K-12 Administrator Licensure Programs
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 and Superintendent licensure
- Master of Education in Educational Leadership (K-12 Principal Licensure)
- Students completing the degree requirements for the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership will meet the academic requirements necessary for a Montana Class III Administrative license with a K-12 Principal Endorsement.
- Candidates requesting a recommendation for licensure from Montana State University, must meet the following requirements to be recommended:
- Completion of the Educational Leadership M.Ed. 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 for licensure 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.
- School Superintendent Certificate (K-12 Superintendent Licensure)
- Students completing the certificate requirements for the School Superintendent Certificate will meet the academic requirements necessary for a Montana Class III Administrative license with a K-12 Superintendent Endorsement.
- MSU Internship for Principals and Superintendents
- The MSU Internship is designed for candidates who do not hold a license as a K-12 Principal and/or Superintendent and have been hired into a school leadership position that requires licensure.
- The MSU Internship allows eligible candidates to participate in Montana Office of Public Instruction's (OPI) Internship Program.
- M.Ed. and Superintendent students must be actively pursing their degree program at MSU and enter into a formal internship agreement between MSU's Educational Leadership Program, the Montana Office of Public Instruction, and the employing School District and its Board of Trustees for supervision and support.
- Out of State School Administrative License
- Candidates with an Out-of-State Administrative License should contact the Program Leader to discuss OPI Montana licensure requirements.
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
Dr. Laura Schlottman, Assistant Professor
Email: laura.schlottman@montana.edu