3-6 Diploma Course

Your pathway to an internationally-recognized AMI diploma, equipping you to lead 3-6 Montessori environments worldwide

Blended Format | Online and Onsite in Raleigh, North Carolina
March 26, 2027 - August 5, 2028
Adjoins Montessori Core Principles Certificate
AMI Trainer BethAnn Slater

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Application

A Unique Montessori Journey

The MINT Blended 3–6 Montessori Diploma Course offers comprehensive Montessori teacher education leading to the internationally recognized AMI 3–6 Diploma. This respected credential prepares students to work with children ages three to six in Montessori schools and early childhood environments around the world.

As a required foundation for the blended diploma pathway, students complete MINT’s Montessori Core Principles Certificate Course (MCPC). The MCPC establishes a shared grounding in Montessori principles and prepares students for the specialized study and practice of the 3–6 level.

The diploma course combines online study with intensive in-person training in Raleigh, North Carolina. During the onsite sessions, students work directly with Montessori materials, observe demonstrations, develop their presentation skills, and apply Montessori principles through guided practice. Online coursework provides continuity between the in-person sessions and supports students’ progress toward the AMI diploma.

In 2019, at AMI’s invitation, MINT offered the first pilot AMI-approved blended diploma course. The lessons from that experience continue to shape how this course brings online study together with rigorous, hands-on Montessori preparation.

  • The AMI 3–6 Diploma Course prepares students to understand Montessori principles and apply them within environments for children from ages three to six.

    Course content includes:

    • Montessori history, theory, and pedagogy

    • Human tendencies and the four planes of development

    • The absorbent mind and sensitive periods

    • The prepared environment and the preparation of the adult

    • Observation of children and scientific recordkeeping

    • Practical life activities

    • Sensorial materials and the refinement of perception

    • Spoken language, writing, reading, and language analysis

    • Mathematics, including arithmetic, geometry, and algebraic foundations

    • Geography, botany, zoology, science, art, and music

    • Movement, coordination, independence, and grace and courtesy

    • Social and emotional development

    • Freedom, discipline, will, and obedience

    • Normalization, individual development, and neurodiversity

    • Anti-bias and inclusive Montessori practice

    • Classroom planning, parent partnerships, and school community

    • Material making and maintenance of the prepared environment

    Students connect theory with practice through material demonstrations, supervised practice, observation, written assignments, student teaching, and direct work in Montessori 3–6 environments.

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This Course Offers

  • Integrated Online and In-Person Study

    Online coursework establishes the academic foundation for intensive on-site sessions in Raleigh. Students use the in-person blocks for demonstrations, supervised practice, material work, discussion, and direct application of Montessori principles.

  • Learning Within a Cohort

    Students progress through the course with a consistent cohort, creating continuity between online and on-site study. Discussion, collaborative work, and shared practice allow students to learn from one another while meeting the individual requirements of the AMI Diploma.

  • Experienced AMI Faculty

    The course is led by AMI trainers and experienced Montessori educators. Faculty provide lectures, material demonstrations, individual feedback, and guidance throughout the academic and practical components of the course.

  • Observation, Practice, and Reflection

    Students develop their understanding through observation, hands-on work with Montessori materials, guided practice, written reflection, and discussion. These experiences connect Montessori theory with the decisions made in a 3–6 environment.

  • Preparation for Classroom Practice

    The course prepares students to plan and present activities, organize the prepared environment, observe children, maintain records, and reflect on their work. Faculty guidance supports students as they apply their training in Montessori classrooms.

    • Montessori Core Principles Certificate Course

    • Format: Online study with a short in-person component

    • Live online instruction: 12 sessions of 1.5 hours each

    • Asynchronous study: 81 hours

    • In-person instruction in Raleigh: Three days, seven hours per day

    • Total course hours: 120

    The specific live online dates and the three Raleigh meeting dates will be communicated separately.

    • Format: In person at Follow the Child Montessori School

    • General schedule: Monday through Friday

    • Daily hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    • Length: Three weeks

    • Total in-person hours: 105

    • Format: Live online and asynchronous study

    • Live sessions: Tuesdays

    • Live session time: 6:30–8:30 p.m. ET

    • Number of live sessions: 24

    • Asynchronous coursework continues alongside the live sessions

    • The exact Tuesday meeting dates and scheduled breaks will be communicated separately

    This online period includes the academic work surrounding the spring Raleigh intensive.

    • Format: In person at Follow the Child Montessori School

    • Schedule: Monday through Friday

    • Daily hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    • Length: Five days

    • Total in-person hours: 35

    • Format: Online

    • Written Exam, Paper A: Tuesday, May 15

    • Written Exam, Paper B: Thursday, May 18

    • Examination times will be communicated separately

    • Format: In person at Follow the Child Montessori School

    • Final instructional intensive: July 10–28

    • General schedule during the intensive: Monday through Friday

    • Daily hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    • Oral examinations: July 31–August 4

    • Course celebration: Saturday, August 5

    • Individual oral-examination times will be communicated separately

  • In addition to live online and on-site course meetings, students complete:

    • Asynchronous coursework

    • 90 hours of observation

    • 120 practicum hours

    • 14 hours of individualized practicum mentorship

    • Independent study and group review

    • Preparation and practice with Montessori materials

    Observation, practicum, mentorship, and asynchronous coursework require time outside the scheduled live classes and Raleigh intensives.

Course Schedule

Blended Format | Onsite + Online

Summary

The course sequence begins with the 120-hour Montessori Core Principles Certificate Course, held from March 26–June 5, 2027. This foundational course combines live online sessions, asynchronous study, and three-day in-person component, with the location to be confirmed.

The AMI 3–6 Diploma Course continues with a three-week on-site intensive beginning July 19, 2027. Students then participate in live online classes during the 2027–28 academic year, return to Raleigh for a five-day spring intensive, and complete a final three-week on-site intensive in summer 2028.

Written examinations are held online in May 2028. Students return to Raleigh for oral examinations and the course celebration, concluding August 5, 2028.

Observation, practicum, individualized mentorship, group review, and independent coursework are completed alongside the scheduled online and in-person sessions.

Planned Onsite Location

Follow the Child Montessori School
3601 Harden Road
Raleigh, NC 27607

Course Details

Tuition & Fees

  • $13,700
    A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due within 10 days of acceptance.

    Required Foundational Course
    Students must enroll separately in MINT’s Montessori Core Principles Certificate Course, which provides the foundation for the blended diploma pathway. MCPC tuition is not included in the diploma-course tuition. View MCPC details and register.

  • $100 fee on or before March 1
    $150 fee after March 1
    Application fee is non-refundable.

  • Examination Fee: $500
    AMI Membership Fee: $99
    MACTE Fee: $250
    Technology Fee: $150

  • Supplies for required material-making; cost varies. Consider a budget of $500 - $900.

Requirements

    • Completion of the Guide to the Diploma Course (approximately 2 hours)

    • 90% Attendance

    • 210 hours of observation and practicum

    • Access to a prepared 3–6 environment during the distance modules

    • 15–20 hours per week of self-scheduled work during distance modules

    • Anticipate 12–15 hours per week of independent study and coursework during both online and onsite weeks

Financial Support

  • MINT’s robust scholarship program sets us apart from other training centers. Explore financial support from MINT and other sources here.

  • Many students receive employer sponsorships to fund their training at MINT. Our team is available to guide both applicants and schools through this process.

  • The Alumni Continuing Education Fund provides a partial tuition scholarship for returning MINT students on select courses.

  • A two-installment payment plan is available for a service fee of $300. Contact us to discuss alternative financial arrangements.

BethAnn Slater headshot

About the Trainer

BethAnn Slater is an AMI 3–6 Trainer with experience spanning Montessori classrooms, public education, school leadership, and international diploma-course instruction. Head of School and 3–6 Directress at Middleburg Montessori since 2003, she brings a practitioner’s understanding of children, classrooms, and the preparation of Montessori educators.

Read Faculty Bio
MINT Director of Operations, Mary Valdez

Get in Touch

Still have questions about this course? We’re here to help!

Reach out to our Director of Operations, Mary Valdez, for more information, guidance, or assistance planning your next steps toward enrollment.

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