Certificate in Principal Preparation

When you decide to become a principal, the first step you need to take is to gain the skills you need to become an effective leader who can make a difference in your school. The University of Dayton online Certificate in Principal Preparation is designed for professionals looking to become principals who have already earned a master’s degree (or are pursuing the master's in educational leadership from the UD) and hold a valid teaching license with at least two years experience. 

The coursework for this certificate is completely online. Attending a principal preparation program online allows you to continue working, gaining the teaching experience required to obtain licensure. After completing the program, you will be prepared to sit for the principal licensure exam and become a principal in public, private and community schools. 

Program Overview:

• 21 credits (18 tuition-bearing)
• One 200-hour internship
• 12 months

While this program is designed to enable students to meet the requirements to become a principal in Ohio, students may also be eligible for licensure in other states outside of Ohio.

Certification requirements differ from state to state. Therefore, students enrolling in this program should research the requirements in the state in which they reside or intend to practice.

Note: This is an educator preparation program (leading to a State of Ohio-issued license & a certificate issued by the University of Dayton. Students in the Principal Program also need a passing score on the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) to fulfill the State of Ohio testing requirement.