Assistants to Infancy (0-3 years) Diploma Program

The AMI Assistants to Infancy Diploma Course offered by MTCNE prepares adults to support the developmental needs of children from birth to three years old through a deep study of Montessori pedagogy, child development, and hands-on practice. This internationally recognized program, developed and overseen by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), is grounded in the belief that education should support life from the very beginning.

What You’ll Learn

The course encompasses over 400 hours of classroom instruction and at least 250 hours of guided observation. Components of the training include:

Montessori theory and psychology, focusing on the child’s development, the role of the adult, and the environment.
Medical and developmental studies such as anatomy, nutrition, hygiene, child neuropsychiatry, and obstetrics.
Hands-on methodology including psycho-sensory activities, home and community environments, and practical life exercises.
Supervised practice and student teaching, providing experience in real-world settings with infants and toddlers.
Parent-infant programming, classroom management, and community development.
Reading and research, with essential works by Dr. Maria Montessori and leading scholars in child development and neuroscience.
View the AMI Montessori Diploma Assistants to Infancy Course Brochure to learn more about the curriculum

Steps to AMI Certification

To be eligible to sit for the written and oral examinations, which are required for certification, students must successfully complete all components of the training program as established by the Training Center. These requirements include:

Maintaining a minimum of 90% attendance in all theory lectures, material demonstrations, discussions, reviews, and assigned reading seminars.
Attending 100% of supervised practice sessions, with a minimum of 60 hours completed.

To receive the AMI Diploma, students must:

Achieve a passing mark on Written Papers A & B and the oral examinations.
Complete, compile, and submit original and acceptable albums in all required subject areas.
Fulfill all course requirements, including preparation of materials, completion of assigned observations and observation reports, and participation in teaching practice within a Nido/Infant Community.

Why Choose AMI Training at MTCNE?

As the only AMI-affiliated training center in the Northeastern United States, MTCNE is dedicated to preparing high-quality Montessori practitioners through rigorous and authentic training grounded in Dr. Maria Montessori’s original principles.

We have a longstanding commitment to supporting Montessori for all families and at every stage of development, ensuring our graduates are equipped to serve diverse communities with skill, integrity, and compassion.

Through our pedagogical partnership with the University of Hartford, students benefit from the rigor of an established academic institution while engaging in immersive, practice-based Montessori training. This collaboration strengthens both the scholarly foundation and professional pathways available to our students.

Graduates of the Assistants to Infancy program become part of a global network of educators dedicated to excellence and to advancing peace through education.

Who Should Apply

This course is ideal for aspiring Montessori educators, early childhood professionals, caregivers, and anyone passionate about nurturing human development from the very beginning of life. Applicants should also be prepared for, and committed to, an in-depth course of study at the post-secondary level, requiring sustained engagement, academic rigor, and personal dedication.