Pursuing a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership degree can be a smart choice for any experienced teacher who wants to improve their school by taking on a leadership role.  

What Is a Principal? 

Principals are at the top of the administrative hierarchy in their schools. These high-level administrators are tasked with providing a safe environment to help their students learn and grow throughout some of the students’ most formative years.  

Principals’ tasks and responsibilities often include the following:  

• Establishing policies and codes for teachers, students and staff 

• Hiring, disciplining, firing and evaluating teachers and staff 

• Managing a budget, including documenting fundraising opportunities  

• Establishing and managing class schedules  

• Meeting with teachers, students, school board members, parents and others as needed 

• Developing and carrying out disciplinary procedures for students 

• Attending fundraisers, school functions and school board meetings as required 

• Developing and maintaining standards for school curricula 

• Organizing workshops and other development opportunities for teachers and staff 

• Creating and maintaining safety and security procedures for everyone, including students, staff and visitors 

• Preparing reports related to test scores and other student achievements  

Principals have a very rewarding job, but overseeing hundreds of students and dozens of staff members while juggling meetings can be demanding. Unlike teachers, principals work 40-hour weeks year-round, spending their summers managing tasks such as ordering supplies, hiring new teachers and staff members, and maintaining the school’s facilities.  

Steps to Become a Principal 

For those interested in learning how to become a principal, it’s important to understand that this is not an entry-level role. In fact, principals often work as teachers for several years first, and many serve as a vice principal before moving to the principal role. Here are four steps aspiring principals need to follow to fulfill their career goals.  

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree 

The first step toward becoming a principal is to work as a teacher, and teachers are required to hold a bachelor’s degree in the area of education that best suits their specific needs. Earning a bachelor’s degree involves completing a four-year program of study; some schools offer online or hybrid courses to make earning a degree more convenient.  

2. Get a Teaching License and Work as a Teacher 

Teachers who wish to work in a public school system must have a teaching certification or license. Every state has its own unique requirements regarding teaching authorization.  

Teachers who wish to work in a private school are not required to obtain certification or licensure by law, but many employers prefer to hire qualified, credentialed teaching staff.  

Most principals work as teachers for the first several years of their careers, with the average duration ranging from one to five years, according to Indeed. This experience helps aspiring principals better understand how to help their faculty once they become school leaders.  

3. Earn a Master’s Degree  

The next step in becoming a principal is to earn a master’s degree in a relevant field. Popular degree major options include school administration and educational leadership. Programs for these degrees take between two and three years to complete; some programs are offered completely online.  

4. Obtain Credentials and Join a Professional Organization  

The credentials required to become a public school principal vary by state. Most states require school administrators to obtain certification or licensure, and many states also require that principals maintain their teaching credentials.  

Most states require school administrator candidates to have a master’s degree, pass a background check, and pass an exam. Aspiring principals can contact their state’s licensing agency, typically organized as a board of education, to learn more about their state’s specific requirements. 

Additionally, principals may choose to join a professional organization and pursue professional development programs through the organization to enhance their skills. Examples include the following: 

• National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP): The NAESP is a membership organization that also serves as a professional learning platform for elementary school principals, offering programs designed to help principals improve their leadership and administrative skills. From the National Conference on School Leadership to the National Mentor Training and Certification Program and the Pre-K-3 Leadership Academy, numerous professional development opportunities are available to principals through the NAESP.  
   

• National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP): The NASSP offers learning opportunities through the NASSP Academy, which is designed to help principals deal with the real-world challenges they face. For example, the Connecting Classrooms to Careers program helps principals learn how to include community members in their schools’ activities, build partnerships, overcome barriers and maintain sustainable improvement in their schools.  

Salary and Job Outlook for Principals 

The median annual salary for elementary, middle and high school principals was $104,070 as of May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The highest 10 percent of earners had salaries that were higher than $165,820; those working in public schools tend to earn more than their private school principal counterparts.  

The BLS projects there will be about 20,800 openings per year for elementary, middle and high school principals nationwide between 2024 and 2034, as existing principals retire or switch careers. Growth in the number of principal positions is dependent on increases in student enrollments and local budgets.  

Learn How to Become a Principal with Southeast Missouri State University 

If you are interested in transforming your school as an educational leader, you can learn more about how to become a principal by investing in your education. If you are an experienced teacher, or if you plan to become one, earning your online Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from SEMO Online can put you on the path to excellence.  

Through project-based learning and relationship-building opportunities with students in multiple districts, SEMO Online’s master’s program can prepare you to take on an important administrative role in your local school system as a grade school, middle school or high school principal.  

SEMO Online’s education programs also include a Specialist in Educational Administration program.  

Learn more about SEMO Online and Southeast Missouri State University on-campus degree options today. 

Recommended Readings 
Benefits of Trauma-Informed Teaching 
7 Essential Teacher Skills 
Are Online Degree Programs Respected? 
 
Sources: 
Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: School Principals  
Indeed, “How Long Does It Take to Become a Principal?”  
Indeed, “Learn About Being a Principal” 
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Administrators  
National Association of Elementary School Principals, Professional Learning Opportunities 
National Association of Secondary School Principals, NASSP Academy  
Open Door Principal, “Should I Become a School Principal?” 
Pikmykid, “Top 10 Qualities of a Good School Principal” 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals