Arizona Principal Certification Requirements
Arizona certifies school administrators through the Arizona Department of Education, with separate credentials for principals, superintendents, and supervisors. Each requires a master’s degree and specific graduate coursework, but requirements vary by credential and pathway. Depending on the pathway, applicants may satisfy the practicum and exam requirements through qualifying administrative experience, an approved out-of-state examination, school-leadership experience, or reciprocity. The Standard Professional Principal, Superintendent, and Supervisor certificates are valid for 12 years and renewable.
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) issues Administrative Certificates to educators moving into school leadership, covering Principal, Superintendent, and Supervisor roles, along with Interim versions of each. Every path requires a master’s degree and specific graduate coursework, but the coursework hours, exam pathways, and underlying certificate requirements differ across credentials.
Use the links below to jump to principal, superintendent, and supervisor requirements, exam information, and the background check and application process.
- Arizona principal certification requirements
- Arizona superintendent certification requirements
- Arizona supervisor certification requirements
- Arizona administrator certification exams
- Background check and application process
- Contact the Arizona Department of Education
Arizona Principal Certification Requirements
To earn a Standard Professional Principal certificate in Arizona, you need:
- A master’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Completion of a graduate program in educational administration for principals, with at least 30 graduate semester hours covering the knowledge and skills in the Professional Administrative Standards, including three credit hours in school law and three credit hours in school finance
- Three years of documented full-time teaching experience in grades PreK-12
- Completion of a principal practicum, or two years of documented experience as a principal or assistant principal under the supervision of a certified principal in grades PreK-12
Full requirements are listed on ADE’s Principal, PreK-12 certificate page. The Standard Professional Principal certificate is valid for 12 years and can be renewed. Reciprocity is available for a valid, comparable administrative certificate from any state when the applicant is in good standing. Applicants approved under reciprocity are exempt from Arizona educator examinations and work-experience requirements, though expired, temporary, nonrenewable, and foreign-country licenses don’t qualify. This reciprocity pathway applies across all three Arizona administrative certificates. If you’re relocating to Arizona as a classroom teacher rather than an administrator, see Arizona teacher reciprocity for the parallel process for teaching certificates.
Learn more about the graduate school process. Contact schools offering educational administration degree programs in Arizona.
Arizona Superintendent Certification Requirements
To earn a Superintendent certificate in Arizona, you need:
- A master’s degree from an accredited college or university, including 60 graduate semester hours
- Completion of a graduate program in educational administration for superintendents, with at least 36 graduate semester hours covering the knowledge and skills in the Professional Administrative Standards (Arizona Administrative Code R7-2-603), including three credit hours in school law and three credit hours in school finance
- Three years of documented full-time teaching experience or education-related services experience in grades PreK-12
- Completion of a superintendent practicum, or two years of documented experience as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or associate superintendent in grades PreK-12
Full requirements are listed on ADE’s Superintendent, PreK-12 certificate page.
Arizona Supervisor Certification Requirements
To earn a Supervisor certificate in Arizona, you need:
- A master’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Completion of a graduate program in educational administration, with at least 18 graduate semester hours covering the knowledge and skills in the Professional Administrative Standards (Arizona Administrative Code R7-2-603), including three credit hours in school law and three credit hours in school finance
- Three years of documented full-time teaching experience or education-related services experience in grades PreK-12
- Completion of a practicum in educational administration, or two years of documented administrative educational experience in grades PreK-12
- A valid Arizona Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, Special Education, or Career and Technical Education certificate, or an Arizona School Counselor, School Psychologist, School Social Worker, Speech-Language Pathologist, or Speech-Language Technician certificate
Full requirements are listed on ADE’s Supervisor, PreK-12 certificate page. If you don’t yet hold one of the qualifying certificates listed above, see our guide to Arizona teaching certification for the requirements to earn one first.
Arizona Administrator Certification Exams
Each administrative credential has its own Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) pathway:
- Candidates for Principal certification can pass the AEPA Principal Subtests I and II (AZ181 and AZ281), or the Superintendent Subtests I and II (AZ180 and AZ280).
- Candidates for Superintendent certification can pass the AEPA Superintendent Subtests I and II (AZ180 and AZ280).
- Candidates for Supervisor certification can pass the AEPA Supervisor exam, the Principal Subtests I and II, or the Superintendent Subtests I and II.
Each credential also allows the exam requirement to be met through verification of three years of full-time school leadership experience in any U.S. state, including Arizona. Experience at a foreign school doesn’t qualify for this option. ADE may also accept a passing score on a similar administrator examination from another state. The applicant must submit the score report and have the accepting state agency verify the examination.
Background Check and Application Process
Every applicant for Arizona administrative certification must hold a valid Arizona DPS Identity Verified Prints (IVP) fingerprint clearance card and submit a copy with the application. If you don’t already have one, you can apply online through the DPS Public Services Portal, or call the Department of Public Safety Clearance Card Section at (602) 223-2279 to request a paper application or get assistance.
Contact the Arizona Department of Education
ADE’s Certification Unit answers questions about administrative certification. Reach the Phoenix office at (602) 542-4367. The Tucson office offers certification advisement by appointment but doesn’t accept applications and shares the same central number. Visit the Arizona Department of Education website for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need for Arizona principal certification?
You need at least a master’s degree from an accredited college or university, plus a graduate program in educational administration with at least 30 semester hours specific to principal preparation.
How long is an Arizona administrative certificate valid?
The Standard Professional Principal, Superintendent, and Supervisor certificates are each valid for 12 years and can be renewed before they expire. Interim administrative certificates have a shorter, separate validity period.
Can I use an out-of-state administrative certificate to get certified in Arizona?
Often yes. ADE’s reciprocity process accepts a valid, comparable administrative certificate from any state when the applicant is in good standing, and approved applicants are exempt from Arizona educator examinations and work-experience requirements. Expired, temporary, nonrenewable, and foreign-country licenses don’t qualify.
What exam do I need for Arizona superintendent certification?
You need a passing score on the AEPA Superintendent Subtests I and II (AZ180 and AZ280), though this can also be met with a qualifying out-of-state exam or three years of full-time school-leadership experience.
Do I need teaching experience before becoming a principal in Arizona?
Yes. Arizona requires three years of documented full-time teaching experience in grades PreK-12 before you can qualify for a Principal certificate.
- Three separate credentials – Arizona issues distinct Principal, Superintendent, and Supervisor certificates, each with its own coursework hours and exam
- Master’s degree required – every path starts with a master’s degree and a related graduate program in educational administration.
- Certificates last 12 years – the Standard Professional Principal, Superintendent, and Supervisor certificates are each valid for 12 years and renewable.e
- Reciprocity waives exams and experience – a valid, comparable out-of-state administrative certificate can exempt applicants from Arizona’s exam and work-experience requirements.
- Background check required – every applicant needs fingerprinting through an Identity Verified Prints card.
Select an accredited educational administration program below to find degree options, application details, and program requirements for Arizona principal, superintendent, and supervisor certification.
