Learn how to become an Education Administrator or School Principal in Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Education offers Administrative Certificates to prospective School principals, Superintendents, Supervisors, Interim School principals, Interim Superintendents, and Interim Supervisors.

Academic Obligations

To become a licensed School principal in Arizona, you must:

• Obtain at least a Master’s degree from an institution accredited institution of higher learning
• Finish a program in educational administration for school principals, including at least 30 graduate semester hours of educational administration courses covering knowledge and skills described in the Professional Administrative Standards. This must include 3 credit hours in school law and 3 credit hours in school finance.
• Finish a university course on the Arizona Constitution
• Finish a university course on the US Constitution
• Finish 45 clock hours or 3 semester hours of state-authorized SEI training

To become a licensed Superintendent in Arizona, you must:

• Obtain at least a Master’s degree from an institution accredited institution of higher learning, including 60 graduate semester hours
• Finish a program in educational administration for superintendents, including at least 36 graduate semester hours of educational administration classes covering knowledge and skills described in the Professional Administrative Standards (R7-2-604). This must include 3 credit hours in school law and 3 credit hours in school finance.
• Finish a university course on the Arizona Constitution
• Finish a university course on the US Constitution
• Finish 45 clock hours or 3 semester hours of state-authorized SEI training

To become a licensed Supervisor in Arizona, you must:

• Obtain at least a Master’s degree from an institution accredited institution of higher learning
• Finish an educational administration program, including at least 18 graduate semester hours of educational administration courses covering knowledge and skills described in the Professional Administrative Standards (R7-2-603). This must include 3 credit hours in school law and 3 credit hours in school finance.
• Finish a university course on the Arizona Constitution
• Finish a university course on the US Constitution
• Finish 45 clock hours or 3 semester hours of state-authorized SEI training

Assessments

• If you want licensure as a School principal in Arizona, you must pass the School principal or Superintendent Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment.
• If you want licensure as a Superintendent in Arizona, you must pass the Superintendent Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment.
• If you want licensure as a Supervisor in Arizona, you must pass the Supervisor, School principal, or Superintendent Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment.

Classroom Teaching Experience Requirements

For licensure as a School principal, you must have:

• 3 years of documented full-time teaching experience in grades Pre K-12
• Completion of a practicum experience as a school principal, or 2 years of documented full-time experience as a school principal or assistant school principal under the supervision of another school principal in grades Pre K-12

For licensure as a Superintendent, you must have:

• 3 years of documented full-time teaching experience or education-related services experience in grades Pre K-12
• Completion of a practicum experience as a superintendent, or 2 years of documented experience as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or associate superintendent in grades Pre K-12

For licensure as a Supervisor, you must have:

• 3 years of documented full-time teaching experience or education-related services experience in grades Pre K-12
• Completion of a practicum experience in educational administration, or 2 years of documented administrative, educational experience in grades Pre K-12

Other Information

If you want licensure as a Supervisor, you must have an Arizona Standard Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, Special Education, or Career and Technical Education.

Background Check Requirements

All applicants for administrative licensure in Arizona must successfully complete a criminal history background check, including fingerprinting. If you don’t already have an Identity Verified Prints (IVP), Fingerprint Card, call the Arizona Department of Public Safety at (602) 223-2279 and request 1. You will be given instructions on where to go to complete this process successfully. You must submit a photocopy of your valid IVP card with your Application for Certification.

State Contacts

The Arizona Department of Education’s Certification Unit is available to answer queries about administrative licensure. Contact the Phoenix office at (602) 542-4367, the Tucson office at (520) 628-6326, or visit the Arizona Department of Education website.