How to become a school principal

1. 1Earn a bachelor's degree and a teaching license

   Time: 4 yearsCost: Varies by collegeSources 1, 7

   Almost every route to principal starts in the classroom, so begin with a bachelor's degree in education or a subject you want to teach, plus a state-approved teacher preparation program and your state's teacher licensing exams. See our guides to becoming an elementary school teacher or a high school teacher for details. Some states also count other school roles; Illinois, for example, accepts experience as a school counselor, school psychologist or school social worker.

2. 2Teach and take on leadership roles

   Time: Usually 3-5 years or moreCost: Paid workSources 1, 4

   States require a minimum number of years of teaching before an administrator license; Texas, for example, requires two creditable years as a classroom teacher. Hiring districts usually want more. Use those years to lead beyond your own classroom: chair a department or grade-level team, coach new teachers, run a testing program or summer school. That record is what hiring panels and leadership programs look for.

3. 3Complete a master's or principal preparation program

   Time: 1-2 years, often part timeCost: $28,927 median federal debt for these graduatesSources 1, 6

   Most states require a master's degree and a state-approved program in educational leadership or administration. Courses cover school law, finance, supervision of instruction, data use and community relations, and programs include an internship or practicum in a school, usually under a working principal. Many are designed for full-time teachers, with evening or online classes. Confirm the program is approved for licensure in the state where you plan to work.

4. 4Pass the administrator licensure exam

   Time: One 4-hour testCost: $425 for the SLLA (2026)Sources 2, 3, 4

   Many states use the ETS School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) (6990), a 240-minute computer test with 120 selected-response questions and four constructed-response questions, aligned with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders. It can be taken at a test center or, where available, at home. Other states give their own exams instead. Check your state's required test and passing score before registering.

5. 5Get licensed and start as an assistant principal

   Time: Often 2-5 years before a principalshipCost: State license feeSources 1, 5

   With the degree, exam and teaching years in hand, apply to your state education agency for the administrator license, which includes a background check in most states. Most new administrators start as an assistant principal or dean, handling discipline, attendance and operations while learning budgets, hiring and evaluations. Principal openings typically go to people who have done that job well.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Instructional coaching

Principals are judged on student learning, which depends on helping teachers improve after watching them teach.

Hard conversations

Telling a teacher their evaluation is poor or a parent their child is suspended is routine, and how it is handled shapes the school.

Budgeting and scheduling

Every staffing choice, elective and intervention has to fit a fixed budget and a master schedule that works for every student.

Reading school data

State test results, attendance and discipline data drive the school improvement plan and how the school is rated.

Crisis judgment

Lockdowns, injuries, threats and custody disputes require fast, calm decisions that follow law and district policy.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: active listening, learning strategies, reading comprehension, speaking, writing.

Training cost

$28.9K–$29.4K

Before financial aid

Time

10-15 years (degree, teaching, master's, assistant principal)

Typical path

Median pay

$105,870

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

Under 1 year

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Our data has no national tuition figure for educational leadership master's programs, so this uses College Scorecard median federal loan debt for educational administration master's graduates, $28,927, as a guide to the program's cost. High adds the ETS SLLA fee ($425). Actual tuition varies widely: some public universities charge far less, private programs more, and some districts help pay. Not included: the bachelor's degree and teacher preparation, state license and background check fees, and books.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Superintendent

  Experienced principals can move to district leadership, which usually takes a separate superintendent credential; Texas, for example, requires a principal certificate or equivalent plus an approved superintendent preparation program and exam.

• District director or instructional coordinator

  Principals move into central office roles over curriculum, special education, human resources or school improvement, sometimes with extra training.

• School psychologist$95,990 median

  A different path that takes a specialist-level degree in school psychology and a separate credential; it suits leaders drawn to student evaluation and support.

• School counselor$64,330 median

  Requires a master's in school counseling and a counselor credential; some administrators choose it for more direct work with students.