Principal Professional Certificate Online

Gain the requisite knowledge to successfully prepare for certification as a Texas principal.

Apply by: 1/4/27
Start class: 1/19/27 Apply Now

Program Overview

How do you become a school principal?

Prepare for a transformative role as a principal with this online certificate program. Accessible faculty are available to help along every step of your journey, whether providing practice testing for the TExES 268 Principal as Instructional Leader exam or consulting about your PASL project. You will be prepared to apply to the State of Texas for principal certification upon completion of the principal certification program online.

Master the intricacies of running a school, from managing personnel to creating an engaging environment for students and teachers. Increase your proficiency in problem-solving, critical thinking and communication. With 100% online coursework, you'll be able to complete this program without putting your personal or work life on hold.

Attend weekly virtual meetings with your program advisor and other students. Gain access to tutorials, TExES 268 testing kits and assistance with practice testing. Take advantage of consultations for writing and creating your PASL project. This one-on-one attention gives you the specialized administrative knowledge you will need, as reflected in our students' high exam pass rates.

Become an effective school leader by enhancing your problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and communication expertise. With 100% online coursework, TAMIU'S Principal Professional Certificate looks at organizational theories, administrative preparation, personnel management, and educational research to enable you to create an atmosphere that gives staff and students opportunities to excel. You will leverage your knowledge in a two-part, field-based practicum.

Graduates of this online principal certification program will be able to:

  • Interpret education policy, public financing, and school accountability to develop and implement effective campus teaching and learning processes
  • Evaluate research, theory and data to facilitate the development of a campus vision for learning, communication and legal and ethical interactions with a variety of stakeholders
  • Assess the principles of effective leadership, management, and data-driven decision-making to ensure safe and effective learning environments
Graduates of this online principal certification program will be able to:+
  • Interpret education policy, public financing, and school accountability to develop and implement effective campus teaching and learning processes
  • Evaluate research, theory and data to facilitate the development of a campus vision for learning, communication and legal and ethical interactions with a variety of stakeholders
  • Assess the principles of effective leadership, management, and data-driven decision-making to ensure safe and effective learning environments

Career opportunities include:

  • Campus Principal
  • Assistant Principal
  • Curriculum Director
  • Athletic Director
  • Special Education Director
  • Special Programs Director
  • Human Resources Manager
Career opportunities include:+
  • Campus Principal
  • Assistant Principal
  • Curriculum Director
  • Athletic Director
  • Special Education Director
  • Special Programs Director
  • Human Resources Manager
+

Overview FAQs

TAMIU's Principal Professional Certificate is a 100% online, 21 credit hour program that prepares you, as a licensed teacher, to qualify for Texas principal certification. You'll complete seven courses: five core courses covering school administration, the principalship, public school law, data driven decision making, and administration of special programs, plus two practicum courses totaling 160 field hours. Courses run in 7 week terms, and you can expect to finish the full program in about 8 months, with multiple start dates available each year. Along the way, you'll get weekly virtual meetings with program advisors, TExES 268 practice testing and tutorials, and one on one consultations for your Principal as Instructional Leader (PASL) project. According to the program page, TAMIU's College of Education is accredited by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification. This certificate is built for working teachers who already hold Texas certification and want to move into campus leadership, not for those starting a degree from scratch. If you're weighing this credential against a full master's program, an enrollment specialist can walk you through how it fits your career plans: call (844) 872-8712 or request information online to get started.
Becoming a school principal in Texas requires a valid Texas teaching certificate, at least two years of teaching experience, and completion of a state approved principal preparation program that leads to certification through the Texas Education Agency. Most candidates also complete a graduate level credential, like a master's degree or a stand alone certificate, before applying. TAMIU's Principal Professional Certificate is built to meet that path directly. Admission requires a master's degree from an accredited institution, a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 across your last 60 credit hours, a current Texas teaching certificate in any field, and two years of teaching experience, and your coursework plus 160 hours of supervised practicum prepare you for the TExES 268 Principal as Instructional Leader exam, the state exam required for certification. Completing the certificate positions you for roles such as campus principal, assistant principal, curriculum director, athletic director, special education director, special programs director, or human resources manager. If you already hold a master's degree and teaching certification, this certificate can be a faster path to principal certification than repeating a full degree. Call (844) 872-8712 to confirm your eligibility and next steps.

Also available:

Texas A&M International University offers a variety of in-demand online education programs. Explore all of our online education programs.

Total Tuition $7,707*
Duration 8 months
Credit Hours 21

Accreditation


The State of Texas Education Agency

The Texas A&M International University College of Education is accredited by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification.

Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 844-872-8712

Call 844-872-8712

Tuition

Stay on budget with affordable tuition

Tuition for the Principal Professional Certificate online program is affordable and can be paid by the course. All fees are included.

View additional tuition information+

In-State Tuition:

The following tuition applies only to Texas residents.

Program Per Credit Hour Per Course Per Program*
Principal Professional Certificate $367 $1,101 $7,707

Out-of-State Tuition:

Program Per Credit Hour Per Program*
Principal Professional Certificate $1,030 $21,630

*Tuition subject to change.

Tuition breakdown:

Total Tuition $7,707*
Per Credit Hour $367

Calendar

Take note of these important dates

The Principal Professional Certificate program is delivered online, featuring 7-week courses and six start dates each year. Choose the start date that is best for you.

View full calendar +

SessionProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall II10/19/2610/5/2610/12/2610/16/2612/8/26
Spring I1/19/271/4/271/11/271/15/273/6/27
Spring II3/22/273/8/273/15/273/19/275/7/27
Summer I5/17/275/3/275/10/275/14/277/2/27

Calendar FAQs

TAMIU's Principal Professional Certificate offers six start dates a year, so you are not limited to a single annual intake. The program runs in 7 week terms spread across the fall, spring, and summer, giving you several points to begin within any given year. Because start dates are frequent, you can typically start within a few months of deciding to apply, and deferring by one term has far less impact on your timeline than it would in a traditional, semester length program. For current start dates and application deadlines, see the program calendar. Call (844) 872-8712 to review the calendar and lock in your start date.
Yes. TAMIU's Principal Professional Certificate is delivered 100% online and built for working teachers, so you can continue teaching full time while completing the program. It totals 21 credit hours across seven courses, five core courses plus two practicum courses, with weekly virtual meetings with program advisors rather than fixed daytime class schedules. The two practicum courses require 160 hours of field work under the guidance of a university faculty member and a school administrator, and most students complete that field work inside their own school or district while still working. Because the practicum happens inside your current teaching role rather than as a separate placement, you likely won't need to reduce your teaching schedule to complete it. If you want to talk through how the practicum hours would fit around your current position, call (844) 872-8712.

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 1/4/27
Class Starts 1/19/27

Ready to take the next steps toward earning your next degree?

Apply Now

Admissions

Get started on your application today—here's how

Applying for the Principal Professional Certificate online program is a simple process. Learn more about the admission requirements below.

Admission Requirements:

  • Master's degree from an accredited institution
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours
View all admission requirements +

  • Texas teacher certification (any field) and two years of teaching experience
  • Copy of teacher certificate and teacher service record
  • College of Education application and online screening survey
  • Code of Ethics form
  • FERPA form

International Transcript Evaluation:
TAMIU does their own foreign credential evaluations. Graduate School does not require third party evaluations nor are obligated to accept the results, or GPA calculations, if an evaluation is submitted. If an applicant submits an official evaluation, the evaluation does not replace official transcripts or certificates of graduation.

Official transcripts from all institutions attended can be sent to:

Texas A&M International University
Graduate School
Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, Suite 416
5201 University Boulevard
Laredo, TX 78041
OR
Electronically to [email protected]

Former TAMIU students do not need to submit TAMIU transcripts.

Upload the following documents to your application portal Click Here.

  1. FERPA consent found here
  2. Code of Ethics Form Teacher Candidate found here
  3. College of Education application found here
  4. Copy of your valid Texas Principal Certificate
  5. Complete the TAMIU College of Education On-line Screening Survey
  6. (If Required) Submit verification of minimum scaled scores on the (a) Test of English as a Foreign Language internet- Based Test (TOEFL iBT) of 24 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading, and 21 for writing or (b) International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to evidence English language proficiency if your undergraduate or graduate degree was not earned at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or at an institution of higher education in a country outside of the United States as listed https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/laws-and-rules/sbec-rules-tac/texas-administrative-code-title-19-part-7

If transcripts are uploaded to the portal, you will be asked to resend all official transcripts by mail or email and will delay the application process.

Have a question? Call us at 844-872-8712.

Admissions FAQs

To enroll in TAMIU's Principal Professional Certificate program, you'll need a master's degree from an accredited institution, a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 across your last 60 credit hours (which includes your graduate coursework), a current Texas teaching certificate in any field, and two years of teaching experience. Your application also includes a copy of your teacher certification, a teacher service record, TAMIU's online screening survey, the College of Education application, a FERPA consent form, and a Code of Ethics form. If your degree or transcripts are from outside the United States, TAMIU conducts its own foreign credential evaluation rather than requiring a third party evaluation, though you may also need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores if your degree wasn't earned at an accredited U.S. institution. Because this program builds on credentials you likely already have, a master's degree and teaching certification, most applicants find the eligibility bar is more about paperwork than new coursework. An enrollment specialist can review your transcripts and teaching record before you apply. Call (844) 872-8712 to check your eligibility.
Yes. TAMIU requires a valid Texas teaching certificate in any subject area, along with two years of teaching experience, to enroll in the Principal Professional Certificate program. You'll submit a copy of your teacher certification and a teacher service record as part of your application. This requirement exists because the certificate is a next step credential for licensed classroom teachers moving into administration, not an entry point into education. If you hold an out-of-state teaching certificate or are still finishing your certification, talk with an enrollment specialist about how that affects your timeline, since this is TAMIU's own admission standard rather than a step you complete during the program. If you already meet this requirement, the rest of the application, transcripts, GPA, and supporting forms, moves quickly. Call (844) 872-8712 to confirm your certification meets TAMIU's requirement before you apply.

Courses

Explore the courses in our online Principal Professional Certificate program

Curriculum for the Principal Professional Certificate online program is comprised of seven courses (21 credit hours), including a two-part practicum.

Expand All
You must take the following courses.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Organizational theories are examined. The course focuses on organizational leadership, problem solving, and decision-making techniques, their characteristics, and their applications. Must be taken within the first semester of enrollment in the program.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Designed to address administrative preparation, this course covers site-based management, program planning and assessment, personnel management, legal problems, public relations, pupil accounting, scheduling, facilities, finance, and budgeting.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course includes the legal basis for education, with special emphasis on the federal and state educational provisions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course explores key issues in educational research and practice, particularly the focus on test scores to measure student achievement and educational effectiveness. It will examine what test scores, as well as other school-based data, mean. Further, a discussion how to descriptively analyze educational data, interpret data, and use data to make decisions about student learning and school improvement. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and admission to the College of Education.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the administration and supervision of special programs. Local policies related to state and federal standards will be examined.
Students are required to take both Practicums - total of 160 hours
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on observation, shadowing, and working to solve problems with a school administrator under the guidance of a university professor. Students will be required to complete eighty (80) hours of field work. Assignments include the implementation of techniques and styles of administrative behavior in a school setting.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the application of administrative tasks in an internship field-based experience. The course requires the development of an action research plan for change based on a need linked to a campus improvement plan. The course requires eighty (80) hours of field work completed under the direction of a university professor and a school supervisor. Assignments include the implementation of techniques and styles of administrative behavior in a school setting. **Journey Towards Principalship Videos are shared explaining steps beyond the 21 credit hours. Prerequisite: EDAM 5335.
Practicum 1&2 will be taken after all other courses are complete

Courses FAQs

Yes. TAMIU's Principal Professional Certificate program is built around the TExES 268 Principal as Instructional Leader exam, the state certification test required to become a principal in Texas. You'll have access to TExES 268 testing kits, practice testing, and tutorials throughout your coursework, plus one on one consultations for writing and creating your Principal as Instructional Leader (PASL) project, which TAMIU notes is reflected in its students' exam pass rates. This support runs alongside your five core courses and two practicum courses (160 field hours total), so exam preparation is built into the program rather than something you arrange separately. For a working teacher balancing a job and coursework, having exam prep, PASL project support, and practicum supervision built into one 21 credit hour, 8 month program removes a major logistical burden. To ask about current TExES 268 pass rates or exam scheduling, call (844) 872-8712.
Celebrating 50 years of leadership preparation programs

TAMIU is proud to celebrate 50 years of leadership preparation programs (2023).

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