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External Certification in
Educational Leadership-Adm. Opt. School Principal

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Next ArrowFORMAT
Fully Online
Next ArrowTOTAL CREDITS 30
Next ArrowCREDENTIALS Certification
Next Arrow COST PER CREDIT $607.00
NEXT APPLICATION DATE:
June 15, 2025

About this Program


Develop your leadership skills to become a principal or a special leader to guide the future of education. This online program will prepare you to be a role model in school environments so that you can support students and educators. This program is most often completed in conjunction with the master's degree or education specialist degree in educational leadership.

This program is most often completed in conjunction with the master's degree or education specialist degree in educational leadership.

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Designed For

This program is appropriate for educators with classroom teaching experience who aspire to assume leadership roles within K-12 schools. It meets the requirements for principal certification in Kentucky.

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External Certification in Educational Leadership-Adm. Opt. School Principal

Offered by the College of Education

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Learn more about the Educational Leadership-Adm. Opt. School Principal online program.

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What You’ll Learn


Set organizational priorities and effectively communicate those priorities. Develop people to succeed in their positions and provide them with the support they need. Assess organizational performance and create the conditions for student, teacher, and school success.

Completion of this program will prepare you to exceed the current and emerging expectations for P12 school principals. Learning outcomes align with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) and meet the requirements for Level I and Level II certification in Kentucky. 

This program is most often completed in conjunction with the master's degree or education specialist degree in educational leadership.

Career Stats

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Course Examples

  • EDL 706 Leadership for Learning-centered Schools I
  • EDL 709 Evidence-based Decision Making
  • EDL 707 Leadership for Learning-centered Schools II
  • EDL 646 Leadership for School-Family Community Engagement
  • EDL 627 School Finance and Support Services
  • EDL 708 Organizational Learning in P12 Schools

GOT QUESTIONS?

Schedule time to meet with a representative from the Educational Leadership-Adm. Opt. School Principal program to talk about your unique situation.

How to Apply

Admissions Criteria

Standard graduate admission requirements apply.

  • Qualify for or hold a Kentucky teaching certificate,
  • Have successfully completed at least three years full-time teaching in P12 setting
  • Have successfully completed a master’s degree in education with cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Be recommended by a superintendent or other district-level administrator who attests to applicant’s educational leadership and professionalism
  • Aspire to serve as a principal in a P12 school
  • Highly recommended, but not mandatory: Have completed a graduate-level basic statistics course with a grade of B higher

Application Requirements

Standard graduate application requirements apply.

  • Copy of your valid K12 teacher certificate.
  • Resume: Limited to 2 pages, providing your name and contact information as well as postsecondary education (all degrees, years awarded, institution names, emphasis area), work experiences, education certifications, professional memberships. If you are seeking a P12 Administrator Certificate (principal or superintendent), be sure it’s clear within your resume that you have at least three years of full-time experience as a classroom teacher.
  • Personal Statement: Please write 2-3 double‐spaced pages, word‐processed in either Times New Roman 12‐point or Arial 10‐point, page numbers and your name in upper right corner. If you cite literature/resources to support your comments, adhere to the academic writing guidelines provided in 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.Part I: Provide background about your experiences as an educational leader and share how these experiences have prompted you to enroll in a graduate program in educational leadership studies. Share your career aspirations and explain how completing an EDL program will assist you in achieving your professional goals.

    Part II: Articulate your beliefs, perceptions, and reflections about each of the following four themes related to effective educational leadership: (a) a vision of success, (b) a focus on learning and teaching, (c) an engagement of all stakeholders, and (d) a demonstration of ethical practice.

  • Writing Sample: Prepare a Professional Reflection (2-3 double-spaced pages, word-processed in either Times New Roman 12-point or Ariel 10-point, page numbers and your name in upper right corner). Describe how your classroom evidences the components of highly effective teaching and learning (i.e., learning climate, classroom assessment and reflection, instructional rigor and student engagement, instructional relevance, knowledge of content). If you cite literature or resources to support your comments, then you must adhere to the academic writing guidelines provided in 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
  • Provide following supporting documentation with your application:
    • Statement of your dispositions for educational leadership
    • Evidence of your improving student learning
    • Evidence of your advanced knowledge of curriculum, instruction and assessment
    • Evidence of your leadership at the building level within a school
  • Recommendations: Two recommendations from persons (e.g., principal, supervisor, superintendent or designee) who have direct knowledge of your skills/ability related to (a) leadership; (b) curriculum, instruction and assessment; and(c) improving student learning. One recommendation must be from your superintendent or their designee.
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Program Contact

Lu S. Young
Program Director

Deadlines

Fall 2025

Application Due Date:
06/15/2025
Start Date:
08/25/2025

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Why UK Online

Once you become a student, you will have access to a wide variety of academic support services to maximize your success. 

One tuition rate Icon Pay the same online tuition rate, no matter where you live.
Flexible schedule Icon Fit learning into your busy schedule with no prescribed class times.
Be Supported Icon Access supporting services and success coaches to help you succeed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Admissions

Please view the Admission Criteria section, located under "How to Apply" on this page.

Tuition

The tuition rate for this program is listed at the top of this page. If you still have questions, please reach out to the program representative.

Yes! Online students enrolled in a degree-bearing program are eligible to receive financial aid and scholarships. Learn more at https://studentsuccess.uky.edu/financial-aid-and-scholarships

Graduate students should review the Student Funding information available through the Graduate School. Specific programs may offer additional funding that is unique to that program. Contact the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in the department in which you wish to enroll with questions about the availability of assistantships and the application process.

For our fully-online programs, it does not matter what state you live in. The rate is the same no matter where you live.

Online Learning

No, all classes are asynchronous. This means that students complete the course requirements according to the syllabus and deadlines, but they have flexibility within their own schedule to complete coursework at times that work best for their schedule. We recommend students log in everyday to ensure they are staying on top of communication and assignments.

It's important to know how to approach learning in an online program. Online classes are not harder nor easier than in-person classes, but they are different due to their asynchronous modality. This means students should expect to:

Develop a routine: Login to your online class routinely (we recommend at least once daily) to receive updates and contribute meaningfully to any ongoing discussions.

Be good time managers: Determine when you have time to work on coursework throughout the week so you don't fall behind or put off assignments until the last minute.

Communicate: If you are having any trouble, message your peers and/or your instructor right away to ask for help or clarification. Never be afraid to reach out to your instructors or Student Affairs if you need assistance--we have many resources to help you, but we need to know your situation to act accordingly on your behalf.

If you need additional support in navigating the online classroom, Canvas (our learning management system) has a number of helpful tools, including a module for new students that walks through everything you need to know about navigating information in your online class.

No, you are awarded the same diploma from UK as students who take classes in-person. There is no denotation of “online” on your diploma or your transcripts.

Yes. Our faculty are happy to meet with our students by phone call, email, or an online meeting. You are also welcome to set up an in-person appointment if you ever find yourself in Lexington.

No, there is no on-campus requirement.

Ready to Take Your Next Step?

Our team is here to help you with the next stage of your journey. Reach out to us today!

Distance Learning Authorization & Licensure

Where you live matters when completing distance education activities. If you will live outside of Kentucky while completing your program, please check the Distance Learning Authorization & Licensure page to confirm that the program can be offered in your state or country, and if relevant, that it meets professional licensure requirements in your state. Please note: Admission and enrollment in a fully-online program can NOT lead to the issuance of a J-1 or F-1 student visa.

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