Learn how to become an Education Administrator or School Principal in Connecticut.
The Connecticut State Department of Education issues 2 kinds of administrative certificates for school education administrators who wish to serve as assistant school principals, school principals, assistant superintendents, deputy superintendents or superintendents:
- The Intermediate Administration or Supervision Certificate
- The Superintendent of Schools Certificate
Academic Obligations
Initial Educator Certificate-Intermediate Administration or Supervision:
- You must possess a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- You must successfully complete 18 additional semester hours of graduate courses
- You must successfully complete at least a 15-semester hour of graduate credit planned program of education in educational administration/leadership and receive a recommendation from the institution where the program was completed.
- You must successfully complete at least 36 clock hours in special education courses
No additional courses are necessary to move from an Initial Certificate to a Provisional Certificate, but you must fulfill induction and experience obligations (see below).
To move from a Provisional Certificate to a Professional Certificate, you must successfully complete another 30 semester hours of graduate courses.
Initial Superintendent of Schools Certificate:
- You must possess a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- You must successfully complete 30 additional semester hours of graduate courses
- You must successfully complete at least a 30 semester hour graduate credit planned program of education in the preparation of superintendents of schools and receive an institutional recommendation.
- You must successfully complete at least 36 clock hours in special education courses
To progress from an Initial to a Provisional Certificate, no additional education is required but you must successfully complete induction and experience obligations.
To progress from a Provisional Certificate to a Professional Certificate, no additional education is required but you must successfully complete induction and experience obligations (see below).
Assessments
Initial Educator Certificate – Intermediate Administration or Supervision:
- You must pass the Connecticut Administrator Test (CAT) and get at least 3 passing scores and 1 conditional score on the 4 modules of the test
To progress from an Initial to a Provisional Certificate, you must successfully complete the induction period and subsequent assessment of your performance.
Initial Superintendent of Schools Certificate:
No additional Assessments are needed to receive an Initial Superintendent of Schools Certificate.
Classroom Teaching Experience Requirements
Initial Educator Certificate-Intermediate Administration or Supervision:
- You must possess 50 months of teaching/educational service experience in an authorized Connecticut public or nonpublic school or in an authorized out of state school.
- One year of a practicum in school administration and supervision may be accepted to satisfy this requirement.
To matriculate from an Initial to a Provisional Certificate, you must successfully complete 10 months of experience under your Initial Certificate.
To matriculate from a Provisional to a Professional Certificate, you must successfully complete 30 months of experience under your Provisional Certificate.
Initial Superintendent of Schools Certificate:
- You must possess a total of 80 months of teaching/educational service experience
- A minimum of 50 of those months must have been served in an authorized Connecticut public or nonpublic school or in an authorized out of state school
- A minimum of 30 of those months must include full-time administrative or supervisory experience in an authorized Connecticut public or nonpublic school or in an authorized out of state school
To matriculate from an Initial to a Provisional Certificate, you must successfully complete 10 months of experience under your Initial Certificate.
To matriculate from a Provisional to a Professional Certificate, you must successfully complete 30 months of experience under your Provisional Certificate.
Document and Application Requirements
When you have completed the necessary obligations for your Initial Certificate, complete Form ED170A, Short Form Application for Connecticut Initial Educator Certificate. Mail it and the supporting materials below to Connecticut State DOE, Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification, P.O. Box 150471 – Room 243, Hartford, CT 06115-0471:
- Form ED126-Statement of Professional Experience
- Form ED125-Statement of Preparing Higher Educational Institution, signed by an administrative official at your college
- Official, sealed transcript listing your degrees and required courses
- Copies of score reports of assessment taken.
- Application fees.
Background Check Requirements
Before you acquire your education administrator license, you must undergo a criminal history background check.
State Contacts
Contact Connecticut colleges and universities for additional info on the education administration/leadership preparation programs they offer.
For additional info about becoming a licensed Connecticut education administrator, contact the Certification Office of the Connecticut State Department of Education at (860) 713-6969.
