K-12 Principal Certification Program

The Principal Certification Program educates K-12 teacher leaders to increase school achievement in collaborative and comprehensive ways. The program focuses on helping teacher leaders acquire the knowledge to improve student achievement from peers, experts, research, and resources.

This program integrates course-work with an internship in the K-12 school setting. Those seeking a principal certification must be initially certified as a teacher, guidance counselor, librarian, or some other instruction-related professional position in the school prior to engaging in principal certification work. All course content and assessments are aligned with CAEP/ELCC and PIL standards.

For current Principal Certification students: Upon program completion, please use this linked checklist to complete the steps necessary to apply for and receive certification.

Program Requirements

• 24 credit hours of coursework
  • 21 credits of core classwork (courses are prerequisites to internship experience that encompass all four domains).
  • 3 credits of an internship (field hours completed during a capstone semester).
• Principal Portfolio 
• School Leaders Licensure Assessment (6990) must be taken and passed as part of the successful completion of this program.

Educators may complete coursework toward the principal certification upon entering the program. However, three years of satisfactory performance in the area of teaching certification must be completed before applying to the Pennsylvania Department of Education to officially obtain Principal Certification. Applicants can start working on their time during our program, but they cannot complete the certificate until three years of successful teaching is documented in their area of certification. This requirement must be verified with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

COURSES OF STUDY - 24 CREDITS

I.    Planning and Preparation: Curriculum - 6 credits
          SEU 567: Curriculum in a Standard Aligned System 
          EDU 541: Supervision and Finance

II.   Environment - 6 credits
          EDU 599: School Leadership in a Diverse Society
          EDU 528: Student Diversity and Critical Pedagogy

III.   Instruction - 6 credits
          EDU 526: Data-Driven Decision Making
          SEU 544: Action Research for Teacher Leaders

IV.   Professionalism - 7 credits
          EDU 562: School Law
          EDU 593: Internship (3 ch - 3 sh; 180 hours of service total)

Courses taught on campus and online

Admissions Requirements & Deadlines

How Can I Receive More Information?

If you would like more information about the K-12 Principal Certification Program, please request information via the Office of Graduate Admissions or email program coordinator Dr. George Sirrakos at sirrakos@kutztown.edu.