher licensure only when an applicant has no other proof of readiness. The Office of Public Instruction lets a candidate choose one of four pathways: a current standard out-of-state license with two years of teaching, a qualifying score on the Montana-required Praxis subject assessment, a passing student teaching portfolio verified by the preparation program, or a coursework GPA of 3.00 or higher verified the same way.

You cannot combine pathways. A candidate who meets every other requirement but lacks the Praxis result can hold a Class 5A provisional license for one year, and it is nonrenewable.

Can I Transfer a Teaching License to Montana From Another State?

A teaching license from another state cannot be transferred to Montana by reciprocity, because the Office of Public Instruction states that Montana has none with any state. You submit an application through TeachMT with official transcripts, a fingerprint background check, a copy of your out-of-state license, a university recommendation and the fee.

A license from elsewhere still helps: held as a current, standard, unrestricted license with two years of teaching, it satisfies the readiness pathway above. An alternative program finished in another state should be state accredited and lead to licensure where it was completed.

The 2020 comparison by the Education Commission of the States recorded no full reciprocity, extra coursework and assessments for some out-of-state teachers, and tiering by experience.

Does NC-SARA Membership Cover Teacher Licensure for Montana Online Master's Students?

NC-SARA membership leaves teacher licensure for Montana online master's students where it was. Montana was approved in August 2014 through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, which lets participating schools offer online programs to Montanans, but SARA does not address licensing board approval of teacher education programs.

It does oblige those schools to notify you whether a program meets licensure requirements in the state where you are located.

What Should I Ask an Online Program Before Enrolling From Montana?

Before enrolling from Montana, ask an online program to state in writing whether it has determined that the curriculum meets Montana licensure requirements. 34 CFR 668.43 directs a school that advertises licensure preparation to list where the program does and does not qualify, and to notify you before enrollment when it falls short or has no determination.

Then raise the Montana points. Is the program accredited by AAQEP, CAEP, MACTE or a state agency? Will the school's official complete the university recommendation and verify your GPA or portfolio? Does its practicum count as supervised teaching? Internships for added endorsements run only through a Montana university.

Which License Do Montana Principals and School Counselors Need?

A Montana principal needs a Class 3 license, and the office asks for eligibility for a Class 1, 2 or 5 teaching license or a Class 6 counseling license, an education specialist or master's degree in education or leadership, an accredited principal program, a school law course covering special education law, and three years of teaching or counseling.

A Class 6 school counselor holds a master's degree and either completed a CACREP-accredited school counselor program with a 600-hour school internship or earned a master's in school counseling with that internship. An online master's in educational leadership or school counseling has to match both sets of terms before it leads to Montana licensure.