Online Montessori Teacher Training Diploma
Study from anywhere in South Africa or worldwide, with two in-house training options — Johannesburg or Cape Town — and graduate with exactly the same accredited qualification as our on-campus students. R63 000, with orientation online on Monday 2 March 2027, 17:30–20:30.
Course at a glance
Online here means accredited online — not a lesser version of the full-time or part-time courses
The online diploma carries dual accreditation: MACTE for the Montessori training, and the ETDP SETA for the South African qualification. MACTE's public record for the College lists “more than 50% online” among our accredited delivery modes at the Johannesburg campus, which is where the online course is run from. Your diploma, transcript and MACTE certification are identical to those of a full-time on-campus student.
There is one thing online study cannot do on its own. MACTE requires a minimum number of face-to-face hours, so every online student attends an in-house block in person. You choose Johannesburg or Cape Town — the dates are below.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 2027 course fee | R63 000 + $240 MACTE student registration fee |
| Deposit | R8 000 on submission of the application form |
| Age group | Early childhood: 2½ to 6 years |
| Duration | One academic year (minimum) + 6-month research project; two academic years maximum |
| Orientation | Held online, Monday 2 March 2027, 17:30–20:30 (to be confirmed) |
| Breaks | Allocated according to the progress of the class |
| In-house training | Required by MACTE. Choose Johannesburg — the full month of November, Monday to Friday, 08:00–15:00 at Linbro Park — or Cape Town Montessori School — a long weekend in June plus three weeks in September, during the Cape school holidays |
| Practicum | Required. Teaching practice and ten observation days (60 hours) in a Montessori classroom, arranged near you. International students: the school must be approved by the College first, so that we can confirm it runs an authentic Montessori programme. |
| Faculty | All lecturers hold accredited early childhood Montessori qualifications and are registered assessors |
| Accreditation | MACTE (Early Childhood) and ETDP SETA |
| Qualification | National Diploma in Early Childhood Development Practice — SAQA ID 64650, Learning Programme 23118, NQF Level 5, 240 credits |
| Pass rate | 71%–80% countrywide |
Attendance and assessment
You must complete 90% of scheduled lectures and online work, achieve a 60% average across all course work, complete all scheduled practical teaching hours and ten days of classroom observation, and pass both the written and practical examinations at 60% or above. Your academic transcript records academic clock hours both online and in residence.
Admission requirements
To enrol on an accredited Montessori diploma at the College of Modern Montessori you must be at least 18 years old and hold a matriculation certificate or equivalent, and be interviewed in person by the Director of Studies or the Registrar.
- Applicants without a matric certificate are not automatically excluded. You will be interviewed to determine possible exemption, and assessed to establish whether your educational level is high enough to meet the academic phase of the course. You may be asked to submit an essay setting out why you want a career in Montessori education.
- Students currently in Grade 12, or awaiting results, submit a transcript of their most recent grades with the application form. The matric certificate must be submitted on or before orientation.
- A police clearance certificate no older than six months is required at orientation.
- Your motivation, commitment and determination to become a Montessori directress are taken into account.
How to apply
- Enquire by telephone or email and we will send you the prospectus and application form.
- Book an appointment with the Director of Studies or Registrar — we will walk you through the course in detail, give you a tour of the College and School, and interview you.
- Return the application form, admission documentation, photographs and proof of payment of the deposit. You may email a scanned copy to speed things up, but the original must be submitted before orientation.
- Acceptance and your date of commencement are confirmed in writing.
There is no fixed registration closing date, but places are limited and applications close once all places are filled. Where applicants exceed places, preference goes to those who have submitted the form, the documentation and the deposit.
Fees and payment options
The 2027 course fee is R63 000, plus a $240 MACTE student registration fee due prior to 18 March 2027. A deposit of R8 000 is payable on submission of the application form. The course fee includes textbooks in eBook format, teaching manuals, examinations and certification.
| Option | Total payable | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Full settlement 5% discount | R59 850 saving R3 150 | R8 000 deposit on application, then R51 850 on or before orientation by EFT, direct deposit or cash. The discount applies only if settled in full on or before orientation, and does not apply to credit card payments. |
| Quarterly no interest | R63 000 | R8 000 deposit on application, then R55 000 in four instalments of R13 750 on 1 March, 1 May, 1 August and 1 November. |
| Monthly 10% interest | R69 300 | R8 000 deposit on application, then R61 300 in nine monthly instalments by recurring EFT, dated 1 March to 1 November. |
Overdue accounts are subject to a 10% late payment penalty. Fees can be paid by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only), in which case the 5% full-settlement discount does not apply. The College does not offer financial aid.
Refunds
Fees are refunded in full to any applicant not accepted for the course. Once a student has been accepted, no refund is considered — if a student withdraws mid-cycle the place cannot be filled, so the full course fee remains payable. In the event of pregnancy or illness, postponement may be considered with written confirmation from a medical practitioner; fees remain payable for the year originally enrolled and a place is reserved for the following academic year.
What you graduate with
Graduates receive a diploma, an academic transcript, copies of the MACTE accreditation certification, and an ETDP SETA ‘Statement of Results’. The transcript records your academic clock hours, subject averages, practical and theory examination grades, overall course grade, and your total observation, teaching practice and independent study hours.
You are eligible for the diploma once you have attended 90% of scheduled lectures, completed all course work at a 60% average, completed all scheduled practical teaching hours and ten days (60 hours) of classroom observation, passed both final examinations at 60% or above, and settled all fees.
The ETDP SETA Statement of Results is issued after a verification audit, and only once the six-month research project has been submitted — mid-year of the year following enrolment.
Apply for 2027
Questions? Speak to Adam Darby (Registrar) on 082 896 6162 or Olivia Darby (Director of Studies) on 082 375 7536, or email modmont@global.co.za.