AMI PRIMARY DIPLOMA TRAINING COURSE
Ages 3 to 6
(With optional Master of Education Program)
MTCSTL is pleased to offer a 2-summer course for accelerated AMI Primary Diploma Training starting in 2026. The course meets online (in evenings) and in-person (in summers). This course offers the opportunity to learn about Montessori principles and practices for working with children ages three to six years (early childhood through the Kindergarten year).
Course Schedule
July 2026 - July 2027
Summer 2026 Blended
July 13 - July 22 Online
August 3 - September 4 In-Person
Fall 2026 Online
September 28 - October 16
November 9 - December 4
Winter 2027 Online
January 25 - February 5
Spring 2027 Online
April 5 - April 23
May 17 - June 4
Summer 2027 In-Person
June 21 - July 16
*Online modules will take place from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. CST, with a half-hour break each evening.
*In-person modules will take place from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST daily.
*Online and in-person modules will require some weekend classes.
Tuition and Fees
Application Fee: $150
Enrollment Fee: $500
Course Tuition: $13,905
MACTE Practicum Fee: $300
Total Tuition & Fees: $14,855
Adult learners should budget between $500 to $600 for books, general supplies, and material making supplies for the training course.
AMI Diploma Requirements
90+ hours of classroom observation
120+ hours of practice teaching
400+ hours of of classroom instruction (90% course attendance required)
Pass on albums, written exams, and oral exams
Material making
You Will Learn
In-depth studies of all the materials and classroom strategies for guiding young children
The educational and developmental psychology of Dr. Maria Montessori
Presentations and practice with Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, and Mathematics materials
Effective and interesting materials and methods for introducing all aspects of culture (geography, biology, history, art, music, etc.) in age-appropriate ways.
Individuals who successfully complete an MTCSTL Orientation Course and are accepted into an MTCSTL Diploma Course receive a $500 credit toward their enrollment fee.
Montessori schools enrolling two or more staff members in the course will receive a 10% discount off each tuition!
Meet your Director of Training
Lakshmi Shekhar is AMI certified at the assistants to infancy, primary and elementary environments and has more than 18 years of classroom experience in private and charter schools. Lakshmi is the founding guide of the Children's House at the Montessori Lab School at Grand Center. She holds a master's degree in English Literature.
The Montessori Training Center of St. Louis is MACTE Certified for Primary.
Master’s of Education Degree Program
Loyola University Maryland's partnership with the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis provides adult learners with the opportunity to complete a M.Ed. degree cooperatively with the AMI diploma.