How to Become a Principal

Becoming a school principal is a long-term goal for many teachers and educational professionals. Principals are valuable members of student success teams, as they apply carefully honed leadership skills to assist teachers in impacting individual student learning, influencing school culture, and bringing the educational community together around a shared mission.

Learn how to become a school principal with a guide to the steps and preparation needed to take charge in this important role. You’ll learn the educational requirements to become a principal, how much a principal makes in an average year, and how the online Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Leadership with Principal Endorsement program from Aurora University can help you take the first significant steps toward a career in school administration.

What Does a Principal Do?

Like the manager of an organization or business, a school principal is responsible for setting the school’s vision. They apply a leadership philosophy to their administrative approach, ensuring that the needs of both teachers and students are met to maximize the success of a school year. However, elementary or secondary principals also have a variety of responsibilities outlined in their job descriptions, depending on the school setting:

• Principals enforce district and legal policies related to education, student care, and facility use.
• They oversee and manage the school budget and financial needs.
• School principals work closely with the school board and maintenance professionals to ensure the campus remains safe and well-maintained.
• They manage the recruitment and hiring process for their staff, as well as regular staff evaluations and job performance reviews.
• Principals collaborate with many other school teams, including IEP and 504 support teams, executive PTA boards, district administration, school boards, and other school site committees.
• They communicate and work with other members of the school administration, including assistant principals, deans, counselors, and office managers.
• School principals explore modern approaches to education and bring professional development opportunities to their faculty.
• In some cases, principals are also responsible for student discipline policies, parent communication, and counseling for students on behavior plans.

If a principal’s leadership style is more hands-on, they may also act as substitute teachers from time to time, observe student behavior in the halls and on the playground, and meet with student government groups to collaborate on the school’s best practices. Principals who prefer a more managerial style may delegate these tasks to other members of the school administration.

What Are the Education Requirements for Principals?

To become a school principal, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field, years of teaching experience (typically over five years), and a teaching credential that certifies you to teach in your state. While it’s possible to become a principal without being a teacher, it’s uncommon, and most school districts view teaching experience as a prerequisite for the role.

After you’ve been teaching for a period of time, you can earn a master’s degree, like an MA in educational leadership, along with an administrative credential or license that requires you to pass state-approved exams. These advanced degrees equip aspiring principals with fundamental management skills to prepare them for leadership in a school setting. Additionally, earning a master’s degree is linked to higher confidence and empathy in a professional’s career, two vital skills for any elementary or secondary principal.

Principals can further their professional development through memberships in organizations such as the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) or the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). These groups provide principals with up-to-date information on changes in education policy and essential connections with other principals, ensuring they are well-prepared to face any challenge in their daily professional lives. They may also earn a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in education or educational administration.

What Are the Steps to Become a School Principal?

Once a teacher or administrator has earned the necessary education, degrees, and certifications, they can begin the process of becoming a principal. Generally, aspiring school principals would follow these steps:

1. Seek leadership opportunities within their current position, such as serving as a department chair or grade-level leader, to gain administrative experience and establish connections.
2. Apply for a non-principal administrative role, such as an assistant principal or a dean, in their desired grade level.
3. Wait for a principal opening at their current school, or use education job sites to find principal openings at another school.
4. Apply for the principal position and participate in a series of interviews, including with the district administration, the school board, and the superintendent.

If a principal candidate accepts a principal job in another state, they’ll need to ensure that their current licensure meets the new state’s administrative standards. If not, they’ll need to earn a state credential before beginning their principal job.

Salary Expectations for Principals

So, how much does a principal make? In 2024, the median salary for a principal in any grade level was $104,070. That’s approximately 40% more than the median teacher salary, which ranges from $62,310 for elementary teachers to $64,580 for secondary teachers. In addition, a principal’s median pay is comparable to that of postsecondary administrators ($103,960).

Factors that may influence how much a principal earns include the state in which they work, the amount of teaching and administrative experience they had before becoming a school principal, and the length of time they’ve been in a principal role. Earning additional graduate degrees, such as an Ed.D. or a Ph.D., may also increase a principal’s earning potential.

What Are the Skills and Qualities of Effective Principals?

When studying how to become a school principal, it’s essential to examine the attributes of effective principals in their school settings. Successful principals are skilled leaders who collaborate with their colleagues to foster a positive school culture. They employ leadership and communication skills learned throughout their academic experience to lead a school toward goals that maximize teacher and student success.

School principals who excel in their roles are also adept at making decisions and solving problems in real-world contexts. They can anticipate potential problems and adapt to unexpected setbacks, modeling a positive, professional outlook for the rest of their staff. These principals possess strong interpersonal skills, enabling them to foster empathetic and caring relationships with students and teachers alike, as well as critical thinking skills to devise new solutions when current plans aren’t working.

In addition, successful principals are eager to learn, inspiring their teachers and students to enjoy their learning journeys. They use conflict management skills to de-escalate student behavior and support parent intervention, skillfully conveying their vision and school mission through verbal and written communication.

Preparing With Aurora University’s Master’s in Educational Leadership Degree

Learn how to become a school principal in AU’s online MA in Educational Leadership with Principal Endorsement program. This program prepares graduates for the challenges of 21st-century school management. Through rigorous coursework in educational technology, fiscal management, organizational theory, and curriculum development, future principals gain a deeper understanding of the scope and skills required to navigate complex school systems and effectively address student needs.

AU’s online programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), ensuring that instruction is both high-quality and transferable across institutions. The principal endorsement master’s program is also approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

A flexible online format enables working educators to pursue advanced degrees while teaching, and affordable tuition rates make it possible to attend classes without financial concerns or disadvantage. Principal candidates also enjoy one-on-one attention from experienced faculty members and lifelong connections with their degree cohort, all within the small-college experience that AU offers its students.

Become a School Leader With Support From Aurora University

While principals have numerous responsibilities in their daily roles, they also enjoy a rewarding and impactful career, as they positively contribute to student success. Programs like Aurora University’s give students the tools they need to make a difference in the lives of teachers, students, families, and their entire community.

If you’d like to learn how to become a principal and take the first steps in your career path as a school principal, request information from a student engagement specialist. They can provide you with more information about AU’s online MA in Educational Leadership with Principal Endorsement program and how to prepare your admissions materials today.