Kentucky Administration/Principal Certification
Kentucky principal certification requires a valid teaching certificate, three years of full-time teaching experience, and completion of an EPSB-approved preparation program before applying for a Statement of Eligibility through the Kentucky Educator Credentialing System (KECS). Candidates must pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA), test code 6990, and Kentucky currently recognizes a passing score of 146. Superintendent certification builds on the principal credential and adds two years of qualifying leadership experience.
The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) issues administrative certification to teachers who want to become school principals or superintendents. Both credentials build on an existing Kentucky teaching certificate, so administrators moving from another state should first check reciprocity agreements for Kentucky teachers before applying. Both principal and superintendent applications are submitted electronically through the EPSB’s Kentucky Educator Credentialing System (KECS) portal.
Education Requirements
Instructional Leadership: School Principal
To qualify for a Statement of Eligibility for School Principal, you need a valid Kentucky teaching certificate, at least three years of full-time teaching experience as required for admission to an approved principal preparation program and certification, and completion of an EPSB-approved principal preparation program. Fourteen Kentucky institutions currently offer approved principal preparation programs, most built around a master’s degree in educational leadership.
Learn more about the graduate school process. Contact schools offering educational administration degree programs in Kentucky.
Superintendent
Superintendent certification requires completion of an EPSB-approved superintendent preparation program, a master’s degree, and a Statement of Eligibility for a Kentucky teaching certificate. If your underlying teaching certificate has lapsed, you’ll need to complete Kentucky teacher certification renewal before EPSB will process an administrative application. You’ll also need at least two years of experience in a qualifying leadership role, covered under Experience Requirements below.
Examinations
Instructional Leadership: School Principal
Principal candidates must pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA), Praxis test code 6990. Kentucky currently uses a passing score of 146. Other states establish their own passing scores, so this figure applies to Kentucky specifically. The SLLA is a four-hour, computer-based exam with 120 selected-response questions and four constructed-response questions, and it’s administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) at test centers by appointment. If you already hold a Kentucky teaching certificate, you’ve already cleared the Praxis I and II requirements that led to it.
Superintendent
If you’ve already passed the SLLA for principal certification, you don’t need to take it again for the superintendent credential. Candidates who haven’t yet passed it must do so before the professional superintendent certificate is issued.
Experience Requirements
Instructional Leadership: School Principal
You need three years of full-time teaching experience to apply for a Statement of Eligibility for School Principal. Once EPSB issues that Statement, you’ll need a Kentucky school district to hire you into a position that requires principal certification. From there, you complete the required Kentucky Principal Internship Program (KPIP) while serving under the appropriate temporary or provisional certificate, after which EPSB issues a five-year professional Principal certificate.
Superintendent
Qualifying experience includes positions such as:
- Two years of full-time experience as a school principal, guidance counselor, supervisor of instruction, director of special education, director of pupil personnel, local district coordinator of vocational education, school business administrator, or a district-wide services coordinator, administrator, or supervisor
- A current Statement of Eligibility for a Kentucky teaching certificate
- Completion of Levels I and II of school principal preparation and certification, or an equivalent EPSB-approved superintendent preparation program
Kentucky regulations define qualifying administrative experience, and EPSB may recognize other roles or amend this list over time.
Application Process
Most educator certification applications, including principal and superintendent certification, are submitted electronically through the Kentucky Educator Credentialing System (KECS) portal. Applicants should follow the specific application instructions EPSB publishes for their credential.
| Step | Principal Certification | Superintendent Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Log into the KECS portal and start the application wizard for Principal Statement of Eligibility (CA-1) | Log into the KECS portal and start the application wizard for Adding New KY Certification (CA-1) |
| 2 | Submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate coursework | Submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate coursework |
| 3 | Pass the SLLA (test code 6990) | Pass the SLLA (test code 6990), unless already passed for another administrative certificate |
| 4 | Verify completion of your preparation program with your college or university | Verify completion of your superintendent preparation program with your college or university |
| 5 | Complete the Character and Fitness review and pay certification fees through KECS online payment. | Complete the Character and Fitness review and pay certification fees through KECS online payment. |
EPSB only accepts payment through the KECS online payment service. Checks, money orders, and other payment methods sent by mail are returned to the applicant.
Criminal History Background Check
Kentucky educator applicants complete an EPSB Character and Fitness review as part of the certification application. Criminal background checks are generally handled separately, through the employing school district as part of the hiring process, typically using the Administrative Office of the Courts online system. Background check applications are also accepted by mail or in person. For details, contact the Administrative Office of the Courts at AOC Records Unit, 100 Millcreek Park, Frankfort, KY 40601, or by phone at 800-928-6381.
Contact Information
For questions about administrator certification in Kentucky, contact the EPSB Division of Certification at 502-564-4606.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a master’s degree for Kentucky principal certification?
Yes. Both the Instructional Leadership: School Principal certificate and the Superintendent certificate require a master’s degree, in addition to the teaching experience and exam requirements specific to each credential.
What score do I need to pass the SLLA in Kentucky?
Kentucky currently recognizes a scaled score of 146 on the SLLA (Praxis 6990). Passing scores are state-specific and can change, so always confirm the current requirement with EPSB before testing.
Can I apply for Kentucky administrator certification by mail?
Most educator certification applications, including principal and superintendent certification, are now submitted electronically through the KECS portal. Check EPSB’s current application instructions for your specific credential before applying.
Do I need to retake the SLLA for superintendent certification if I’m already a certified principal?
No. If you’ve already passed the SLLA for a different administrative certificate, EPSB doesn’t require you to take it again for the superintendent credential.
How long does the Kentucky Principal Internship Program take?
KPIP is a one-year internship, completed while you serve under the appropriate temporary or provisional certificate in a position requiring principal certification. Finishing it earns you a five-year professional Principal certificate.
- Principal certification builds on your teaching certificate — you need three years of full-time teaching experience and an EPSB-approved preparation program before applying for a Statement of Eligibility.
- The SLLA is the required exam for both credentials — Kentucky currently recognizes a passing score of 146, though passing scores are state-specific and can change.
- Superintendent certification requires qualifying leadership experience — generally two years, on top of the education and exam requirements shared with principal certification.
- Applications go through KECS — most certification applications are now submitted electronically, so check EPSB’s current instructions for your credential.
Find accredited educational administration programs in Kentucky, including principal and superintendent preparation options that meet EPSB requirements.
