North Carolina Administration/Principal Certification
North Carolina requires a Standard Professional 2 Educator’s License before pursuing an Assistant Principal, Principal, or Superintendent license. Assistant Principals and Principals need a state-approved master’s-level administration program, while Superintendents need an advanced graduate degree or a bachelor’s degree plus five years of managerial experience. Testing requirements now vary by license type and candidate cohort, since North Carolina has moved toward its own administrator assessments.
Sponsored School(s)
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) issues School Administrator licenses in three categories: Superintendent, Principal, and Assistant Principal. Every candidate needs a Standard Professional 2 (SP2) Educator’s License first, since that license confirms you’ve already completed a full teaching license and put in classroom time before you can lead a building or a district. If you haven’t earned your initial North Carolina teaching license yet, that’s the starting point. Educators moving to North Carolina from another state should also check North Carolina’s teacher reciprocity requirements before beginning the SP2 process.
Learn more about the graduate school process. Contact schools offering educational administration degree programs in North Carolina.
Use the links below to jump to North Carolina principal certification requirements for each administrator license level and the application process.
- Assistant Principal license requirements
- Principal license requirements
- Superintendent license requirements
- How the three license levels compare
- How to apply for a North Carolina administrator license
Assistant Principal License Requirements
Education Requirements
Complete a state-approved school administration program at the master’s level or above. NCDPI-approved programs combine graduate coursework in school leadership with a supervised internship inside a K-12 building.
- Complete a state-approved school administration program at the master’s level or above.
Examination
NCDPI’s testing requirement for Assistant Principal licensure now varies by candidate cohort, since the state has moved away from a single statewide administrator exam toward its own assessments. Confirm the current exam or assessment that applies to your program directly with NCDPI or your preparation program before you apply.
- Confirm the current NCDPI-required assessment for your candidate cohort before applying.
Experience Requirements
NCDPI doesn’t publish a standalone experience minimum for Assistant Principal candidates, but holding an SP2 Educator’s License already means you’ve logged at least three years of teaching experience, since that’s a prerequisite for the SP2 license itself.
- No separate experience minimum is stated, but at least three years of teaching experience is assumed through the SP2 Educator’s License prerequisite.
Principal License Requirements
Education Requirements
Complete a state-approved school administration program at the master’s level or above, the same benchmark required for Assistant Principal candidates.
- Complete a state-approved school administration program at the master’s level or above.
Examination
NCDPI’s testing requirement for Principal licensure now varies by candidate cohort. Newer candidates may need the North Carolina Principal Portfolio Assessment (NCPPA) rather than a single statewide exam. Confirm the current requirement with NCDPI or your preparation program before you apply.
- Confirm the current NCDPI-required assessment, which may include the North Carolina Principal Portfolio Assessment depending on your cohort.
Experience Requirements
As with the Assistant Principal license, NCDPI assumes at least three years of teaching experience through the SP2 Educator’s License prerequisite rather than stating a separate minimum.
- At least three years of teaching experience is assumed through the SP2 Educator’s License prerequisite.
Superintendent License Requirements
Education Requirements
Superintendent candidates qualify one of two ways: an advanced graduate degree (six years of study) in school administration, or a bachelor’s degree paired with five years of relevant managerial experience.
- Possess an advanced graduate degree (six years) in school administration, OR
- Possess a bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant managerial experience (see below)
Examination
NCDPI’s testing requirement for Superintendent licensure now varies by candidate cohort, since the state has moved away from a single statewide administrator exam toward its own assessments. Confirm the current exam or assessment that applies to your program directly with NCDPI or your preparation program before you apply.
- Confirm the current NCDPI-required assessment for your candidate cohort before applying.
Experience Requirements
Superintendent candidates need the same three years of teaching experience assumed through the SP2 Educator’s License, plus at least one year specifically as a school administrator. Candidates qualifying on the bachelor’s degree track need at least five years of relevant managerial experience instead of the advanced graduate degree.
- At least three years of teaching experience is assumed through the SP2 Educator’s License prerequisite.
- At least one year of experience as a school administrator
- Candidates claiming a bachelor’s degree as their educational qualification need at least five years of relevant managerial experience
How the Three License Levels Compare
The three North Carolina administrator license levels share the same starting point, the SP2 Educator’s License, but differ in the degree and experience thresholds beyond that. Testing requirements now vary by candidate cohort rather than following one statewide exam.
| License Level | Education Required | Additional Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Principal | Master’s-level school administration program | None beyond the SP2 teaching-experience prerequisite |
| Principal | Master’s-level school administration program | None beyond the SP2 teaching-experience prerequisite |
| Superintendent | Advanced graduate degree (six years) OR bachelor’s degree | One year as a school administrator, or five years of managerial experience on the bachelor’s track |
How to Apply for a North Carolina Administrator License
Apply through the NCDPI Online Licensure System, which walks you through the Application for a North Carolina Professional Educator’s License. Have your college or university’s school administration program complete the Verification by Institution (Form V), available on NCDPI’s Licensure Forms and FAQs page.
Send official transcripts listing your degrees and the dates you earned them. Provide copies of your required exam or portfolio assessment scores for your license type. Complete Form OS-HQ for Highly Qualified Status, and complete the Verification of K-12 Educator Experience form (Form E), both available on the same NCDPI forms page.
NCDPI’s non-refundable licensure service fees range from roughly $30 to $100 depending on the application type, rather than one flat rate for every license action. Payment is handled through the online licensure system with a credit or debit card, not a separate downloadable payment form.
Criminal History Background Check
North Carolina doesn’t require a criminal history background check as part of school administrator licensure itself, but every candidate goes through one before employment in any North Carolina public school. NCDPI provides instructions for this at the Application or hire stage.
Finding an Approved Preparation Program
Search the NCDPI directory of state-approved school administrator preparation programs to find a master’s-level program near you.
Contact Information
For questions about administrator licensure in North Carolina, call the NCDPI Licensure Section at 919-716-1800 or toll-free within North Carolina at 800-577-7994.
Frequently Asked Questions
What license do I need before I can apply for a North Carolina principal license?
You need a Standard Professional 2 (SP2) Educator’s License first. NCDPI treats this as proof you’ve already completed a full teaching license and gained classroom experience, which is the foundation every school administrator license builds on.
How much teaching experience do I need to become a principal in North Carolina?
NCDPI doesn’t publish a separate teaching-experience minimum for the Principal license. Since holding an SP2 Educator’s License already requires roughly three years of teaching experience, that experience carries forward into your principal license application.
What exam do I need to pass for North Carolina administrator licensure?
Testing requirements vary by license type and candidate cohort. North Carolina has moved toward state-specific administrator assessments, including the North Carolina Principal Portfolio Assessment for some principal candidates, rather than one statewide exam for every license level. Confirm the exact requirement for your license and cohort directly with NCDPI.
How much does it cost to apply for a North Carolina school administrator license?
NCDPI’s non-refundable licensure fees now range from roughly $30 to $100 depending on the application type, rather than one flat rate. Payment is made through the online licensure system.
Do North Carolina principals need a criminal background check?
Not for licensure itself. North Carolina requires the background check before you’re employed in a public school, not before NCDPI issues your license.
- The SP2 Educator’s License comes first. Every North Carolina administrator license level- Assistant Principal, Principal, or Superintendent- requires holding this license before you can apply.
- Assistant Principal and Principal share the same education bar. Both require a state-approved master’s-level school administration program, though the required exam or assessment now varies by candidate cohort.
- Superintendents have two paths in. An advanced graduate degree, or a bachelor’s degree plus five years of managerial experience, along with at least one year as a school administrator.
- Testing requirements have changed. North Carolina has moved toward its own administrator assessments, so confirm the current exam or portfolio requirement for your license type with NCDPI before you apply.
- Applying takes several forms and a fee that varies by application type. Application for a Professional Educator’s License, Verification by Institution, transcripts, exam or assessment scores, and Form OS-HQ all go through the NCDPI Online Licensure System, with fees roughly $30 to $100 depending on the application.
Find accredited school administration programs in North Carolina to complete the master’s-level coursework required for your Assistant Principal, Principal, or Superintendent license.
