Massachusetts Administration/Principal Certification

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education offers two levels of administrative licenses: School Principal/Assistant School Principal and Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent. These are issued at the Preliminary, Initial, and Professional levels.

Education Requirements

School Principal/Assistant School Principal (Initial License):

• Complete an approved post-bachelor’s level of studies at the school principal/assistant level

Learn more about the graduate school process. Contact schools offering educational administration degree programs in Massachusetts.

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Initial License):

• Complete an approved post-bachelor’s level of studies at the superintendent/assistant level

Examinations

School Principal/Assistant School Principal (Initial License):

• Demonstrate that you can successfully apply the Professional Standards for Administrators through completing a Performance Assessment for Initial License
• Pass the MTEL Communication and Literacy Skills Test

Featured Programs:

Sponsored School(s)

Sponsored School(s)

All school search, finder, or match results, as well as colleges and universities displayed as "Featured School(s)" or "Sponsored Content" are advertisers that compensate us for placement on this site. The resources, editorial content, and school evaluations published on this site are developed independent of the schools that advertise here.

Liberty University

Featured Program: Undergraduate Certificate in Preschool, Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Doctor of Education

Request Info

Grand Canyon University

Featured Program: Bachelor of Arts & Science in ECE, Elem. & Sec. Education, Master of Education in ECE, Elem. & Sec. Education, and Ed. Doctorate

Request Info

Arizona State University - Online

Featured Program: The online master’s in early childhood education with certification equips current or aspiring educators with the coursework, skills and practical experience needed to become a certified teacher working in a public school with children pre-K and K-3.

Request Info

University of West Alabama

Featured Program: Choose from more than 40 certification and non-certification education programs that can enhance your career as an educator inside or outside the classroom.

Request Info

Campbellsville University

Featured Program: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (P-5); Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education - Initial Certification; Bachelor or Science in Learning & Behavior Disorders (P-12) & Elementary Education (P-5) Initial Certification

Request Info

Walden University

Featured Program: Earn a Masters of Art in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary and Special Education - leads to a licensure

Request Info

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Preliminary License):

• Pass the MTEL Communication and Literacy Skills Test

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Initial License):

• Demonstrate that you can successfully apply the Professional Standards for Administrators by completing a Performance Assessment for Initial License

Experience Requirements

School Principal/Assistant School Principal (Initial License):

• Three years of employment as a teacher, administrator, or supervisor in a public, charter, private, or higher education setting
• Complete a 300-hour supervised practicum at the assistant/school principal level

School Principal/Assistant School Principal (Professional License):

• Hold an Initial Principal/Assistant Principal license
• Complete a one-year Administrator Induction Program
• Work for at least three years under the Initial Principal/School Principal license

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Preliminary License):

• Three years of employment in an executive management/leadership role or in a supervisory, teaching, or administrative role in a public, charter, private, or higher education setting

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Initial License):

• Hold an Initial Teaching License, an Initial School Principal/Assistant Principal License, or a Preliminary Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent license
• Three years of school district employment under that license
• Complete a 300-hour practicum at the assistant/superintendent level

Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (Professional License):

• Hold an Initial Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent license
• Complete a one-year Administrator Induction Program
• Work for at least three years under the Initial Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent license

Document and Application Requirements

Once you have satisfied all of Massachusetts’ requirements for administrator licensure at the level for which you are applying, you may apply for administrator licensure either online through the ESE Security Portal or by downloading and mailing a hard copy application. You must submit official transcripts, verification letters of your experience, and copies of previous licenses held, along with the application fee payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Be sure to print your social security number, MEPID, or educator license number on the face of every document you submit. Send it all to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Educator Licensure, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148.

Criminal History Background Check

If you answer yes to any question regarding criminal history background on your application for administrator licensure, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education is authorized by the Criminal History Systems Board to investigate. You must undergo a criminal history background check before any Massachusetts school will hire you. You will be provided with Information on this process when you apply for an administrative position within a school district.

Contact Information

For more information on administrator preparation programs in Massachusetts, contact the institutions offering them.

For information on the administrative licensure process, contact the Office of Educator Licensure at 781-338-6600.