Learn how to become an Education Administrator or School Principal in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education provides 2 levels of administrative licenses: School principal/Assistant School principal and Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent. These are provided at the Preliminary, Initial, and Professional levels.
Academic Obligations
School principal/Assistant School principal (Initial License):
- Finish an authorized post-bachelor’s level of studies at the school principal/assistant level
Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Initial License):
- Finish an authorized post-bachelor’s level of studies at the superintendent/assistant level
Assessments
School principal/Assistant School principal (Initial License):
- Pass a Performance Assessment for Initial License
- Pass the MTEL Communication and Literacy Skills Test
Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Preliminary License):
Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Initial License):
- Show that you can successfully apply the Professional Standards for Administrators by completing a Performance Assessment for Initial License
Classroom Teaching Experience Requirements
School principal/Assistant School principal (Initial License):
- 3 years of employment as an educator, education administrator, or supervisor in a public, charter, private, or higher education setting
- Finish a 300-hour supervised practicum at the assistant/school principal level
School principal/Assistant School principal (Professional License):
- Possess an Initial School principal/Assistant School principal license
- Finish a 1-year Education Administrator Induction Program
- Serve for at least 3 years under the Initial School principal/School principal license
Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Preliminary License):
- 3 years of employment in an executive management/leadership role or a supervisory, teaching, or administrative role in a public, charter, private, or higher education setting
Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Initial License):
- Possess an Initial Teaching License, an Initial School principal/Assistant School principal License, or a Preliminary Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent license
- 3 years of school district employment under that license
- Finish a 300-hour practicum at the assistant/superintendent level
Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Professional License):
- Possess an Initial Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent license
- Finish a 1-year Education Administrator Induction Program
- Serve for at least 3 years under the Initial Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent license
Document and Application Requirements
Once you have satisfied all of Massachusetts’ obligations for education administrator licensure at the level for which you are applying, you may apply for education administrator licensure online through the ESE Security Portal or by downloading and mailing a hard copy application.
Background Check Requirements
Before you acquire your education administrator license, you must undergo a criminal history background check.
State Contacts
For additional info on education administrator preparation programs in Massachusetts, make contact with the institutions offering them.
For info on the administrative licensure process, make contact with the Office of Educator Licensure at 781-338-6600.
