Montana Teaching Certification
Montana teacher certification requires a bachelor’s degree, a state-approved educator preparation program, and one of several qualifying pathways: a passing Praxis subject-assessment score, a verified student teaching portfolio, or a 3.00-plus GPA. Candidates must also complete Montana’s free Indian Education for All course before applying for a Class 2 Standard license through TeachMT.
Sponsored School(s)
Montana’s Office of Public Instruction doesn’t lock candidates into a single testing requirement the way most states do. Instead, you can satisfy the state’s competency requirement through a Praxis score, a verified student teaching portfolio, a 3.00-plus GPA, or two years of out-of-state teaching experience. Here’s what the traditional path, the license classes, and the paperwork actually require.
Choose the description that best matches your situation:
- Initial Teaching Certification…
- I’m a teacher from another state…
- Teacher Certification Renewal…
- Admin./Principal Certification…
- Alternative Teaching Certification…
- Substitute Teaching Permit…
Initial Montana Teaching Certification
Montana’s Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program (QELAP) helps new teachers pay down student loans while working at a designated “impacted school.” The state covers up to $3,000 in loan assistance after your first complete year of teaching, $4,000 after the second, and $5,000 after the third, with a possible fourth year of district-funded assistance on top of that. A 2025 law change (HB 509) expanded eligibility to newly hired educators statewide, with funding priority still going to impacted schools. Check OPI’s current Impacted Schools List to confirm whether a specific district qualifies.
Education Requirements
The Montana Office of Public Instruction Educator Licensure office (406-444-3150) requires all teachers to hold at least a bachelor’s degree and complete a state-approved educator preparation program before a license is issued.
If you completed educator preparation at a college or university in another state, you’re still eligible for licensure in Montana as long as your program meets two conditions: the college is regionally accredited, and your program covers an area for which Montana offers licensure.
If you attended school in a foreign country, one of these agencies must evaluate your academic credentials before you apply for licensure in Montana:
- AACRAO International Education Services
- World Education Services, Inc.
- Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
Teachers licensed for elementary school (K-8) can teach all subjects at those grade levels. If you completed a middle school preparation program in another state, Montana will license you in whichever endorsement area best matches your program.
Secondary teachers in grades 5-12 must complete at least 16 semester hours of professional educator preparation coursework, plus either 30 semester hours in a content major and 20 in a minor, or 40 semester hours in a broad content major. Montana doesn’t offer standalone licensure for Early Childhood Education, Technology Education, or Gifted & Talented Education. Candidates who complete at least 20 semester hours in one of these areas can instead apply for a “Permissive Special Competency” endorsement under a Class 2 license.
Indian Education for All Requirement
Every candidate for a Montana teaching license, regardless of grade level or content area, must complete a free online course called An Introduction to Indian Education for All in Montana before OPI will recommend them for licensure. The course is designed to prepare teachers to incorporate the history, culture, and contemporary status of American Indians and Montana’s tribal nations into their classrooms, and it’s a distinctly Montana requirement you won’t find in most other states.
Examinations
Montana doesn’t require every candidate to clear the same testing bar. According to OPI’s own Educator Licenses page, you need to satisfy just one of the following to meet the state’s competency requirement for a Class 2 Standard license, on top of completing your bachelor’s degree and educator preparation program:
- A passing score on the required Praxis subject assessment for your content area, or
- A passing score on a student teaching portfolio verified by your educator preparation program, or
- A coursework GPA of 3.00 or higher, verified by your educator preparation program, or
- A current, unrestricted out-of-state educator license plus two years of teaching experience
Most traditional-route candidates go through the Praxis pathway. If you’ve completed everything except your Praxis score, you can work toward it while holding a Class 5A provisional license, valid for one year and non-renewable.
Content-area Praxis exams: Montana requires the following Praxis exams by content area:
- Elementary K-8
- Art (All Grades)
- Reading (All Grades)
- Secondary Education (5-12):
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth Science
- Economics
- English
- Geography
- Government/Political Science
- Mathematics
- Physical Science
- Physics
- World and U.S. History
- World Languages (All Grades): French, German, Spanish
Experience Requirements
OPI has strict requirements for the classroom experience you gain during your educator preparation program. You’ll complete a supervised practicum, observing a licensed teacher and leading lessons, followed by a full student teaching placement matched to your grade level and content area. During student teaching, you’ll take on independent control of the class at times, planning lessons and leading discussions on your own.
Your student teaching performance carries real weight. It’s the basis for your college or university’s recommendation to OPI regarding your qualification for licensure.
Document and Application Requirements
Once you’ve met all requirements, submit your Application for a Montana Class 1, 2, or 3 Educator License through the state’s online licensing system, TeachMT. Complete the application in full and sign it before a notary public. You’ll also need to:
- Have official transcripts sent to OPI from every college and university you attended
- Have your college complete the Institutional Recommendation Form and forward it to OPI
- Pay the required application fees
- Complete the fingerprint and background check process (see below)
Mail paper materials to: Montana Office of Public Instruction, Attn: Educator Licensure, P.O. Box 202501, Helena, MT 59620-2501.
Criminal History Background Check
As a first-time licensure applicant, you’ll submit a fingerprint card for a national background check through the Montana Department of Justice. Visit your local law enforcement agency for fingerprinting, then mail the completed card with a $29.25 check payable to the Montana Department of Justice to: Montana DOJ, P.O. Box 201403, Helena, MT 59620-1403.
If you don’t hear back from OPI, your background check has cleared. OPI will only contact you if there’s a problem.
Contact Information
Regionally accredited colleges and universities with educator preparation programs accepted by Montana OPI are listed on the Montana Office of Public Instruction’s Accreditation and Educator Preparation page.
For questions about educator licensure in Montana, contact OPI at 406-444-3150.
Montana Teacher License Classes
Montana issues several classes of educator licenses, but most first-time applicants will land in one of two: Class 2 Standard or, later in their career, Class 1 Professional. A handful of other classes cover provisional, administrative, and specialist roles.
| License Class | Who It’s For | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 Standard | First-time applicants who meet all initial licensure requirements | Bachelor’s degree, approved EPP, one of four competency pathways (Praxis, portfolio, GPA, or out-of-state license + experience) |
| Class 1 Professional | Experienced teachers advancing their license | Class 2 license, master’s degree (or NBPTS certification), three years of teaching experience |
| Class 5 Provisional | New teachers or out-of-state hires are still finishing requirements | Non-renewable: Class 5A (1 year, missing only Praxis score), Class 5B (3 years, missing EPP completion), Class 5C (up to 3 years, license reinstatement) |
Class 1, Class 2, and Class 4 licenses renew every five years and require 60 OPI renewal units, which you can earn through professional development or college coursework (one semester credit equals 15 units; one quarter credit equals 10). Class 5 licenses don’t renew: they either convert to a full license once you finish the outstanding requirement, or they lapse.
Montana Teacher Salaries and Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Montana teacher pay varies by grade level, with secondary teachers earning the most on average as of May 2025. For a fuller breakdown of benefits, retirement, and pay by district, see our Montana teaching salaries and benefits guide.
| Occupation (Montana) | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $56,060 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $58,150 |
| Middle School Teachers | $61,240 |
| Secondary School Teachers | $61,550 |
Montana-specific job growth projections weren’t published in our data for these occupations. Nationally, the BLS projects a slight decline in elementary and middle school teacher employment between 2024 and 2034, driven by enrollment trends, though tens of thousands of average annual openings are still expected each year from retirements and turnover. Check with OPI or the state’s labor market office for Montana-specific hiring projections.
Where to Go From Here
If you’re a licensed teacher moving to Montana from another state, in the middle of a renewal cycle, or aiming for an administrative or substitute role, the paths above split off from here:
- Teachers moving to Montana from another state
- Teacher certification renewal
- Administrator and principal certification
- Alternative teaching certification
- Substitute teaching permits
Frequently Asked Questions
What education is required for teacher certification in Montana?
You need a bachelor’s degree and completion of a state-approved educator preparation program that includes supervised student teaching. Secondary candidates also need a set number of semester hours in their content area, and out-of-state graduates qualify as long as their program was regionally accredited and covers a Montana-licensable area.
How do I demonstrate content-area competency for a Montana teaching license?
OPI accepts any one of four options: a passing score on the required Praxis subject assessment, a passing score on a student teaching portfolio verified by your educator preparation program, a coursework GPA of 3.00 or higher, or a current out-of-state educator license combined with two years of teaching experience. You only need to satisfy one of these, along with completing an approved educator preparation program.
Do Montana teachers need to complete Indian Education for All training?
Yes. Every candidate for a Montana teaching license must complete the free online course An Introduction to Indian Education for All in Montana before OPI will recommend them for licensure, regardless of grade level or subject area.
Can out-of-state teachers get certified in Montana?
Montana doesn’t have formal reciprocity agreements with specific states, but it does recognize out-of-state licensure as one qualifying pathway. A current, unrestricted educator license from another state, combined with two years of teaching experience, satisfies Montana’s competency requirement for a Class 2 Standard license. Teachers who don’t yet meet that combination can apply for a Class 5 provisional license while finishing any remaining requirements.
How long does it take to become a certified teacher in Montana?
Most traditional candidates finish in the same four years it takes to complete a bachelor’s degree and an educator preparation program, since the Praxis exam, student teaching, and the Indian Education for All course are built into that coursework. Career-changers using an alternative route can move faster, though they’ll still need to meet the same competency and Indian Education for All requirements before earning a Class 2 license.
- Four pathways satisfy Montana’s competency requirement — a Praxis subject-assessment score, a verified student teaching portfolio, a 3.00-plus GPA, or two years of out-of-state teaching experience, on top of a bachelor’s degree and approved prep program.
- Indian Education for All is mandatory for everyone — every licensure candidate completes this free course regardless of grade level or subject.
- Class 2 Standard is the entry point — Class 1 Professional requires a master’s degree (or NBPTS certification) plus three years of teaching experience.
- Pay varies by grade band — Montana’s median teacher salaries ranged from $56,060 (kindergarten) to $61,550 (secondary) as of May 2025, according to the BLS.
- Applications run through TeachMT — Montana’s online licensing system handles transcripts, recommendations, and fee payment for every license class.
Find accredited teacher certification programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage estimates and 2024-2034 employment projections for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers reflect state and national data, not school-specific outcomes. State or district job-growth projections are sourced separately from national BLS outlook data. Conditions vary by school sector, subject area, and district. Data accessed July 2026.
