They also may become superintendent of a school system or president of an educational institution. Most education administrators begin their careers in related occupations, and prepare for a job in education administration by completing a master's or doctoral degree. For a list of current job listing, browse Caljobs or America's Job Bank . In most public schools, principals, assistant principals, and school administrators in central offices need a master's degree in education administration or educational supervision. Some principals and central office administrators have a doctorate or specialized degree in education administration.
Most States require principals to be licensed as school administrators.
License requirements vary by State. National standards for school leaders, including principals and supervisors, were recently developed by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium. Several States currently use these national standards as guidelines to assess beginning principals for licensure, and many more States are expected to adopt the standards for this purpose. The number and type of courses required to maintain certification vary by State. In evaluating candidates for education administrators, supervisors look for determination, confidence, innovativeness, motivation, and leadership.