Ohio Administration/Principal Certification

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) licenses qualified individuals as Principals and Superintendents. Grade levels for principal licensure include PK-6, 4-9 or 5-12. Superintendents are licensed to supervise grades PK-12.

Education Requirements

Principal:  You must have a master’s degree and complete a state-approved preparation program for principals. You must also be recommended for principal licensure by the dean/head of that program. Once licensed, you will complete the Entry Year Program for Principals, a mentoring and support program designed to help your professional growth and assess your performance. After successfully completing this program, you may apply for a Professional Principal’s License.

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

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: You must have a master’s degree and complete a state-approved preparation program for superintendents. Additionally, you must receive a recommendation from that program’s dean/head of education.

Examinations

For licensure as a Principal or Superintendent, you must pass the Praxis II Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision examination.

Experience Requirements

Principal: You must have at least two years of teaching experience under a Professional License.

Superintendent: You must have at least three years of experience in Ohio under a Principal License or Administrative Specialist License.

Document and Application Requirements

You may use the Initial Ohio License Application – In State (or Out of State Packet if you attended a preparation program outside of Ohio) to apply for your initial Principal or Superintendent license. Make sure to have the dean/head of education of your program sign where appropriate. Send official transcripts, copies of your teaching/administrative licenses, and copies of your Praxis II score reports along with the completed application and fees, to Ohio Department of Education, Office of Educator Licensure, 25 S. Front St, Mail Stop 105, Columbus, OH 43215-4183.

Criminal History Background Check

You must submit to a full criminal history background check through both the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) every five years after initial licensure as an educator in the state. If you have lived continuously in Ohio for those five years, you need only have a check performed by the FBI. Fingerprinting, if necessary, must be performed by a licensed WebCheck facility and electronically submitted to the Ohio Department of Education.

Contact Information

For more information on approved administrator preparation programs in Ohio, consult this database.

For information on licensing for Ohio administrators, call the Ohio Department of Education Office of Educator Licensure at 877-644-6338.