Principal Certification Program

Performance-Based Principal Program

The Principal Certification Program is designed for experienced educators who aspire to obtain administrative positions as elementary or secondary school principals. This program embodies the combined competencies of knowledge, performance, and professional disposition.

Why IUP’s Principal Program?

• Our Principal Certification Program is distinguished by its performance foundation for administrative certification. 
• Our program emphasizes the achievement of administrative competencies through documented outcomes of field experiences rather than progression through a sequence of courses. 
• Our program is designed to provide maximum convenience to the working professional by having the internships completed within the context of the candidates’ home district. 
• Our entire program can be completed in a year. 
• Our program is considered a leading principal certification program in the state of Pennsylvania.

Principal Certification Program Outcomes

IUP is dedicated to the preparation of outstanding educational leaders who see themselves as both scholars and practitioners. This particular program, therefore, reflects the expectations that aspiring principals:

• model credible strategic leadership within their own school district
• demonstrate exemplary interpersonal skills
• exemplify outstanding communication and organizational skills
• reflect a history of continued professional growth and the use of data to inform curricular and pedagogical decisions
• engage in political and community initiatives

Seminar topics target leadership in a learning organization, ongoing professional development in strengthening school culture and the necessity for continual curricular improvements. In addition, the topics of integration of electronic resources, supervisory strategies, inclusive practice, school policy, state and federal law, safety, labor relations, facilities management, human relations, and community involvement will be considered.