Preparation for School Principal Certification

General Guidelines

1. The applicant must satisfy all requirements related to formal admission to the Jackson College of Graduate Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma. Applications may be completed online at www.uco.edu/graduate/. The applicant shall hold and maintain a valid Oklahoma standard teaching certificate in one of the following areas: early childhood education, elementary education, elementary-secondary education, secondary education, or career-technical education.
2. The applicant shall hold a Master’s degree granted by an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association.
3. The applicant must pass the principal common core and the grade level elementary and/or secondary curriculum examinations.
4. All courses taken for administration certification must be completed at the graduate level.
5. The applicant shall satisfy all general regulations of eligibility including, for the standard certificate, completion of the course SPED 4123 Teaching Individuals with Disabilities or its equivalent.
6. At least a minimum of nine (9) hours must be completed at the University of Central Oklahoma for certificate recommendation by UCO
7. For recommendation for certification applicants must not have more than six (6) hours of ‘C’ in specialized coursework.
8. Applicants must successfully complete all portfolio requirements as designated by the program.

For applicants who hold a baccalaureate degree, but do not have a Master’s degree

A. Applicants may qualify if they:

1. Hold and maintain a valid certification credential in early childhood education, elementary education, elementary-secondary education, secondary education, or vocationaltechnical education;
2. Have two (2) years teaching experience in an elementary school, middle school, junior high school, or senior high school accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

B. Applicants must complete the required courses for a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Please Educational Leadership, M.Ed.  for information regarding requirements for a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.

For applicants already holding a Master’s degree:

A. Applicants may qualify if they:

1. Hold and maintain a valid certification credential in early childhood education, elementary education, elementary - secondary education, secondary education, or vocational-technical education;
2. Have two (2) years teaching experience in an elementary school, middle school, junior high school, or senior high school accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

B. Applicants must complete the required courses for administration certification or submit documentation of relevant experience. Applicants attempting to use relevant experience in lieu of coursework must contact the Program Coordinator for Educational Leadership at EdLead@uco.edu for instructions on the alternative certification process for administration certification.

• EADM 5543 - Fund Pub Sch Adm
• EADM 5453 - Inter Relations School Admin
• EADM 5673 - School Personnel Adm
• EADM 5683 - Curriculum Leadership
• EADM 5623 - Superv/Eval Of Instruction
• EADM 5553 - Legal Aspects School Admin
• EADM 5353 - Technology for School Admin
• EADM 5583 - Public School Finance
• EADM 5814 - Principalship/Internship

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  Individuals who hold teacher certification via the State Department of Education’s Alternative Certification method will need to be recommended for adding advanced certification area(s) by UCO. However, the individual will remain part of the State Department of Education’s Alternative Certification Placement Program.