| Requirement | What states set | Planning use |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom experience | Tennessee asks for at least three years of qualifying educator experience; Nebraska asks for at least two years of teaching. | Count your years in the classroom before choosing a program start date, and confirm your own state’s minimum. |
| Graduate study | Most states require a master’s degree or an educational leadership certificate from a nationally accredited program. | Pick a program that fits your state’s licensing rules, not just your schedule. |
| Approved preparation | Tennessee requires an advanced degree from a regionally accredited institution and completion of a State Board-approved instructional leader preparation program. | Check state approval before you enrol. |
| Internship | Nebraska requires internship hours in educational leadership. | Plan field hours around a full teaching load. |
| Licensing exam | Most states require a licensing exam before they issue a principal certificate. | Build exam preparation into the last stretch of your program. |
| Assistant principal license | Tennessee’s ILL-A lets an educator serve as an assistant principal while enrolled in an approved preparation program. | It can bring the move into administration forward while you study. |
These figures come from the Tennessee Department of Education’s instructional leader licensing page and a Youngstown State University principal certification guide.
Learning how to become a principal means combining teaching experience, an approved leadership program, a passing exam score and a state administrator license. The exact minimums depend on the state where you want to work.
For the broader landscape of careers in school leadership, see this overview on how to become a school principal.
Timeline and what it means for your plan
Every state’s rules put classroom years first, so the pathway is measured in years of work as much as in coursework. A typical route runs from classroom teacher to team or committee leader, then through a leadership program and an assistant principal post, and finally to the principal’s office.
Minimums differ by state. North Carolina typically requires at least three years of teaching before principal licensure, according to UNCP’s school administration program page. Arizona’s standard principal certificate asks for teaching certification, proof of three years of teaching in grades P-12 and an educational administration program of at least 30 credits, as described by OnlineEducation.com. The same guide describes the common national pattern as a master’s in education or administration plus two to five years of professional experience in education.
That spread of requirements leads to a few practical decisions:
- Start leadership work early. Leading a grade-level team, chairing a curriculum committee or coaching colleagues gives you evidence of impact that programs and hiring panels can assess.
- Look at part-time or hybrid programs. A mid-career teacher can keep working while studying, as long as the program’s practicum places you in real administrative settings.
- Treat the minimum as a floor. Meeting a state’s experience requirement makes you eligible for licensure. It does not make you the strongest candidate for a posting.
Degree and program choices
The question of what degree you need to be a principal has a layered answer. Principal candidates first obtain a bachelor’s degree and teacher certification, and most states then require a master’s degree or an educational leadership certificate from a nationally accredited program, according to Youngstown State University.
State details change what counts. Tennessee requires an advanced degree from a regionally accredited college or university, plus completion of a State Board-approved instructional leader preparation program. Louisiana treats a master’s in educational leadership as the standard path to its EDL1 certificate, and a candidate whose master’s is in education can show at least 240 hours of school or district leadership experience instead, according to EducationalLeadershipDegree.com.
Program choice is wide in some states: Texas lists 129 educator preparation programs approved by the state for principal certification. With that many options, the deciding factors are approval by the state where you plan to work, a practicum that puts you in administrative work, and a schedule that fits teaching. Coursework in school law, finance and curriculum is typical of leadership programs. Keep transcripts, evaluations and records of completed hours in one folder so licensing applications go smoothly.
Exams and the administrator license
Principal certification usually ends with an assessment. Most states require a licensing exam before issuing a principal certificate, and almost all require a passing score on a school administrator assessment, according to OnlineEducation.com. Louisiana, for example, counts a score of at least 151 on the SLLA as passing, per EducationalLeadershipDegree.com. Cut scores belong to each state, so check yours rather than assuming that number applies elsewhere.
The license itself is what authorizes you to hold a post. In Tennessee, the Instructional Leader License allows an educator to serve as a principal, assistant principal or instructional supervisor, which means one credential covers several administrator roles, according to the state education department. Start with your own state education agency’s licensing page, confirm the current steps, and work backwards from the exam window to your program’s end date.
Assistant principal as a stepping stone
Teachers move into assistant principal roles by building visible leadership first, then applying for assistant posts, sometimes while still studying. Instructional coaching, data-team leadership and schoolwide committee work show the managerial skills that an assistant principal uses daily, such as scheduling, student support and staff communication.
Some states let you hold the role before finishing your program. Tennessee’s ILL-A allows an educator to serve as an assistant principal while enrolled in an approved instructional leader preparation program, and it is non-renewable and valid for three years. Moving up to the full license requires a minimum of two years of successful experience as a principal, assistant principal or instructional supervisor, according to the Tennessee Department of Education. In that state, then, assistant principal years count toward the next credential rather than being a detour.
The assistant principal post suits teachers who want to test administrative work before committing to the top job. Pay belongs in that decision, and How Much Does An Assistant Principal Make In 2026? Salary, Benefits, And What To Expect – Principalspartnership covers what to expect.
Application materials and the interview
A principal application is judged on leadership evidence, so every document should show a challenge, your action and the result. Lead your resume with a short profile stating your leadership philosophy, then list leadership roles with measurable outcomes such as assessment gains, attendance improvement or teacher growth. If you already hold an assistant post, Assistant Principal Resume: Proven Templates, Examples, And Actionable Tips For 2026 – Principalspartnership shows how to frame it.
A cover letter works best when it names a challenge the hiring school faces, drawn from the job posting or public information, and explains how your experience would address it. A portfolio organized by theme, such as instructional leadership, operations and community engagement, keeps the evidence easy to scan. Useful items include a school improvement plan you led, a staff professional development agenda with participant feedback and a parent communication sample. Keep digital and print versions ready.
In the interview, expect questions about budgets, staffing, student safety and communication with families. Prepare a short example for each from your committee, coaching or team-lead work, and rehearse explaining your decisions clearly. Principals are responsible for staff, school goals, budgets, schedules and parent communication, so answers that show you can balance those demands carry the most weight.
Beyond the principal’s office
A principal post is not necessarily the end of the pathway. Successful principals can advance to district administrator positions such as superintendent or assistant superintendent, according to UNCP.
Louisiana shows how formal that step can be. Its superintendent route asks for five years of successful leadership administrative experience, at least three of them beyond the assistant principal level, and builds on the EDL2 certificate. The EDL3 certificate then qualifies holders for superintendent and assistant superintendent positions, per EducationalLeadershipDegree.com. Teachers who aim for district leadership should treat the principal years as part of the requirement, not just a stage to get through.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an administrator license last?
It depends on the state. Tennessee’s Instructional Leader License is renewable and valid for three years. Louisiana’s EDL1 certificate is also valid for three years and can be extended by a maximum of two additional years.
How do administrators move up to a higher certificate?
Requirements are set by each state. In Louisiana, upgrading from EDL1 to EDL2 requires job performance ratings of at least effective for three years as a leader.
Are there training requirements beyond the degree?
Some states add them. Indiana, for instance, requires principal candidates to obtain CPR certification and receive suicide prevention training. Check your state agency’s list before you apply.
