School principals provide leadership and strategic direction for faculty, staff and students. As a principal, you are also responsible for cultivating leadership in others. Effective principals establish a school’s culture and vision while supporting academic instruction and student outcomes.
If you are a Washington educator ready to move into administration, the online Master of Education (M.Ed.) – Educational Leadership, Principal Certificate program from Eastern Washington University (EWU) offers a flexible, affordable path to meet the state’s certification requirements. The program features rigorous coursework taught by experienced faculty, and you can complete degree requirements in as few as 15 to 16 months.
Washington Principal Certification Requirements: Making Your Plan
Once you have decided that this is the role for you, the process toward certification begins. To become a principal in the state of Washington, you must satisfy all criteria established by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB), as outlined by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction:
- You must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution.
- You must complete a state-approved administrator preparation program.
- You must submit fingerprints for a background check.
- You must hold or have previously held a regular teacher, educational staff associate, or Initial/Continuing CTE Certificate.
- You must verify three years of successful school-based instructional experience in an educational setting.
Earning and Renewing a Residency Certificate
Principals and program administrators receive an undated Residency Certificate that is valid until they have two years of experience in the role. At that time, principals become eligible for a five-year residency certificate (also called a dated residency or residency reissuance). The five-year validity period begins after the completion of two years in the role, regardless of when the reissuance application is received.
According to OSPI’s residency principal certification guidance, principals and program administrators in Washington may renew their residency certificates an indefinite number of times. To renew at five-year intervals, principals and program administrators must complete 100 clock hours, equivalent college credits, Professional Growth Plans (PGPs) or a combination of all three options. As of July 1, 2023, renewal requirements also include the following content-specific hours within that total:
- At least 10 clock hours focused on the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL)
- At least 5 clock hours focused on Government-to-Government Relationships with federally recognized Tribes
- At least 10 clock hours of equity-based school practices aligned to cultural competency, diversity, equity and inclusion (CCDEI) standards
- Attestation of completion of an issues of abuse course
Staying current with these renewal requirements ensures principals continue to grow as reflective, equity-focused leaders throughout their careers. Washington’s ongoing commitment to professional development for administrators reflects the state’s recognition that effective school leadership directly shapes student success.
Earning an M.Ed. – Educational Leadership, Principal Certificate
If you seek principal certification and want to move into a leadership role, you can earn EWU’s M.Ed. – Educational Leadership, Principal Certificate. The program delivers rigorous online coursework taught by the same experienced faculty who teach on campus. It prepares you to assume the role of principal or other administrative positions in Washington public schools.
The degree program consists of 16 courses and 49 credit hours, comprising 12 credit hours of core courses and 37 credit hours of specialization courses, including an internship sequence. Designed for working educators, the program offers seven start dates per year.
In this program, you will learn how to work collaboratively with your school community to achieve established academic goals. You will also learn methods of educational research, school law, school administration, how to manage the challenges of curriculum development and much more.
Accredited, PESB-approved and Aligned to Professional Standards
Core curriculum in EWU’s principal certification M.Ed. program explores quantitative and qualitative methods, tools and strategies of educational research, and examines the role of the principal using the PSEL framework. Decision-making, planning, communication, management and change processes are among the skills administrators need in 21st-century schools and communities. The M.Ed. – Educational Leadership, Principal Certificate program focuses on each one in depth.
EWU holds accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The university’s educator programs carry PESB approval, satisfying the state-approved administrator preparation program requirement.
Developing the leadership knowledge and practical skills to guide a school community requires comprehensive graduate-level preparation. EWU’s online M.Ed. – Educational Leadership, Principal Certificate equips you with the evidence-based strategies, administrative foundations and hands-on experience needed to step confidently into the principal’s role.
Learn more about Eastern Washington University’s online Master of Education – Educational Leadership, Principal Certificate program.
