Education · 1 of 4

The path

Almost nobody becomes a principal without teaching first. Districts do not hire leaders who have never run a classroom.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Any strong academic track. Coaching, tutoring, student government and running anything with other people all count.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree and teaching license

   4 to 5 years

   A subject degree plus a teacher preparation program and your state's teaching exams.

3. 3

   Teach

   3 to 5 years

   Three to five years in a classroom is the usual requirement, and the real education. Take on department head, grade lead or coaching roles.

4. 4

   Master's in educational leadership

   2 years

   Usually 30 to 36 credits, done part time while teaching, with a supervised administrative internship inside a school.

5. 5

   Exam, certificate, then assistant principal

   2 to 5 years

   Pass your state's school leadership test, get the principal certificate, then serve two to five years as an assistant principal.