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

Fiscal stability… low pupil-to-teacher ratios… reading and math test scores exceeding the national average… and impressive efforts aimed at closing the achievement gap between white and black students are just some of the reasons why Wisconsin has consistently made itself home among the top states in the nation for its public school system (most recently ranked sixth in the nation for education, tenth for its public schools by U.S. News & World Report).

As a Wisconsin educator, you’ve long been part of the public school system’s equation for success. Your tireless efforts and commitment to the state’s PreK-12 children have allowed Wisconsin to remain a force to be reckoned with and the state’s children to be among some of the best prepared.

But your work here is far from over, and now you’ve begun exploring new ways in which you can make a difference in the same public school system where you first became an educator. Advancing to a role in educational administration and leadership is your ticket to a bigger paycheck, top-tier job titles, and expanded opportunities to continue to serve Wisconsin’s public schools.

Now is the time to kickstart this new phase in your career by earning a graduate degree in educational administration and leadership. Whether you want to pursue a career as a principal or superintendent, you’ll find a growing number of master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees, both in Wisconsin and across the country, that are designed with your career goals in mind.

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

To become a principal in Wisconsin, you must earn an Administrator License – Principal through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Before you can become a principal in Wisconsin, you must hold (or be eligible to hold) a Provisional Educator License in teaching or pupil services. You must also have at least three years of successful, full-time classroom teaching experience or at least three years of successful experience as a pupil services professional, including at least 540 hours of classroom teaching experience.

Once you’ve met these requirements, you can begin taking the steps to become a principal in Wisconsin.

Step 1. Earn a Minimum of a Master’s Degree and State-Approved Principal Preparation Program

To become a principal in Wisconsin, you must earn a minimum of a master’s degree in educational administration and complete a state-approved principal preparation program leading to a principal license. Many master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees in Wisconsin and throughout the country include embedded principal preparation programs. These programs include all of the coursework and practical experiences necessary to earn licensure in Wisconsin. They are often designed as: