What is Principal Licensure?

Principal licensure is a process for training and credentialing education professionals who wish to work in administrative positions such as principal or assistant principal. Every region handles licensure of instructors and school administrators differently, and people interested in working in education should make sure to research the requirements for the regions where they want to work before they start pursuing education and credentials. The department of education in a given region is usually a good starting point for research about credentialing requirements.

Colleges and universities offer education programs designed to prepare people for principal licensure. These programs include courses about pedagogical methods and standards and practices in the teaching community, as well as courses on specific issues relevant to school administrators. Experience in the classroom or administrative environment may be available for students as well. At the culmination of such courses, people are eligible to take certification exams administered by government agencies or professional organizations.

In some regions, graduating from a principal licensure program is enough to qualify someone to start work as a school administrator. In others, in addition to passing an accredited program, a candidate must also pass a professional exam designed to test knowledge and skill. These examinations are used to maintain basic standards in the education administration profession, with the goal of making sure that students have access to highly competent administrators. Study guides are usually available, as are classes designed to help people familiarize themselves with the material on the exams.

If there are requirements for people who work as school administrators, these are set by government officials, usually working in consultation with education professionals. Principal licensure can require successful passage of an exam after completion of coursework, along with continuing education requirements to maintain licensure into the future. Some programs also require principals to have classroom experience or experience in lesser administrative positions before they can supervise schools.

People interested in principal licensure can find a listing of accredited programs in their region and get information from them about the courses and degrees available. If principals need to take an examination in order to work, it is advisable to get exam pass rates for various institutions to learn how well these programs prepare graduates for testing. Graduates in areas where exams are not required may still want to consider joining professional organizations of education professionals to get access to valuable career tools, from trade journals to conferences.