Carlow’s Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership with Principal Certification Prep will prepare you to become a highly effective visionary leader. You will enhance the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to create academic programs that optimize each student’s potential for academic success in a safe, supportive, equitable, and culturally responsive school environment.   You will be eminently prepared to take the School Leaders’ Licensure Assessment for PA principal certification at the conclusion of the program.   

Carlow’s collaboration with area schools will give you access to meaningful internship experiences alongside mentor principals.  

A Carlow students smiles at the camera during class. She is surrounded by other classmates.
Credits required:

18 credits

Tuition Cost:

$600/credit

Time to completion:

As few as 12 months

Delivery:

On campus or online

The curriculum includes specialized coursework in improvement science, systems thinking and building networked communities. Test-prep resources and seminars are aligned to the licensure exam. Principal certification in Pennsylvania requires a master’s degree. If you already have a master’s degree, completion of these 18 credits and the state licensure exam results in certification. The 18 credits may also be completed as part of the full master’s degree in educational leadership.  

Completion of courses results in graduate credits that can either be transferred into a full educational program or account for required licensure continuing education units.

Quick facts

  • Be prepared for Pennsylvania licensure exam
  • Complete internships with mentor principals
  • Learn through innovative coursework

Career opportunities for certified principals

The career outlook for education management is bright. With your state license, you can become a K-12 principal, program director, or administrator. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of elementary, middle and high school principals is projected to grow 4% from 2019 to 2029.


You can apply for free online and must submit the following materials:

  • Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
  • Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
  • Current resume or curriculum vitae
  • Two letters of recommendation that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
Apply by

anytime

Start terms:

Fall & Spring

An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.

If you are interested in this graduate certificate program, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps.

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Carlow University prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator, Jackie smith at jmsmith@carlow.edu or 412-578-6050.