Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification

The PBTP is designed for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree or above and who wish to become a licensed teacher.

The PBTP courses are fully online. Field Experiences are required with several of the courses and need to be done at a local school, but Western will help you with that. Some licensure areas may involve additional courses requiring alternate modes of delivery. These will be identified individually through the transcript evaluation.

Online classes through Montana Western are semester-long classes.  Fall and spring semesters span 16 weeks and the summer semester is 10 weeks long.

View the current Montana Western tuition and fees online at https://www.umwestern.edu/section/tuition-and-fees/.  You may qualify for a fee waiver as an “E-Learner,” if you live outside the 59725 zip code.

In most cases, textbooks are a requirement of most courses. On average, textbooks cost $100-150/course.

The credit load varies. Many students average 1-2 courses (4-8 credits) per semester.  Credit load will depend on plan of study, workload, home life, and other factors.

The expected length of time to complete the PBRP is 18 months to 2 years. The length of time varies based on the required credit load and other external factors.

1. Apply online at https://www.umwestern.edu/apply-to-university-of-montana-western/. Choose “Post-baccalaureate Student” and “Certificate”.
2. Currently, the application process is FREE! Typically, the application fee is $30.00
3. Once you have submitted your application for admission, the Office of Admissions may send you information about submitting an additional application for some program areas.
4. Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended. Costs will vary from institution to institution for sending official transcripts.
5. Submit proof of immunizations; need two immunizations for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR).
6. Once the admission process is complete, Montana Western will start the transcript evaluation process to determine what courses are required.

Transcripts are reviewed by an advisor or faculty member to determine which courses are required for recommendation for licensure.  The transcript evaluation is used to create a plan of study individualized for each situation.

An official transcript evaluation takes approximately two weeks once officially admitted to Montana Western.

Depending on completed degree(s) and the requested area of certification, an unofficial transcript review may be advised.  An unofficial transcript review, prior to admission to Montana Western, may take several weeks. Once the unofficial review is completed, if admission into an online program is advised, the admission process and an official transcript review will be required.

Please plan to allow at least 4-6 weeks to complete the admission and registration process before the start of a semester.  For Summer & Fall semesters, begin the registration process in March.  For Spring semester, begin the registration process in October.