Maryland Administration/Principal Certification
Maryland principal certification now runs through one license, Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Principal, and Principal, replacing the former Administrator I and Administrator II system. Candidates need a master’s degree, 27 months of teaching experience, special education coursework, and one of four approved licensure pathways. Two of those pathways also require a passing School Leaders Licensure Assessment score.
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The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) no longer issues separate Administrator I and Administrator II certificates. Both credentials were consolidated into one license, Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Principal, and Principal, that qualifies you for any of those three roles once you meet its requirements. If you’ve seen “Administrator I” or “Administrator II” referenced in an older program listing, that’s the legacy name for the same licensure track. If you’re still weighing the move itself, our guide on transitioning from teaching to school administration covers what changes day to day before you commit to a pathway.
Use the links below to jump to the requirements, licensure pathways, exam rules, and reciprocity information covered on this page.
- Education and experience requirements
- The four licensure pathways
- School Leaders Licensure Assessment requirements
- Reciprocity for out-of-state administrators
- Criminal history background check
- Contact information
Education and Experience Requirements
Every candidate pursuing Maryland principal certification must meet the same baseline requirements before choosing a pathway:
- A master’s degree from an approved institute of higher education (IHE)
- 27 months of effective teaching performance, or effective performance as a licensed specialist
- Three semester hours (or MSDE-approved Continuing Professional Development credits) in special education coursework
Learn more about the graduate school process. Contact schools offering educational administration degree programs in Maryland.
Once you’ve met these baseline requirements, you’ll complete one of four pathways to finish your licensure application.
The Four Licensure Pathways
MSDE gives candidates four ways to satisfy the program requirement for this license. Which one fits you depends on whether you’re starting fresh, already in a graduate program, or licensed as an administrator somewhere else.
| Pathway | What It Requires | SLLA Required? |
|---|---|---|
| MSDE-approved Maryland program | Complete a Department-approved program leading to this license | No |
| Approved out-of-state program | Complete an approved out-of-state program that includes a supervised clinical practicum | Yes |
| 18 semester hours of graduate coursework | Coursework spanning curriculum/instruction/assessment, supervision and evaluation, legal and ethical issues, school administration, and culturally responsive leadership, plus a 240-hour supervised clinical practicum | Yes |
| Out-of-state administrator license | Hold a valid professional administrator license from another state or country, with 5 years of effective performance as an administrator in a PK-12 setting | No |
Most first-time Maryland candidates without an MSDE-approved program go the 18-credit-hour route, since it lets you build the required coursework through a graduate certificate rather than a full degree program if you already hold your master’s.
School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) Requirements
The SLLA isn’t required for every path to this license. Only candidates completing the approved out-of-state program pathway or the 18-semester-hour graduate coursework pathway need to submit a qualifying score. If you’re going through an MSDE-approved Maryland program or applying on the strength of an out-of-state administrator license, MSDE doesn’t require the exam.
When the SLLA is required, Maryland’s qualifying score is 151. The exam, administered by ETS, is a four-hour computer-based test with 120 selected-response questions and four constructed-response questions, built around seven content categories tied to professional standards for educational leaders.
Reciprocity for Out-of-State Administrators
If you already hold a valid professional administrator license from another state or country, Maryland will grant the Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Principal, and Principal license once you document five years of effective performance as an administrator in a PK-12 school setting. This pathway skips the SLLA requirement and the 18-credit-hour coursework, since your out-of-state experience stands in for it. See Maryland Teacher Reciprocity for how this fits alongside teacher-specific reciprocity rules.
Criminal History Background Check
Once a Maryland school system hires you, you’ll need to clear a state and FBI criminal history records check through the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Central Repository, part of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Your employer initiates the request, and you’ll complete electronic fingerprinting at an authorized Maryland fingerprinting location. You’re responsible for the fingerprinting fee, which runs around $20 depending on the provider.
Results go to CJIS first, then get forwarded to MSDE as part of your certification file. Processing typically takes 10 to 15 business days, though electronic submissions often move faster.
Contact Information
MSDE’s Division of Educator Effectiveness handles questions about this license. Reach the Certification Assistance Line at 410-767-0412, or review current requirements directly on MSDE’s Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Principal, and Principal licensure page, since Maryland has updated this area of regulation recently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “Administrator I” or “Administrator II” still the correct name for Maryland’s principal certification?
No. Maryland consolidated both into a single license called Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Principal, and Principal. You may still see “Administrator I” and “Administrator II” in older program marketing or job postings, but MSDE now issues the one combined license.
Do I have to take the SLLA to become a principal in Maryland?
Only if you’re completing the approved out-of-state program pathway or the 18-semester-hour graduate coursework pathway. Candidates finishing an MSDE-approved Maryland program, or qualifying through an out-of-state administrator license and five years of experience, don’t need to submit an SLLA score.
How long does it take to become certified as a school administrator in Maryland?
Expect at least 27 months of teaching experience before you’re eligible, plus however long your chosen pathway’s coursework or program takes, typically one to two years for the 18-credit-hour route or an MSDE-approved graduate program. Timelines and principal certification requirements in other states vary, so if you’re weighing options beyond Maryland, it’s worth comparing before you commit to a program.
Can I transfer my principal certification from another state to Maryland?
Yes, if you hold a valid professional administrator license from another state or country and can document five years of effective performance as an administrator in a PK-12 setting. This reciprocity pathway doesn’t require the SLLA or additional coursework.
What score do I need to pass the SLLA in Maryland?
151. That’s the scaled score MSDE requires on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment for the pathways where it’s required.
- Maryland consolidated its administrator license — Administrator I and Administrator II no longer exist as separate credentials. Both were folded into the Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Principal, and Principal license.
- Special education coursework is now a baseline requirement — three semester hours or approved CPD credits are required under every pathway.
- The SLLA isn’t universal — only two of the four licensure pathways require it, and the qualifying score is 151, not the older figure some sources still cite.
- Reciprocity runs on experience, not a fixed timeframe tied to principal roles specifically — five years as an administrator in another state qualifies you, without the SLLA or extra coursework.
- A background check follows the job offer, not the license — fingerprinting and a criminal history review happen once a Maryland school system hires you.
Find accredited educational administration and school leadership programs in Maryland, including coursework that satisfies the state’s licensure pathways.
