Elementary Education Transfer Program
Most Montana four-year colleges and universities have teacher training programs in both elementary and secondary education. Elementary teachers are certified by the state to teach grades K-8 and secondary teachers can teach, in a major or minor, grades 5-12. The national job outlook for teachers for the next five to ten years is quite favorable due to projected high levels of retirement.
Students may begin their teacher training at FVCC in both elementary and secondary programs, and in most cases complete their education in an additional two years at a transfer institution. The University of Great Falls has an elementary education program on the FVCC campus.
Admission into teacher education programs at four-year schools can be competitive and requires good grades and strong recommendations. Some schools require test results from the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST). The PPST, a national assessment test, is taken the sophomore year and is administered by the FVCC Learning Center.
If time permits, students may consider taking additional course work to fulfill concentration or endorsement requirements at their transfer institutions. For example, students transferring to The University of Montana – Missoula can fulfill additional education requirements by completing EDUC 232, EDUC 256, and ART 226 (specifically for elementary majors). Students should consult their advisors and their transfer institutions for specific recommendations.