School principals play a central role in student outcomes and school culture. In addition to making important personnel decisions, they formulate a school’s vision and values, providing an important framework for how students and staff are expected to conduct themselves. Unsurprisingly, this important position requires deliberate preparation, including graduate-level education and state certification.
Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) online Master of Science in Educational Administration (M.S. Ed Admin) program is designed specifically to prepare educators for the principal certification process in Texas. But before applying to the program, it is important to learn what school principals do, what the certification path in Texas looks like and the core skills the role demands.
What Does a School Principal Do?
School principals have a broad range of responsibilities including overseeing all campus operations, supporting and evaluating teachers, managing facilities and budgets, ensuring students and staff are positioned for success, and building relationships with families and the community. “Ultimately, the principal is responsible for providing a safe and productive learning environment for the students,” states Indeed.
However, the modern principal is also first and foremost an instructional leader, someone who shapes the teaching environment, sets academic expectations and drives improvement across their school. While individual teachers are responsible for what happens in their classrooms, the principal needs to be effective at implementing change and ensuring quality of instruction schoolwide. TAMIU’s M.S. Ed Admin curriculum, which focuses on instructional supervision, school law and school finance (among other subjects), prepares graduates for these responsibilities.
What Are the Principal Certification Requirements in Texas?
In Texas, there is a specific process that candidates for principal must follow. First, they need to earn a master’s degree in educational administration or a related field. Then they must complete a supervised practicum and pass the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) required exams, including the Principal as Instructional Leader (268) exam and the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL).
TAMIU’s program curriculum cultivates the competencies these exams measure, strengthening students’ readiness for both TEA assessments. Moreover, the streamlined admission requirements and program features are designed to lower barriers to access. No GRE is required, and the program is delivered in an accelerated seven-week online format with six start dates annually, allowing for maximum flexibility to accommodate working professionals.
What Core Skills Do Effective School Principals Need?
Effective school principals must have strong skills in key areas, including instructional leadership, personnel management, organizational decision-making and data-driven program evaluation, all of which are critical for managing a large, complex organization like a modern school. Principals also need sound legal and ethical judgment, as well as an understanding of school finance and budget management. Finally, principals must be able to engage with families and the larger local community in collaborative ways.
TAMIU’s M.S. Ed Admin curriculum cultivates each of these competencies. In the course Advanced Problems in Supervision, students explore contemporary supervisory processes, problems and research related to effective instructional performance, preparing them to successfully manage activities and collaborate with stakeholders in education settings. Through the program practicum requirement, students gain hands-on experience researching and developing a campus-specific improvement plan under the direction of a university professor and a school supervisor. Together, these competencies form the foundation of effective school leadership — empowering principals to make informed decisions, build strong teams and create environments where both students and educators can thrive.
Advance to Education Leadership With an Online M.S. Ed Admin From TAMIU
School principals play an important role in education. They must be able to diplomatically balance the competing needs of different stakeholders, from teachers and students to community members, while making sure operations run smoothly and on budget. The rigorous certification pathway required in Texas helps schools identify the best and most skilled candidates for the job.
For their work, principals are well-compensated. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for school principals in 2024 was $104,070. The job outlook is also strong, with approximately 20,800 openings projected each year through 2034, a trend driven largely by retirement and turnover.
TAMIU’s online M.S. Ed Admin program provides a direct, accessible pathway to meeting Texas principal certification requirements — without the GRE requirement or rigid scheduling that can slow working educators down. With an accelerated online format and six annual start dates, the program enables educators to earn an advanced degree without stepping away from the classroom. Graduates emerge not only with a valued credential, but with the leadership vision, practical experience and subject-matter expertise needed to make an immediate impact in their schools.
Learn more about TAMIU’s online M.S. in Educational Administration.
