Online Graduate Certificate – Principal
Develop the skills and qualifications you need to lead effectively as a school principal or administrator.
Program Overview
Discover how the online Principal Graduate Certificate from EWU can advance your career
Prepare for positions of leadership in public, private, and charter schools with the online Graduate Certificate – Principal program from Eastern Washington University. This post-master's certificate program is based on state and national standards and will satisfy the requirements of the Washington State Department of Public Instruction for school principal certification.
The 100 percent online coursework is designed to enhance your expertise in governance, school law, leadership and strategic planning. You will also learn how to develop and implement curriculum, oversee teachers, and work more effectively with parents, the community, and district administrators. Taught by the same dedicated faculty who teach on campus, this online certificate program will prepare educators to be effective school leaders whether as principals, assistant principals, or program administrators.
The Eastern Washington University School of Business is accredited by AACSB International (AACSB).
Also available online:
EWU offers a variety of graduate and post-master’s certificate programs in a convenient online format. Check out all our online certificate programs.
The School of Education programs are approved by the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB).
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Tuition
See why our online grad certificates are cost effective
This affordable Graduate Certificate – Principal online program features pay-by-the-course tuition, with the same rate for all in-state and out-of-state students.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per 4-Credit Hour Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Certificate – Principal | $335 | $1,340 | $10,720* |
Application Fee: $75
*Tuition and fees subject to change. Total program cost does not include foundation courses. If foundation courses are required, the cost will be added to the total program cost.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Don’t miss these important deadlines
The Graduate Certificate – Principal online program is designed to be flexible for working professionals, with six-week courses and seven start dates a year. View the full calendar for upcoming start dates and deadlines for registration, required documents, and tuition payment.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer I | 7/7/25 | 6/23/25 | 7/1/25 | 7/5/25 |
| Fall I | 9/22/25 | 9/8/25 | 9/17/25 | 9/20/25 |
| Fall II | 11/3/25 | 10/20/25 | 10/29/25 | 11/1/25 |
| Winter I | 12/29/25 | 12/15/25 | 12/24/25 | 12/27/25 |
Now enrolling:
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Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
Explore the admission requirements for this online principal certificate
We’ve streamlined the Graduate Certificate – Principal online admissions process to help you get started quickly and easily.
Admission Requirements:
- Master’s degree
- Official transcript from degree-granting university
- Teacher certification
Graduate Certificate – Principal Online Admission Requirements
- Master's degree in Education or related field
- Overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter or 60 semester-graded postsecondary credit hours**
- Three years of successful school-based experience in an instructional role with students***
- Teaching certification or ESA certification is required with graduation application
- Official transcript from the college/university where degree was earned
Document Submission Information
Order your official, electronic transcripts from the degree-granting institution where you earned your highest degree (bachelor’s or master’s) and have them sent to Eastern Washington University.
- Most EWU graduate programs only require one transcript. Please submit a transcript from your degree-granting institution. This transcript should include the final two years of your degree completion. If it does not, please submit transcripts to cover your final two years of earned credits.
- Please note that transcripts ordered by main may take 4-6 weeks to arrive.
If you are ordering a mailed paper transcript, please have it sent to:
Eastern Washington University
Showalter Hall 206
Cheney, WA 99004
Have a question? Call us at 800-826-3411.
**We encourage you to apply if your GPA is lower than a 3.0 and you have at least 3 years of professional work experience. Applicants with GPAs below 3.0 are considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Please contact an Enrollment Services representative at 800-826-3411 for more information.
***Please note that building and central office administrative experience does not meet the instructional experience requirement.
If you do not hold a teaching certificate in Washington or do not hold a teaching certificate at all, you are still encouraged to apply.
Please note however that this will not lead to a teaching certificate in Washington. Additionally, this program may satisfy the requirements for states other than Washington. Please check with your applicable licensing board to determine whether this program satisfies requirements for licensure in the state in which you reside. For current contact information for applicable licensing boards, please refer to our State Authorization page. For information on certification in the state of Washington, contact Christi Wavada at [email protected].
Courses
View the syllabus for your online Principal Graduate Certificate program
In order to earn the Graduate Certificate – Principal online, you must complete 6 courses (including an internship) for a total of 32 credits.
