Missouri Administration/Principal Certification
The Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education issues Initial Administrator, Transition Administrator, and Career Continuous Administrator certificates to qualified applicants. These certificates are valid for the following administrative positions: Elementary Principal (Grades K-8), Middle School Principal (Grades 5-9), Secondary Principal (Grades 9-12), and Superintendent (Grades K-12).
Most applicants for administrative certifications will receive an Initial Administrator Certificate. After four years of having an Initial certificate, you must enroll in a specialist/doctoral degree program. During the time of enrollment, you are issued a Transition certificate. Once you have completed ten or more years of employment and completed your specialist/doctoral degree program, you may apply for the Career Continuous certificate.
Education Requirements
Elementary Principal (Initial):
- Complete an approved master’s degree program in educational leadership and receive an institutional recommendation from that program’s officials. This must include at least 24 semester hours of graduate credit in administration and supervision of the elementary school, including:
- Foundations of Educational Administration
- Elementary Administration
- Elementary Curriculum
- School Supervision
Learn more about the graduate school process. Contact schools offering educational administration degree programs in Missouri.
As well as knowledge/competency in the following areas:
- Instructional Management Systems
- School Law (including regular, career and special education)
- Teaching and Learning Processes
- Educational Measurements
- Public Relations
- School Business and Facilities Management
- Student Discipline
- Teacher Evaluations
- Coordination/administration of School Programs
- Communications Skills
- Administration/coordination of Special Programs and Services
- Complete a course in Psychology and/or Education of the Exceptional Child
Middle School Principal (Initial):
- Complete an approved program in educational leadership and receive an institutional recommendation from that program’s officials.
- Complete the following undergraduate or graduate courses:
- Methods of Teaching Reading (at least 5 semester hours, including one course in Techniques of Teaching Reading in the Content Fields)
- Methods of Teaching Elementary Mathematics (at least 2 semester hours)
- At least six semester hours in the following areas:
- Middle School Organization, Philosophy and Curriculum
- Physiological, Intellectual, Social and Emotional Development of the Transescent Child (ages 10-14)
Secondary Principal (Initial):
- Complete an approved master’s degree program in educational leadership and receive an institutional recommendation from that program’s officials. This must include at least 24 semester hours of graduate credit in administration and supervision of the secondary school, including:
- Foundations of Educational Administration
- Secondary Administration
- Secondary Curriculum
- School Supervision
As well as knowledge/competency in the following areas:
- Instructional Management Systems
- School Law (including regular, career and special education)
- Teaching and Learning Processes
- Educational Measurements
- Public Relations
- School Business and Facilities Management
- Student Discipline
- Teacher Evaluations
- Coordination/administration of School Programs
- Communications Skills
- Administration/coordination of Special Programs and Services
- Complete a course in Psychology and/or Education of the Exceptional Child
Superintendent (Initial):
- Complete an approved educational specialist or advanced graduate degree program in educational leadership and receive an institutional recommendation from that program’s officials. This must include graduate courses from the following areas:
- Foundations of Educational Administration
- City School Administration
- School Supervision
- Curriculum Construction
- Research and Evaluation
- School Finance
- School Law
- School Staff Personnel Administration
- School/Community Relations
- School Plant Design/Operation
- Complete a course in Psychology and/or Education of the Exceptional Child
- Complete an approved educational specialist or advanced graduate degree program in educational leadership and receive an institutional recommendation from that program’s officials. This must include graduate courses from the following areas:
Examinations
Elementary Principal (Initial), Middle School Principal (Initial), and Secondary Principal (Initial):
- Pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment
Superintendent (Initial):
- Pass the School Superintendent Assessment
Experience Requirements
Principal:
- You must hold a valid classroom teaching certificate
- You must have at least two years of classroom teaching experience
Superintendent:
- You must hold (at minimum) a valid principal’s certificate
Document and Application Requirements
Elementary Principal (Initial):
- Possess a valid Missouri teaching certificate or a bachelor’s degree and recommendation from a state-approved teacher’s program
- Have at least two years of teaching experience
- Complete at least two semester hours of directed field experience in your educational leadership preparation program
Middle School Principal (Initial):
- Possess a valid Missouri professional elementary or secondary initial, transition or career level principal’s certificate
Secondary Principal (Initial):
- Possess a valid Missouri teaching certificate or a bachelor’s degree and recommendation from a state-approved teacher’s program
- Have at least two years of teaching experience
- Complete at least two semester hours of directed field experience in your educational leadership preparation program
Superintendent (Initial):
- Possess a valid Missouri teaching certificate or a bachelor’s degree and recommendation from a state-approved teacher’s program
- Have at least one year of experience as a building or district level administrator at a public/accredited nonpublic school
Document and Application Requirements
Once you are ready to apply for administrator certification in Missouri, you may do so online. Be sure to mail official college transcripts from all institutions attended, have recommendations from your administrator preparation/educational leadership program sent directly to the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, and take the necessary Praxis tests (scores will automatically be forwarded to the Department of Education). This information may be mailed to Educator Certification, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102. Include your name, social security number, home mailing address and home phone number at the top of all correspondence sent to the department.
Criminal History Background Check
All applicants for administrator certification must undergo a criminal history background check. Start this process by scheduling an appointment with L-1 Enrollment Services at (866) 522‐7067. A LiveScan electronic fingerprint capture will be arranged, and you must pay the $52.20 fee. You will not be issued administrative certification until the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education receives your cleared background check.
Contact Information
For information on institutions in Missouri with approved educational leadership programs, contact them directly.
For more information on administrative certification in Missouri, contact Educator Certification at 573-751-0051.
