K-12 Principal Licensure
The Educational Leadership program at Montana State University is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), as well as by the Montana Board of Public Education. The focus of the program is to prepare K-12 School Principals to effectively serve Montana communities and rural communities throughout the Northern Plains and Northern Rocky Mountain region of the United States.
There are several paths to prepare educators for Montana K-12 School Principal licensure
- Master of Education in Educational Leadership (K-12 Principal Licensure)
- Students completing the degree requirements for the Master of Education in Educational Leadership will meet the academic requirements necessary for a Montana Class III Administrative license with a K-12 Principal Endorsement.
- Recommendation and Approval for Licensure - Candidates requesting a recommendation for licensure from Montana State University, must meet the following requirements to be recommended:
- Completion of all courses in the Educational Leadership MEd as outlined in DegreeWorks meeting the GPA standards according to catalog year;
- Possess a current Montana Class 1 or 2 license (teacher certification); and
- Take the Praxis Education Leadership Administration and Supervision Exam 5412 Site: https://www.ets.org/pdfs/praxis/5412.pdf. When registering for the exam, candidates must request that ETS send the Praxis Score Report to MSU (Code 4488). The minimum passing score accepted for certification recommendation is 149.
- Three (3) years of teaching experience is required by the State of Montana for principal licensure. Please check your home state to verify licensure requirements.
- Board of Public Education/OPI Internship
- Out of State School Administrative License
- Candidates with an Out-of-State Administrative License should contact the Program Leader to discuss Montana licensure needs.
Contacting Educational Leadership Faculty
To discuss your path to Montana K-12 School Principal Licensure, contact our Educational Leadership Faculty.
Dr. Jason Cummins, Assistant Professor and Program Leader
Email: jason.cummins1@montana.edu