How to Become a Principal

Most school principals begin a career in education by teaching. Bachelor’s degrees are generally the minimum educational requirement for teachers. States require public school teachers to be licensed, which involves completing a bachelor’s degree and passing a licensing exam.

Teaching is an ideal training ground for principals. Before advancing into administration positions, most principals begin their careers in education as teachers, learning skills such as communication, leadership, and motivation. Teachers also learn to develop curricula according to students’ needs, as well as valuable evaluation skills.

Working with a variety of students, parents, and colleagues will expose you to opportunities to further develop leadership and communication skills. You’ll also gain valuable knowledge that will serve you well as the principal. Try to move quickly through the ranks when possible, while seeking opportunities to advance your skills.

Get involved in your school and your community. Volunteering for activities, committees or planning groups can help you shine. When others see your ability to effectively motivate others, successfully complete a group activity or confidently spearhead a planning committee, they will more likely make a positive recommendation when you’re pursuing a principal position.

Once you know the requirements for becoming a principal in various districts, you can set about meeting them. For example, you may need to become a licensed school administrator prior to applying for a principal position. Perhaps you’ll need a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration to take the exam. If that’s the case, start researching your options for master’s degree programs while you’re teaching and developing those essential leadership skills.

In most cases, a master’s degree in educational leadership or educational administration is required for employment as a principal. The graduate degree programs are designed to provide the necessary training for prospective principals to lead faculty and staff, work with budgets, communicate effectively with parents and the community, and set and accomplish goals for the school.

An associate’s degree in education provides the skills and knowledge needed to enter the education field and is a good first step towards a career in teaching. Those who earn an associate degree in education from an accredited school may qualify for paraeducator positions such as teaching assistant, teacher’s aide, or in some states, preschool teacher or substitute teacher.

A Bachelor's degree does not need to be in education, as long as the candidate is certified as a teacher in a state. However, a Bachelor's degree in education can be helpful in working your way up to this career.

You'll likely need teaching experience before you are eligible for a Master's degree program in this field. Many aspiring principals aim to complete a Master's degree in education or a more specific field of educational leadership. Most states and schools do require principals to have a related Master's degree. However, some schools hire principals with any Master's degree as long as they are certified teachers and certified school administrators.

A doctorate in education (EdD or Ph.D.) equips a graduate with skills and scholarly knowledge relating to the practice of education. There are several different types of doctoral programs in education, and at various schools, the lines between these programs may be blurred. EdD programs are typically project- and practice-based, while Ph.D. programs are typically more research-based. A doctorate in education can also focus on a specific area of education such as a special education doctorate degree or an educational leadership doctorate degree.