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. 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 and in most cases complete their education in an additional two years at a transfer institution.
Admission into teacher education programs at four-year schools can be competitive and requires good grades, experience working with youth, and strong recommendations. Students need to apply to the school of education at their transfer school, usually the semester prior to starting at that school.
If time permits, students may consider taking additional coursework to fulfill concentration or endorsement requirements at their transfer institutions. ECP 100 – First Aid and CPR, could be taken but current certification is needed prior to student teaching, so a student may want to wait until the semester prior to student teaching. Students should consult their advisors and their transfer institutions for specific recommendations.
The suggested course load for the elementary education transfer programs is rigorous. A more moderate semester credit load can be achieved by taking general education core courses during summer terms or by extending the course load for an additional semester or two at FVCC before transferring.
Education requirements vary from school to school, as well as deadlines to apply for admission into the School of Education. Therefore, it is important for students to meet with their advisor regularly.