To gain a teaching degree and certification, you must attend a college or university that has been certified and accredited. In some cases, you do not need a license to be an administrator. Bachelorâs degree in teaching; Become certified as a teacher; Work as a teacher (three years recommended) Masterâs degree in school administration We use cookies to make wikiHow great. However, alternatives include: Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Before we dive into the details, here is a brief outline of the typical process to becoming a school principal. You will need to get a Master's, Ed.S. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. It is helpful to be very active in the school and district where you teach. Senior and specialist administrator positions often ask for a degree or a relevant professional qualification such as business studies, accountancy, personnel, or marketing, depending on the role. A masterâs degree in education generally expands on teaching curricula while also focusing on school law and finance, educational ⦠Typically, administrators are required to begin as teachers and then advance into assistant principal positions before becoming administrators. The usual process to beco⦠As part of the senior leadership team, an education administrator is a strategic decision-maker who requires a broad range of skills and knowledge to help a school, college, university, or independent education provider run effectively at all levels. Think of it as a very professional and polished scrap book. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 74,164 times. This sort of role is ideal if youâve strong organisational skills. Education administrators are predominantly employed in schools, colleges, and universities. By using our site, you agree to our. You also need some postsecondary business education. You will receive your school administrator license after you have passed the test. Administrators, who include elementary and high school principals and university deans and provosts, oversee functions ranging from instructor relations to classroom curricula. Typically, private school and post-secondary school administrators are not required to have a license, while public, elementary, and secondary school administrators do need one. Once you have your teaching license, you can work as a teacher for a few years before applying for an assistant principal position. Try using online websites devoted to jobs in education, like www.topschooljobs.com run by Education Week. To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. If you work in a clerical or administrative role you could end up anywhere, from working in a court to being part of a big business â every type of company or organisation needs administration and clerical workers. I'd been teaching middle school for more than ten years when I started to wonder if I should explore how to become a school administrator. Service and Activities should include information about any volunteer work you have done, beginning with work related to the school, district, or education more broadly, and ending with work that is unrelated (such as community or church volunteer service). Initially, the path to becoming a school principal can be very similar to becoming a teacher. School principals need about 5 years of experience External link , according to the BLS. Apprenticeships, internships and gap years, National Association of School Business Management, MA in Educational Leadership and Management, There is a range of vocational qualifications (such as BTECs, NVQs/SVQs, and diplomas) linked to an interest in education administration, Personnel or marketing qualification (for specific roles). You must pass a test or series of tests related to the specific area you want to be a principal in whether that be an elementary, a middle level, or a high school principal. Evidence of Professional Excellence should include information about initiatives you have started or participated in, teaching evaluations, conferences attended, presentations, reviews, letters of recommendation, and samples of your work as a teacher and in any other administrative jobs you have held. This requires a bachelor's degree, a certain amount of time spend student teaching, and a masters degree in education. Most applications are done online, so you will need access to high speed internet service and the ability to upload relevant documents. Overworked, stressed and burnt out are some of the words used to describe todayâs principals who are weighed down by ever ⦠Becoming a School Principal: A Review of the Steps. Obtain a School Administrator License/Certification â This step is remarkably similar to the process for getting your teacher license/certification. Some careers in school administration, whether in public, private, or charter schools, require specialized training and certification. Start a portfolio as soon as you begin courses for your Bachelor's degree and continue adding to it throughout your career. You may be asked to take the PRAXIS or other standardized test. In order to work as a school administrator in a public primary or secondary school, a candidate must complete a certification program. However, others develop the desire later in their profession. Youâll need knowledge in the psychology of elementary-aged children, which you gain in a Bachelorâs or Masterâs degree education program. Although it is possible to serve as an administrator without classroom teaching experience, it is not typical. Personal requirements for a School Principal. Though many jobs prefer a masterâs degree in business (MBA) or a related field, some school ⦠Be sure that your degrees are from accredited institutions. Keep an updated profile on www.academia.edu and www.linkedin.com, and network with professionals at other institutions to locate open positions. A stand-alone license past the master's degree 3. "Great information! This article has been viewed 74,164 times. For university positions, you will interview with the dean, the provost, and/or a search committee organized by the dean or provost and comprised of other faculty members from your institution. Education administrators review and streamline processes to help reduce the burden on teaching staff. Almost all principal positions, whether at a public school or private school, elementary or high school, require a masterâs degree in education leadership or education administration. Most superintendents must complete a ⦠Check the guidelines in your area. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together.