Minnesota Administration/Principal Certification
Minnesota principal and superintendent licenses are issued under state statute by the Board of School Administrators, with applications processed through the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. Candidates need a master’s degree plus 60 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s, three years of teaching experience, and a human relations training component. No separate licensing exam is required.
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Minnesota administrator licenses for superintendents, principals, and directors of special education are governed under Minnesota Statute 122A.14 and issued by the Board of School Administrators (BOSA). Applications and licensure records for administrators are processed through the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), which also handles Minnesota’s teacher licensing.
Education Requirements
You must graduate from a state-approved administrator preparation program, which includes practicum and internship components. Minnesota rule requires a master’s degree plus a total of 60 graduate semester credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, or an earned educational specialist or doctoral degree. You must also complete a human relations training component approved by the board.
Learn more about the graduate school process. Contact schools offering educational administration degree programs in Minnesota.
Examinations
No examinations are required for administrative licensure in Minnesota. However, you must already hold a valid Minnesota teaching license, which requires passing the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations (MTLE), before pursuing an administrator license.
Experience and Field Requirements
Most candidates for a Minnesota principal, superintendent, or director of special education license need three years of classroom teaching experience. Student teaching and practicum hours don’t count toward this requirement. School counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers who lack the three years of teaching experience can pursue licensure through an alternate path: demonstrating equivalent knowledge and skills through a portfolio or other assessment approved by their preparation program, combined with an extended supervised internship. Exact internship hour requirements for this alternate path should be confirmed directly with your preparation program, since they’re set by the individual program within board guidelines.
Out-of-State and Provisional Licensure
If you already hold a valid administrator license from another state, Minnesota offers a provisional licensure path rather than requiring you to complete a full Minnesota preparation program from scratch. A two-year, nonrenewable provisional license is available to out-of-state superintendents, principals, and directors of special education who don’t yet meet every Minnesota-specific standard, provided they hold a valid license in good standing elsewhere and complete the required application and background check. Reciprocity isn’t automatic, so confirm your specific situation with BOSA before assuming any credits or experience will transfer.
Document and Application Requirements
You must apply online for administrative licensure in Minnesota. Send the following directly to the Board of School Administrators:
- Official college transcripts showing completion of a state-approved administrator preparation program and human relations component
- Completed fingerprint card (see below)
- Verification of employment
- Verification of completion of a state-approved administrator preparation program, completed and signed by an official at your college/university
Application fees and processing times change from year to year, so confirm current figures on the BOSA licensure information page before applying. Initial administrative licenses in Minnesota are valid for two years. After one year of administrative experience in the licensure field, you can apply for a five-year continuing license.
Criminal History Background Check
If you’re applying for an administrative license in Minnesota, you must undergo a full criminal history background check, including fingerprinting. Request a fingerprint card and current contact details through the BOSA contact page. Once you receive the card, visit your local law enforcement agency for help with the process. You must pay all fees that are imposed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What license do I need to become a principal in Minnesota?
You need an administrative license issued by the Board of School Administrators, specific to the K-12 principal licensure category. It requires a state-approved preparation program, a master’s degree plus 60 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s, and three years of teaching experience (or the alternate path for non-teaching educators). If you’re comparing options across states, see the general principal certification requirements overview.
Do I need to pass an exam to become a school administrator in Minnesota?
No separate administrator licensing exam is required. You do need to already hold a valid Minnesota teaching license, which requires passing the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations (MTLE), before an administrator license can be issued.
Can I get a Minnesota administrator license without classroom teaching experience?
Generally, three years of teaching experience is required. School counselors, psychologists, and social workers without that experience can qualify through an alternate path involving a portfolio assessment and extended supervised internship, set by their preparation program.
How do I get a Minnesota administrator license if I’m licensed in another state?
Minnesota offers a two-year, nonrenewable provisional license to out-of-state administrators who hold a valid license elsewhere but haven’t yet met every Minnesota-specific requirement. You’ll still need to apply through BOSA and complete a background check.
How long does a Minnesota administrative license last?
An initial administrative license is valid for two years. After one year of administrative experience in the field, you can apply for a five-year continuing license.
- BOSA issues the license, PELSB processes it — Minnesota’s administrator licenses come from the Board of School Administrators under state statute, while application processing runs through PELSB.
- No separate administrator exam — you need a valid Minnesota teaching license (which requires the MTLE), not a separate test, to qualify for an administrator license.
- Three years of teaching experience is the default path — but school counselors, psychologists, and social workers have an alternate portfolio-based route.
- Out-of-state administrators have a provisional option — a two-year, nonrenewable provisional license can bridge the gap while you complete any remaining Minnesota-specific requirements.
Find accredited educational administration and leadership programs in Minnesota, including options that meet BOSA’s preparation program requirements for principal and superintendent licensure.
