Learn How to Become a Principal, Superintendent, or Other Administrator in Texas with a Doctorate or Master’s in Educational Leadership

The Texas public school system is a behemoth, comprising nearly 5.2 million students… 1,022 school districts, including 700 charter schools… and more than 8,000 schools. Not surprisingly, education makes up a massive chunk of the state budget here – about 45%. And while the Texas Education Agency projects a small decline in the student population in the coming years, student enrollment has soared throughout the better part of the last 15 years, adding about 70,000 public school children annually during this time.

Fact is, there will always be opportunities in public school education in Texas. For the state’s dedicated educators, this means plenty of room for growth. Making the transition from the classroom and into school leadership and administration means new and exciting opportunities for educators like you – opportunities that will propel your career to the next level and position you for a bigger paycheck, all the while allowing you to continue making a difference in the lives of the state’s public school children.

Your decision to move from the classroom and into administration couldn’t come at a better time. In the ten years leading up to 2030, the number of school principal and administrator jobs in the Lone Star State is expected to increase by nearly 14%, from 29,790 in 2020 to 33,890 in 2030. During this time, the state expects to see about 2,680 annual job openings for school administrators and leaders due to a blend of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.

You have the passion, dedication, and drive to advance your career in education. Now all you need is the graduate degree that will get you there. A growing number of colleges and universities, both in Texas and throughout the country, offer master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees in educational leadership and administration for educators with aspirations of becoming a principal or superintendent. It’s time to begin exploring where a master’s, EdS, doctorate, or post-master’s certificate in educational leadership can take you!

How to Become a Principal in Texas – School-level Educational Leadership

You’ll need to earn a Principal Certificate through the Texas Education Agency to become a principal in Texas.

But before you can become a principal in Texas, you’ll need to hold a valid classroom teaching certificate, and you’ll need at least two years of creditable teaching experience as a classroom teacher.

Once you meet these requirements, you’ll be able to start taking the steps to become a principal in Texas and earn a Principal Certificate.

Step 1. Earn a Minimum of a Master’s Degree and Complete an Approved Principal Educator Preparation Program

To become a principal in Texas, you’ll need to earn, at a minimum, a master’s degree from an accredited college or university. You’ll also need to successfully complete a Texas Education Agency-approved principal educator preparation program. There are currently 68 colleges and universities in Texas that offer principal educator preparation programs, either as part of a master’s, educational specialist, or doctoral degree or as a post-master’s certificate program. These programs include all of the necessary coursework and practical experiences to become certified as a principal in Texas.

These programs are often designed as: