Hawaii Administration/Principal Certification
The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) does not carry responsibility for certification of school administrators. The Hawaii Department of Education, instead, handles the certification of school administrators. School Level Educational Officers and District/State Educational Officers may be certified.
Education Requirements
All applicants for professional school leadership must have at least a master’s degree in Educational Administration or Leadership.
Learn more about the graduate school process. Contact schools offering educational administration degree programs in Hawaii.
Examinations
No examinations are necessary for school leadership licensure in Hawaii. However, because you must have teaching experience, it is assumed that you have already passed the Praxis I Basic Skills Exam and the necessary Praxis II Content Area Exam(s).
Experience Requirements
As an applicant for professional school leadership positions in Hawaii, you must have at least five years of school experience, with at least three of those years consisting of full-time teaching experience.
Document and Application Requirements
Prior to applying for any professional school leadership positions in Hawaii, you must obtain the Vacancy Announcement and Applicant Selection Criteria from the Educational Officer Recruitment Department of the Hawaii Department of Education. They may be reached at (808) 586-3242. If you meet the minimum requirements for the position, you must submit the Application for Professional Leader’s Position.
- If you do not currently work for the Hawaii Department of Education or are not a licensed Hawaii teacher, you must submit official college/university transcripts showing that you have attained the degree necessary for the position.
- You must also submit three letters of professional recommendation/reference.
- Send all of the above information to: Hawaii State Department of Education, Office of Human Resources, Educational Officer Recruitment, P.O. Box 2360, Honolulu, HI 96804-2360.
- After receipt of your application and supporting documentation, a committee will call you in for an interview and your credentials will be evaluated. You may also be asked to complete a written exercise or examination at this time.
Criminal History Background Check
A criminal history background check is not necessary for Hawaii educational leadership licensure. However, if you answer "yes" to certain questions regarding professional fitness on the license application form, you may be required to submit to a background check or provide other documentation after your application is reviewed.
Once you are hired by a Hawaii school system, you will need to undergo a criminal history background check. Information on this process will be provided to you by the school district at the time of hire. This background check may involve fingerprinting. Instructions will be given to you on how to proceed.
Contact Information
For more information on educational leadership positions available in Hawaii and on the certification process, contact Educational Officer Recruitment at 808-586-3242.
