Renew Update Advance License

To add an additional endorsement to your current Montana Class 1 or Class 2 teaching license, you must submit an application verifying one of the following three pathways:

1. Completion of an educator preparation program (EPP)
   Completion of an EPP for the endorsement you want to add, verified by the college or university, or alternative route where you completed the EPP, and either:
   • A passing score on the PRAXIS Subject Assessment applicable to the endorsement you want to add (the PRAXIS test code established by the Office of Public Instruction and approved by the Board of Public Education), or
   • A passing score on a student teaching portfolio, verified by the college or university where the portfolio was completed, or
   • A 3.00 or higher coursework grade point average (GPA), verified by the college or university where the coursework was completed
2. Posted degree major or minor, or National Board Certification
   Posted degree major or minor, or National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. This pathway is not available for early childhood (P–3); elementary education (K–8); reading (K–12); English as a second language (K–12); school administrator (superintendent, principal, or supervisor); specialist (school psychologist or school counselor); or initial endorsements in special education fields.

   For this pathway, your application must include an official transcript verifying your degree and major/minor for your:

   • Doctorate degree
   • Master's degree
   • Baccalaureate degree with a major or posted minor of at least 18 semester hours in the requested endorsement area
   • Certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
3. Content area knowledge and teaching experience
   This pathway is not available for early childhood (P–3); elementary education (K–8); reading (K–12); English as a second language (K–12); school administrator (superintendent, principal, or supervisor); specialist (school psychologist or school counselor); or initial endorsements in special education fields.
   • Evidence of two years of teaching experience while appropriately licensed (meaning your experience is in teaching the endorsement/subject you are currently licensed in), and
   • Proof of a minimum passing score on the PRAXIS Subject Assessment applicable to the requested endorsement (the PRAXIS test code established by the Office of Public Instruction and approved by the Board of Public Education)
   • If you are already licensed in Montana with a categorical special education endorsement and wish to add another special education endorsement, you must pass the state-designated content test for a K–12 special education endorsement.
   • If you are already licensed in Montana with a P–3 or K–8 special education endorsement, the requirement to add the K–12 special education endorsement includes a minimum of two years of teaching experience as an appropriately licensed special education educator, and passing the state-designated pedagogy test for the secondary-level K–12 special education endorsement.

How do I add an endorsement?

After you complete one of the pathways above, submit your Add Endorsement application through the licensing system, Teach Montana (TMT) .

The Office of Public Instruction Special Education Endorsement Project was created to help school districts fill vacant special education teaching positions. See full information on the Special Education Endorsement Project page.

I am working as a teacher and I want to add a new endorsement. Can I teach in the new area while completing my program?

You can add an endorsement through a Teaching Endorsement Internship Program or with a Class 5B Provisional Teaching License . Both options allow you to teach in the new endorsement area while you complete your program.

A teaching endorsement internship is an agreement between your school, a Montana college or university, and you. The internship is granted for one year and may be renewed for up to two additional years as long as you are making adequate progress toward completing your program.

A Class 5B Provisional Teaching License to add the endorsement requires you to work with a college to obtain a plan of study that verifies you meet admission requirements and can complete your endorsement program within three years.

To upgrade your Class 5 provisional license to full licensure, you must submit an upgrade application through the licensing system, Teach Montana (TMT) . Your application must be submitted by June 30 of the year your provisional license expires. If you do not submit by that date, your license will lapse and you will need to submit a full license application.

The upgrade application allows you to submit verification that you have fulfilled the Plan of Professional Intent (PPI) you signed when your provisional license was issued. If you need to access your signed PPI, log in to your educator record in TMT .

If your license was issued prior to 07/01/2022, your signed PPI is located in the Documents section of your TMT record. If your license was issued on or after 07/01/2022, your PPI is located in the online application you submitted.

You may upgrade your Class 5 license at any time once you have fulfilled the requirements in your PPI. If you do not complete your PPI requirements within the three years your Class 5 license is valid, the license will expire and it cannot be upgraded. Class 5 licenses are not renewable.

To upgrade your Class 2 Standard Teaching license to a Class 1 Professional license, submit an online application through the new licensing system, Teach Montana (TMT). The application you should submit is called "Upgrade to Professional Teacher's License".

*Upgrading your Class 2 teaching license to a Class 1 will not change the effective dates of your license. If you earned your master's degree outside of your current license period, upgrading your license will not renew your current license.