Learn how to become an Education Administrator or School Principal in Missouri.
The Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education issues Initial Education Administrator, Transition Education Administrator, and Career Continuous Education Administrator certificates to qualified applicants. These certificates are valid for the following administrative positions: Elementary School principal, Middle School principal (Grades 5-9), Secondary School principal, and Superintendent.
Most applicants for administrative licensure will receive an Initial Education Administrator Certificate. After 4 years of having an Initial certificate, you must enroll in a specialist/doctoral degree program. During the time of enrollment, you are issued a Transition certificate. Once you have completed ten or more years of employment and completed your specialist/doctoral degree program, you may apply for the Career Continuous certificate.
Academic Obligations
Elementary School principal (Initial):
- Finish an authorized master’s degree program in educational leadership and receive an institutional recommendation from that program’s officials.
Middle School principal (Initial):
- Finish an authorized program in educational leadership and receive an institutional recommendation from that program’s officials.
Secondary School principal (Initial):
- Finish an authorized master’s degree program in educational leadership and receive an institutional recommendation from that program’s officials. Finish a course in Psychology and/or Education of the Exceptional Child
Superintendent (Initial):
- Finish an authorized educational specialist or advanced graduate degree program in educational leadership and receive an institutional recommendation from that program’s officials.
Assessments
Elementary School principal (Initial), Middle School principal (Initial), and Secondary School principal (Initial):
- Pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment
Superintendent (Initial):
- Pass the School Superintendent Assessment
Classroom Teaching Experience Requirements
School principal:
- You must possess a valid classroom teaching certificate
- You must possess at least 2 years of classroom teaching experience
Superintendent:
- You must possess (at minimum) a valid school principal’s certificate
Document and Application Requirements
Elementary School principal (Initial):
- Hold a valid Missouri teaching certificate or an undergraduate degree and recommendation from a state-authorized educator’s program
- Possess at least 2 years of teaching experience
- Finish at least 2 semester hours of directed field experience in your educational leadership preparation program
Middle School principal (Initial):
- Hold a valid Missouri professional elementary or secondary initial, transition or career level school principal’s certificate
Secondary School principal (Initial):
- Hold a valid Missouri teaching certificate or an undergraduate degree and recommendation from a state-authorized educator’s program
- Possess at 2 years of teaching experience
- Finish at least 2 semester hours of directed field experience in your educational leadership preparation program
Superintendent (Initial):
- Hold a valid Missouri teaching certificate or an undergraduate degree and recommendation from a state-authorized educator’s program
- Possess at least 1 year of experience as a building or district level education administrator at a public/accredited nonpublic school
Document and Application Requirements
Once you are ready to apply for education administrator licensure in Missouri, you may do so online.
Background Check Requirements
Before you acquire your education administrator license, you must undergo a criminal history background check.
State Contacts
For info on institutions in Missouri with authorized educational leadership programs, make contact with them directly.
For additional info on administrative licensure in Missouri, make contact with Educator Certification at 573-751-0051.
