Pennsylvania Administration/Principal Certification
Pennsylvania principal certification is issued by the state’s Department of Education to educators who complete a state-approved graduate program, pass the required Praxis exam, and log qualifying years of teaching or administrative experience. Principal candidates need a state-approved principal preparation program, a passing score on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment, and three years of instructional experience.
Every principal working in a Pennsylvania public school holds a Principal certificate, and every superintendent holds a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility, both issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Pennsylvania principal certification means finishing a state-approved graduate program, banking the required years of teaching or administrative experience, and passing a state-required Praxis exam. Here’s what each step looks like for both credentials.
Education Requirements
Principal: You must complete a state-approved graduate-level college or university program in K-12 principal certification, and receive a recommendation for certification from that program’s certification officer.
Superintendent Letter of Eligibility: You must complete at least a two-year graduate-level state-approved program in educational administration, and receive a recommendation for certification from that program’s certification officer.
Examinations
Principal candidates must pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment, a Praxis exam administered through ETS. Superintendent candidates must pass PDE’s required School Superintendent Assessment, also administered through ETS. PDE updates test codes and qualifying scores periodically, so confirm the current exam and passing score on the Department of Education’s Testing Requirements page before registering.
Experience Requirements
Principal: You must have at least three years of professional instructional or student support experience in an educational setting, verified by your chief school administrator.
Superintendent Letter of Eligibility: You must have at least six years of satisfactory school experience, with at least three of those years served in a supervisory or administrative capacity.
Documents and Application Requirements
You apply for both the Principal certificate and the Superintendent Letter of Eligibility through the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS), PDE’s online certification portal. Upload your supporting documents directly to your TIMS application whenever possible, including out-of-state transcripts and employer verification letters (in-state transcripts come directly from your institution). If you’re coming from another state and haven’t yet established your Pennsylvania teaching certificate, review Pennsylvania teacher reciprocity requirements first, since most administrative certificates build on an existing PA instructional certificate. If a document can’t be uploaded, PDE accepts it by email rather than by mail. Track your application status anytime by logging in to TIMS.
Criminal History Background Check
As an applicant for a Principal or Superintendent position in a Pennsylvania school district, you’re subject to three separate checks: a Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check, a Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Abuse History Clearance, and a Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) check.
Your hiring district will walk you through the procedure and give you fingerprinting locations once you’re hired. You can’t assume a position within a school district until all three checks come back cleared.
Contact Information
Contact schools offering graduate programs in Pennsylvania to learn more about their principal preparation programs and superintendent preparation programs.
For more information on the administrator certification process in Pennsylvania, contact PDE’s Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality, Division of Certification Services, at 717-787-3356. PDE recommends emailing [email protected] instead when possible, since call volume can mean longer wait times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a certified principal in Pennsylvania?
Most candidates finish a state-approved principal preparation program in one to two years, depending on whether they attend full or part time. Add the time needed to accumulate three years of qualifying instructional experience if you haven’t already met that requirement.
Do I need a master’s degree to become a principal in Pennsylvania?
Most PDE-approved principal certification programs are graduate-level and lead to or build on a master’s degree. Some universities offer a standalone certificate for candidates who already hold a master’s in a related field. See national principal certification requirements for how Pennsylvania’s approach compares to other states.
What’s the difference between a Principal certificate and a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility?
A Principal certificate authorizes you to lead a single school. A Superintendent Letter of Eligibility, which requires more years of administrative experience and a separate Praxis exam, authorizes you to lead a district as superintendent or assistant superintendent.
Can I apply for principal certification while still teaching?
Yes. Most candidates complete their preparation program and required internship hours while still working in the classroom, then apply through TIMS once they’ve met the experience and exam requirements.
- PDE issues two separate administrative credentials — a Principal certificate and a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility, each with its own education, experience, and exam requirements.
- Principal certification requires three years of experience — plus a state-approved principal preparation program and a passing score on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (Praxis 6990).
- The Superintendent Letter of Eligibility requires six years of experience — with at least three years in a supervisory or administrative role, plus PDE’s required School Superintendent Assessment.
- All applications go through TIMS — Pennsylvania’s online Teacher Information Management System handles both certificate types.
- Three background checks are mandatory — state police, child abuse history, and federal criminal history clearances all have to clear before you can start the position.
Compare Pennsylvania-approved principal and educational administration programs to find one that fits your timeline and certification goals.
