Education Administration Certificate and Certification Program Info

Education administrators provide leadership and manage the day-to-day activities of preschools, schools, colleges and universities. Education administration certificates are available through 4-year colleges and universities at the graduate level. Completing an education administration certificate program is necessary in order to obtain certification or licensure as a school administrator in the state where the individual lives.

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Graduate Certificate in Education Administration

Certificate-level training in education administration (for a principal, administrator or supervisor position) is comprised of both classroom instruction and an internship (with a mentor). Students acquire knowledge in areas related to management of human resources, administration and finance. Through an internship, students are able to put this knowledge into practice whereby honing their administrative skills.

Education Prerequisites

Certification prerequisites differ by state. Most states require that a candidate for principal certification have a master's degree, a teacher's license and teaching experience. Requirements for certification to become an administrator may involve having principal certification and experience in an administrative position. Additional requirements may include achieving a certain GPA average and submission of transcripts, a writing sample and letters of recommendation.

Program Coursework

Coursework focuses on leadership and business practices within a school environment. Students also learn how to deal with district bureaucracy and conflicts. Required courses may include:

Theories in educational leadership
Leadership in a school district
Instruction supervision
Business administration
Personnel management
The public sector: arbitration and collective bargaining
School administrators, computers and application software
Management ethics
Conflict resolution

Employment Outlook and Salary Info

Education administrators find employment in both public school districts and private or religious schools, most often in levels of management and upper-management. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), www.bls.gov, employment of education administrators is expected to grow by 12% in the decade 2006-2016, about as fast as average for all occupations. In May 2006, school administrators earned a median annual salary of $77,740. In elementary and secondary schools, principals were paid the highest salary. In the college and university setting, chief academic officers were the most well-paid.

Certification and Continuing Education Information

Requirements for certification or licensure in education administration vary by state. Most states require that students complete a master's program, a graduate certificate in education administration and an internship. A state may require that a candidate for certification pass a state test. For example, students in Texas must pass a principal certification test after finishing the coursework portion. A state may have various levels of certification. Take for example the state of Tennessee. Tennessee has a beginning administrator license (or certification) and a professional administrator license (or certification). Administrators just starting out are awarded the beginning license, valid for five years. Once a beginning administrator finds employment and completes other requirements, he or she is issued a professional license. The professional license is valid for ten years after which it needs to be renewed. Some states require administrators to complete continuing education credits in order to renew their licenses. Principals in private schools do not have to abide by state certification requirements, according to BLS.

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