Which Schools in Texas Offer a Principal Certification Program?

Would you like to learn more about the principal certification programs in Texas? This article provides useful information about four schools that offer such programs in the state.

What You Need to Know

Principal certification programs are available at four-year universities in Texas and are usually between 15 and 36 credit hours long. Admission to these programs requires a master's degree, two years of teaching experience and a Texas teaching certificate, which are all required to get certified as a principal in the state. Some of these programs are offered online, and you often have to complete a practicum or internship. Some common topics of study include educational leadership, curriculum development, ethics, education law, school resources management and educational policy. After completing some of your program's courses, you may be able to get a probationary certificate to work as a principal. However, you need to successfully complete the Texas Examination of Education Standards (TExES) exam to get your principal certification. Read on to explore some principal certification programs in Texas.

Principal Certification Programs in Texas

Angelo State University

The five required courses in this program are offered online. These courses are: personnel and fiscal management, the role of the principal, legal and ethical principles, problems of instructional supervision and a practicum in school administration. To receive this certificate, in addition to completing the coursework, you must receive a passing score on the TExES Principal Certification Exam.

• Program Name: Principal Certification
• Program Length: 15 credit hours
• Tuition: $3,726 for in-state and $10,746 for out-of-state students (2015-2016)
• Prerequisites: Master's degree
• Admission Requirements: Texas teaching certificate, two years of teaching experience, instructional leadership development certificate, professional development and appraisal certificate
• School Type: 4-year, public; 5,359 undergraduate and 1,135 graduate students

Concordia University

This program prepares you to take the TExES Principal Certification Exam. In the program, you must complete 10 courses, including a practicum. In these courses, you study various topics in the education administrator field, such as ethics and the teacher in society, curriculum design and practice, legal foundations of education and the principal as a compliance officer.

• Program Name: Principal Certification
• Program Length: 30 credits
• Tuition: $11,250 (2015-2016)
• Prerequisites: Master's degree, minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5
• Admission Requirements: Teaching certificate, two years of teaching experience, three letters of recommendation
• School Type: 4-year, private; 1,567 undergraduate and 937 graduate students

University of Houston

Courses in this program cover topics like policy, administration, education law and instructional supervision. During your studies, you also complete a 3-credit internship. If you don't already have a master's degree, this school offers the option of working toward your Master of Education and principal certificate at the same time.

• Program Name: Principal Professional Certificate
• Program Length: 36 credits
• Tuition: $8,120 for in-state and $16,940 for out-of-state students (2015-2016)
• Prerequisites: Master's degree
• Admission Requirements: Teaching certificate, two years of teaching experience, Graduate Record Exam or Miller Analogies Test scores, transcripts
• School Type: 4-year, public; 33,037 undergraduate and 7,877 graduate students

University of North Texas-Denton

You must complete 18 credits in educational leadership courses and an internship to earn this certificate. Topics of study include the management of school resources, organizational change and school improvement, campus-level school law and instructional leadership. Once you complete four classes, you receive a probationary certificate that allows you to work as a principal for one year. This certificate can be renewed twice, but you must finish the degree program before it expires. This school also offers a Master of Education with an educational leadership major that prepares you for the principal certification program, and you can pursue the master's degree and certificate concurrently.

• Program Name: Principal Certificate Certification-Only Program
• Program Length: Must be completed within seven years
• Tuition: $5,450 for in-state and $12,470 for out-of-state students (2015-2016)
• Prerequisites: Master's degree
• Admission Requirements: Teaching certificate, two years of teaching experience, Graduate Record Exam scores, resume, letter of recommendation, essay
• School Type: 4-year, public; 29,758 undergraduate and 6,728 graduate students

Angelo State University, Concordia University, University of Houston and University of North Texas-Denton are four universities in Texas that offer principal certification programs.