Program Description
Division of Education Faculty
Applicants who otherwise qualify to enter the Educational Leadership program and already have a master’s or other advanced degree need not complete a second master’s degree to obtain certification as a school principal or program administrator.
It is necessary to complete only the school principal or program administrator certification courses (21 credits) and Internship (9 credits). The same guidelines and procedures for program admission apply.
This program is approved by the Professional Educator’s Standards Board (PESB). Its successful completion will qualify you for a Washington Residency P–12 Certificate as a school principal or program administrator.
The Principal Certification program fulfills in part the specialization requirement for the Doctor of Education degree (EdD) at Seattle Pacific University. Students who wish to apply certificate coursework to a doctoral program may consult with the director of doctoral programs.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following items to the Graduate Admissions:
- Online application and $50 application processing fee.
- Copy of Residency Teacher, ESA, or CTE certificate, front and back.
- Official transcript(s) from each college/university attended.
- Personal statement (1–2 pages).
- Résumé.
- Two letters of recommendation (one supervisory, one professional)
- Recommendations must come from present principals and other school administrators who recommend support of the applicant's pursuit of administrative certification.
- At least one of the letters must be from a school-district level administrator who affirms district support for the candidate to conduct a year-long administrative internship, school-based for principal certification.
- Verification of Experience form required for anyone pursuing a Washington State Principal Certificate
Contact
If you have questions about graduate education or certification programs:
Internship
A year-long (9-credit) internship is a part of the Principal Certification-only or Program Administrator-only program. It is a vital, integrative experience in which you perform administrative activities while being supervised in a school-district setting. The primary objective is for you, the intern, to acquire and practice the skills of effective management and leadership. Internship experiences will center on those competencies and skills defined in the Washington Administrative Code and by the National Policy Board for Education Administration.
Each applicant to the Educational Leadership program must have at least three years of documented successful school-based experience in an instructional role with students, as either a certificated classroom teacher or in an ESA role.
Those in the program administrator program are not required to hold a teaching or ESA certificate but they must have at least one year of documented successful school, district, or school-site experience.
Second Certificate Option
Applicants who have earned Residency Principal or Program Administrator Certification from SPU may earn the other certificate (either Principal or Program Administrator) by completing 6 additional internship credits, along with an elective course that matches your interests.
A valid teaching or ESA certificate is required for those who wish to add a principal certificate.
You must complete all coursework for the second certificate within three years of earning the previous certificate.
