North Carolina’s public school system is strong and resilient, having successfully climbed out from under the depths of the COVID pandemic. Thanks to the tireless work of the state’s educators, lost ground has been recovered, and performance on state tests has reached pre-pandemic levels, according to the State Board of Education.
But there’s still plenty to accomplish. Between 2020-21 and 2021-22, graduation rates here have dropped slightly (from 86.9 to 86.2 percent), and a growing number of low-performing schools remains a worry. But no one’s stopping now, and North Carolina’s public school system continues to reflect the state’s commitment to its 1.4 million PreK-12 students.
You’re a dedicated North Carolina educator and part and parcel of the success of the state’s public education system. So, it only makes sense that you’ll start the next chapter of your career right here. Now it’s time to consider how you’ll make the move into educational administration and leadership.
A master’s, educational specialist, or doctoral degree in educational administration and leadership is what you’ll need to become a principal or superintendent in North Carolina. Fortunately, these programs are widely available, both in North Carolina and across the country, making it easier and more convenient than ever to make the move into this next phase of your career.
How to Become a Principal in North Carolina – School-level Educational Leadership
You will need to earn a Professional Educator’s License – School Administrator, Principal through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
But first you’ll need to hold a valid state Professional Educator’s License before you can begin working toward becoming a principal in North Carolina. Once you meet this requirement, you can begin taking the steps to become a principal in North Carolina.
Step 1. Complete a Minimum of a Master’s Degree in School Administration and a State-Approved Educator Preparation Program
To become a principal in North Carolina, you must earn a minimum of a master’s degree in school administration and complete a state-approved educator preparation program. Fortunately, many of today’s master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees in school administration include an embedded state-approved educator preparation program.
You can find North Carolina’s approved educator preparation programs here.
These programs are often designed as:
- MEd in School Administration
- Master of School Administration (MSA) – Educational Leadership
- MA in School Administration and Leadership
They include an embedded internship, alongside courses such as:
- Applied Educational Research
- Analyzing Educational Issues
- School Based management
- Supervision and Instructional Leadership
- Curriculum Leadership
- Legal Aspects of Educational Leadership
If you’ve already earned your master’s degree, you may also meet the requirements for licensure in North Carolina by completing a post-master’s certificate program (often referred to as an add-on licensure program in North Carolina). These programs include all of the coursework and practical experience requirements for licensure. Many are offered in partially or fully online formats for superior convenience and flexibility.
Step 2. Apply for and Maintain a Continuing Professional Educator’s License – School Administrator, Principal
Once you meet the educational requirements to become a school principal in North Carolina, you’ll apply for a Continuing Professional Educator’s License – School Administrator, Principal through the CDPI Online License System.
Your Continuing Professional Educator’s License – School Administrator, Principal must be renewed every five years upon satisfying the following Professional Development requirements:
- Executive’s Role – 3 credits
- Digital Learning – 2 credits
- General – 3 credits
Note: One renewal credit is equal to 10 clock hours of professional development
School Principal Salary and Jobs in North Carolina
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), school principals in North Carolina earned a median salary of $77,560 as of May 2022. The top earners in this profession earned about $84,210 during this time.
Some of the state’s larger metro areas reported median salaries for principals that exceeded the state average:
- Charlotte: $80,820
- Raleigh: $79,290
- Winston-Salem: $79,890
The Durham-Chapel Hill metro area was first among the state’s metro areas for its top pay of principals during this time, at $100,090, followed by Winston-Salem, at $99,390 and Wilmington, at $97,630.
How to Become a Superintendent in North Carolina – District-Level Educational Leadership
If district-level leadership is what you seek, you’ll need to earn a Professional Educator’s License – School Administrator, Superintendent through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Before you can become a superintendent in North Carolina, you’ll need to hold a minimum of a master’s degree and a principal license. Once you meet these requirements, you can begin taking the steps to become a superintendent in North Carolina.
Step 1. Complete a Doctoral Degree in School Administration
Superintendents in North Carolina must hold an educational specialist (EdS) or doctoral (EdD) degree in School Administration. Some local boards of education may consider superintendent candidates who have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of relevant leadership or managerial experience. However, in most cases, you’ll need to earn a graduate-level sixth-year or doctoral degree to qualify for a superintendent position in North Carolina.
These programs generally require candidates to already hold a principal’s license. However, some EdS and EdD programs also offer students the option of completing the necessary master’s level courses leading to principal licensure, thereby allowing you to earn your principal license while you complete your program.
Educational specialist and doctoral programs in educational administration are often designed as:
- EdD in Educational Leadership
- EdD in Educational Administration
- EdS in Educational Administration and Supervision
- EdD in Educational Administration and Leadership
These programs are focused on preparing systems-level leaders in the K-12 environment. These include internships and courses covering topics like:
- Theories of Educational Administration
- School and Community Cultures
- Advanced School Law and Policy
- Public School Administration
- Staff Personnel Problems
- Problems in Educational Supervision
- School Business Management
Step 2. Apply for and Maintain a Continuing Professional Educator’s License – School Administrator, Superintendent
Once you meet the educational requirements to become a superintendent in North Carolina, you’ll apply for a Continuing Professional Educator’s License – School Administrator, Superintendent through the CDPI Online License System.
Note: Your eligibility to serve as a superintendent must be verified by the North Carolina State Board of Education before you can become elected by a local board of education.
Your Continuing Professional Educator’s License – School Administrator, Superintendent must be renewed every five years upon satisfying the following Professional Development requirements:
- Executive’s Role – 3 credits
- Digital Learning – 2 credits
- General – 3 credits
Note: One renewal credit is equal to 10 clock hours of professional development.
Superintendent Salary and Jobs in North Carolina
According to the BLS, superintendents in North Carolina earned an average salary of $103,570 as of May 2022.
The Durham-Chapel Hill metro area reported a much higher salary for superintendents during this time, at $123,790, followed by the Charlotte metro area, at $119,350, and the Greensboro metro area, at $115,450.
Educational Leadership Degree Options in North Carolina: Doctorate and Master’s in Educational Leadership
North Carolina expects slow and steady growth for jobs in educational administration and leadership in the coming years. In the ten years leading up to 2030, the number of jobs among principals and superintendents is projected to increase by 7.1 percent in the Tar Heel State. During this time, the state should see about 880 annual job openings in this field due to blend of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.
Positive job growth projections have made your decision to become a principal or superintendent an easy one. Now it’s time to consider the education you’ll need to get you where you want to be. You’ll find a growing number of master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees, both in North Carolina and across the country, that align with North Carolina’s state licensure laws and your professional goals. And because many of these programs are now offered in partially and fully online formats, there’s no better time than now to start earning the degree that will jumpstart your career in educational administration and leadership!
Barton College
School of Education
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online
Master of School Administration
Gardner-Webb University
College of Education
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online
MA
- Concentrations: Executive Leadership Studies K-12, School Administration
Also offers:
Ed.D in Educational Leadership
Ed.S in Executive Leadership
MA in Teacher Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction
High Point University
Stout School of Education
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus
M.Ed in Educational Leadership
- Concentration: Certificate in Education Leadership and Organizational Development
Also offers:
Ed.D in Education Leadership
Graduate Certificates in (Educational Leadership and Organizational Development, Higher Education Administration, Instructional Leadership and Coaching, Student Services Leadership, Special Education Leadership)
Queens University of Charlotte
Cato School of Education
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online
MA in Educational Leadership
Salem College
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online
M.Ed in Educational Leadership
Wingate University
Thayer School of Education
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online
MA.Ed in Educational Leadership
Also offers:
Ed.S in Educational Leadership
Ed.S in Higher Education Executive Leadership
2022 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 May 2023.