High School

School administration calls for a high level of education and experience. For this reason, you should begin preparing for the job by taking a wide range of college preparatory courses, including English, government, mathematics, psychology, science, music, art, and history. Computer science and business classes will also be beneficial. A broad secondary school education will help you as you pursue your college degrees and gain admittance into strong colleges of education.

Postsecondary Training

Principals and assistant principals are generally required to have a master's degree in educational administration or leadership in addition to five years' experience as a classroom teacher.

School superintendents are usually required to have had graduate training in educational administration, preferably at the doctoral level. Some larger districts require a law degree or a business degree in addition to a graduate degree in education. Candidates for the position of school superintendent generally must have accumulated previous experience as an administrator.

Many universities offer graduate programs in educational administration accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Programs are designed specifically for elementary school principals, secondary school principals, or school district superintendents, and include such courses as school management, school law, curriculum development and evaluation, and personnel administration. A semester of internship and field experience are extremely valuable.

Other Education or Training

The National Association of Elementary School Principals provides educational sessions at its conferences, as well as webinars. Past offerings included "Grit, Mindset, and Determination: The Key to Leading by Influence" and "Moving Ordinary Schools to Extraordinary: Five Essential Skills for Every Effective Principal." The National Association of Secondary School Principals and the American Association of School Administrators also provide continuing education opportunities. Contact these organizations for more information. 

Certification or Licensing

Most states require administrators to be licensed, however there are no licensing requirements for postsecondary school administrators. Requirements to become licensed may include U.S. citizenship or state residency, graduate training in educational administration, experience, and good health and character. In some states, candidates must pass a qualifying examination. You can obtain information on specific requirements from the department of education in your state. Principals in private schools do not need a state-issued license.

The American Association of School Administrators offers the National Superintendent Certification Program to help superintendents with less than five years of experience develop their professional skills. Contact the association for more information. 

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) offers the School Leaders Licensure Assessment test, which measures whether or not entry-level principals and other school leaders are fit for professional practice. ETS also offers the School Superintendent Assessment test, which measures an administrator's understanding of Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium standards.

School administrators are generally required to have a master's degree in educational administration in addition to five years' experience as a classroom teacher.

You should have leadership skills necessary for keeping the school operating smoothly. You also need good communication skills and the ability to get along with many different types and ages of people. Strong self-motivation and self-confidence are important for putting your plans into action, and for withstanding criticism.