There’s no denying that Arizona’s education system is struggling, both in terms of quality and safety. As of 2022, a number of different surveys ranked it at or near the bottom of all states in the nation for factors including graduation rates, dropout rates, standardized test scores, and pupil-to-teacher ratios.
It’s a challenging time to be an educator in the Arizona educational system, for sure. But you were never one to back down from a challenge, and your commitment to education and to the state’s children has never wavered. Now, as you look ahead to your career in education, a career in administration is in your sights. It’s a natural evolution for you as you consider new and exciting ways you can contribute to Arizona’s educational system and be part of the solution to its most pressing issues.
Similar to your time as an educator, you’re prepared to meet this new stage of your career with full commitment and a lot of energy. As you renew your commitment to Arizona’s education system and look ahead to a future in administration, you’ll want to consider how you’ll get there.
Fortunately, Arizona is home to exactly the master’s and doctorate programs in educational leadership that will get you the training you need to become a principal or superintendent whose laser-focused on leaving a trail of positive change in your wake.
How to Become a Principal in Arizona – School-level Educational Leadership
To become a principal in Arizona, you’ll need to earn the Standard Professional Principal Certificate through the Arizona Department of Education.
You’ll need at least three years of full-time teaching experience (PreK-12) to become a principal in Arizona.
Once you’ve met this experience requirement, you’re ready to forge ahead and complete the steps necessary to become a principal in Arizona.
Step 1. Earn a Minimum of a Master’s Degree from an Accredited Institution and Complete an Administrator Preparation Program
To qualify for the Standard Professional Principal Certificate in Arizona, you’ll need to complete a master’s, educational specialist, or doctorate degree in educational administration for principals.
Most programs are designed as administrator preparation programs that include all necessary coursework and practical experiences to qualify for certification.
You’ll find a sampling of some of the programs leading to principal certification here:
- MEd Educational Leadership
- MEd Educational Leadership (Principalship)
- MA in Education/Administration and Supervision
- EdS Educational Specialist/K-12 Leadership
- EdS Education Specialist in Educational Leadership
- EdD Educational Leadership
- EdD Leadership & Innovation
All graduate programs must contain at least 30 graduate semester hours of educational administration courses that cover the knowledge and skills described in the Professional Administrative Standards (Arizona code R7-2-603). Your program must also include three credit hours of school law and three credit hours of school finance.
A number of schools also offer graduate certificate programs for students who have already completed a master’s degree or above and are looking to complete the educational requirements to become a PreK-12 principal. These programs include about 27-33 credits and include required coursework in instructional planning, supervision of instruction, personnel administration, leadership skills, and more.
Your transcripts must include proof that you also completed a principal practicum from an accredited institution. You can also meet this practical requirement by showing proof that you have at least two years of experience working as a principal or assistant principal under the supervision of a certified principal (PreK-12).
Step 2. Take and Pass the Required Exam or Show Proof of Administrative Experience
You’ll need to receive a passing score on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) Principal Subtests I and II. Pearson VUE administers these exams, which you’ll take at a Pearson VUE testing center near you.
Subtest I includes topics related to:
- Visionary Leadership, Collaboration, and Educational Contexts
- Fiscal and Operational Management and Legal/Ethical Guidelines
Subtest II includes topics related to Instructional and Organizational Leadership.
Note: You won’t need to take and pass the AEPA exam if you can show proof of at least three years of full-time experience as an administrator in any state, including Arizona.
Step 3. Apply for a Standard Professional Principal Certificate with the Arizona Department of Education
The application process includes showing proof that you have completed at least three years of full-time teaching experience (PreK-12) and that your program in education administration for principals included a practicum. If you didn’t complete a practicum, you’ll need to show proof that you have at least two years of experience as a principal or vice principal under the supervision of a certified principal.
You’ll also need to show proof of a passing score on the AEPA exam, or of having completed at least three years of full-time experience as an administrator.
Step 4. Maintain Your Professional Principal Certificate
Arizona’s Standard Professional Principal Certificate is valid for 12 years and is renewable based upon the completion of at least 180 professional development hours.
Principals in Arizona work under three-year renewable contracts.
School Principal Salary and Jobs in Arizona
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), principals in Arizona earned a median salary of $77,680 as of May 2021 and a top salary of about $97,930.
Principals in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metro area earned one of the highest median salaries in the state, at $79,240. Some of the school districts in this area include:
- Cave Creek Unified School District
- Chandler Unified School District
- Deer Valley Unified School District
- Dysart Unified School District
- Paradise Valley Unified School District
- Peoria Unified School District
- Scottsdale Unified School District
Principals in the Flagstaff metro area earned a top salary of about $99,730, making them among the highest earners in the state.
The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area reported the highest number of principals (3,340) in Arizona as of May 2021, followed by Tucson, which reported about 650 principals.
How to Become a Superintendent in Arizona – District-Level Educational Leadership
To become a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or associate superintendent in Arizona, you’ll need to earn the Superintendent Certificate through the Arizona Department of Education.
You’ll need to show proof of at least three years of full-time PreK-12 teaching or education services experience (e.g., school counseling, school social work) to become a superintendent in Arizona.
Once you’ve met this experience requirement, you’ll be ready to move forward and complete the steps necessary to become a superintendent in Arizona.
Step 1. Earn a Minimum of a Master’s Degree from an Accredited Institution and Complete an Administrator Preparation Program
To qualify for the Superintendent Certificate in Arizona, you’ll need to complete a master’s, educational specialist, or doctorate degree in educational administration from an accredited institution.
Most programs are designed as administrator preparation programs that include all necessary coursework and practical experiences to qualify for certification.
The program must be at least 60 graduate semester hours and include at least 36 graduate semester hours of educational administration courses that teach the knowledge and skills described in the Professional Administrative Standards (Arizona code R7-2-603). This includes at least three semester hours in school law and three semester hours in school finance.
A sampling of program options include:
- MEd Educational Leadership
- EdS Educational Administration/Superintendent program
- EdS Educational Leadership – Superintendent
- EdS Educational Administration & Supervision
- EdD Educational Leadership
- EdD Leadership & Innovation
There are also a number of graduate certificate programs that prepare students with a master’s degree or above to complete the education and training necessary to earn an Arizona State Superintendent Certificate. These programs include about 15 credits of coursework that translate theory into practice for school superintendents.
Along with your academic transcripts, you’ll need to show proof that you completed a superintendent practicum as part of your administrator preparation program. However, you may also satisfy the practical requirement by providing proof that you have at least two years of experience as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or associate superintendent (PreK-12).
Step 2. Take and Pass the Required Exam or Show Proof of Administrative Experience
You’ll need to receive a passing score on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) Superintendent Subtests I and II (AZ180 and AZ280). Pearson VUE administers these exams, which you’ll take at a Pearson VUE testing center near you.
Subtest I includes topics related to:
- Visionary Leadership, Collaboration, and Educational Contexts
- Culture of Achievement and Instructional Leadership
Subtest II includes topics related to:
- Organizational and Human Resource Management
- Fiscal and Operational Management and Legal/Ethical Guidelines
Note: You do not need to take and pass the AEPA exam if you can show proof of at least three years of full-time experience as an administrator in any state, including Arizona.
Step 3. Apply for a Superintendent Certificate with the Arizona Department of Education
The application process to become a superintendent in Arizona includes showing proof that you have at least three years of full-time PreK-12 teaching or education services experience (e.g., school counseling, school social work).
If you didn’t complete a practicum as part of your education, you’ll need to show proof that you have at least two years of experience as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or associate superintendent (PreK-12).
You’ll also need to show proof of a passing score on the AEPA exam or at least three years of full-time experience as an administrator.
Step 4. Maintain Your Superintendent Certificate
Arizona’s Superintendent Certificate is valid for 12 years and is renewable upon completion of at least 180 professional development hours.
Superintendents in Arizona work under three-year renewable contracts.
Superintendent Salary and Jobs in Arizona
According to the BLS, superintendents in Arizona earned about $101,880 as of May 2021.
Superintendents in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metro area earned one of the highest salaries in the state, at $103,340, followed by those in the Tucson and Flagstaff metro areas, where they earned about $101,600 and $100,020, respectively.
The largest number of superintendents was in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area, which reported 3,340 licensed superintendents as of May 2021. Tucson came in second during this time, reporting about 650 superintendent positions.
Educational Leadership Degree Options in Arizona: Doctorate and Master’s in Educational Leadership
Educational leadership jobs in Arizona continue to show strong growth. In fact, in the years leading up to 2030, jobs in this field are projected to increase by 16.1 percent. For educators like you looking to make the transition into administration, this couldn’t be better news.
Whether you’re seeking a career as a principal or superintendent, you’ll find a nice variety of master’s, educational specialist, and doctorate programs in Arizona. There are also many schools outside of the state that offer exciting programs for aspiring principals and superintendents. And thanks to convenient and flexible online formats, students can pursue degree programs leading to Arizona principal or superintendent certification while still maintaining their work and personal commitments.
Prescott College
Education Department
Accreditation: HLC
Online
M.Ed in Educational Leadership
Also offers:
MA in Outdoor Education Leadership
Ottawa University-Phoenix
School of Education
Accreditation: HLC
Campus, online
MAED in School Leadership
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary. Job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures are based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2023.