Massachusetts Administration/Principal Certification

massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education offers two levels of administrative licenses: School Principal/Assistant School Principal and Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent. These are issued at the Preliminary, Initial, and Professional levels.

Education Requirements

School Principal/Assistant School Principal (Initial License):

  • Complete an approved post-bachelor’s level of studies at the school principal/assistant level

Learn more about the graduate school process. Contact schools offering educational administration degree programs in Massachusetts.

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Initial License):

Examinations

School Principal/Assistant School Principal (Initial License):

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Preliminary License):

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Initial License):

Experience Requirements

School Principal/Assistant School Principal (Initial License):

  • Three years of employment as a teacher, administrator, or supervisor in a public, charter, private, or higher education setting
  • Complete a 300-hour supervised practicum at the assistant/school principal level

School Principal/Assistant School Principal (Professional License):

  • Hold an Initial Principal/Assistant Principal license
  • Complete a one-year Administrator Induction Program
  • Work for at least three years under the Initial Principal/School Principal license

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Preliminary License):

  • Three years of employment in an executive management/leadership role or in a supervisory, teaching, or administrative role in a public, charter, private, or higher education setting

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Initial License):

  • Hold an Initial Teaching License, an Initial School Principal/Assistant Principal License, or a Preliminary Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent license
  • Three years of school district employment under that license
  • Complete a 300-hour practicum at the assistant/superintendent level

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Professional License):

  • Hold an Initial Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent license
  • Complete a one-year Administrator Induction Program
  • Work for at least three years under the Initial Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent license

Document and Application Requirements

Once you have satisfied all of Massachusetts’ requirements for administrator licensure at the level for which you are applying, you may apply for administrator licensure either online through the ESE Security Portal or by downloading and mailing a hard copy application. You must submit official transcripts, verification letters of your experience, and copies of previous licenses held, along with the application fee payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Be sure to print your social security number, MEPID, or educator license number on the face of every document you submit. Send it all to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Educator Licensure, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148.

Criminal History Background Check

If you answer yes to any question regarding criminal history background on your application for administrator licensure, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education is authorized by the Criminal History Systems Board to investigate. You must undergo a criminal history background check before any Massachusetts school will hire you. You will be provided with Information on this process when you apply for an administrative position within a school district.

Contact Information

For more information on administrator preparation programs in Massachusetts, contact the institutions offering them.

For information on the administrative licensure process, contact the Office of Educator Licensure at 781-338-6600.