Certificate - Educational Leadership Tier I (Online)

The Educational Leadership Tier I Certification-Only pathway is a fully online 18-credit graduate certificate designed to prepare Educational Leadership (EDLD) candidates for Stage I initial leadership positions that include P-12 school-level assistant principals or the equivalent, or other Local Unit of Administration (LUA) staff who do not supervise principals pursuant to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) Educational Leadership Preparation Rule (Rule 505-3-.77). Students must be currently employed in a K12 setting and possess a Professional Level Five Certificate Or higher in a leadership, teacher, service, or related field). Embedded within this program is a 9-credit Teacher-Leader Endorsement (TLE). The Educational Leadership Tier I Certification-Only Program provides a unique opportunity for K12 educational leaders to further develop the skills necessary for school administrative positions through a rigorous performance-based coursework resulting in certification conferred via the GaPSC. This program is designed for those who already possess an M.Ed degree. This 18-credit hour certificate is administered through a cohort model, and the course sequence is prescribed and provided to candidates upon admissions. The 250 required hours of clinical practice are job-embedded and performance-based throughout the program, and are guided cooperatively by the University and the school/district partner via supervised field experience courses. The curriculum is based on an inquiry approach that emphasizes foundation knowledge and skills, including research skills applicable to a multitude of education topics and issues, and is intended to enhance current and future educational leaders’ knowledge, skills, and dispositions.

1. Complete requirements for a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
2. Possess or be eligible for a Georgia Professional Level Five Certificate or higher in a teaching, service, or leadership field.
3. Present a cumulative 2.75 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all undergraduate and graduate work combined.
4. Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 200 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional aspirations.
5. Acknowledge Disclosure and Affirmation questions within the application that address misconduct disclosure, the Code of Ethics for Educators, and tort liability insurance.
6. Submit The Principal’s Assurance Form, click here to view the form.
7. Submit a current resume or CV. Candidate must be employed in a P-12 school setting in order to complete required field experience hours.
8. Submit a passing score on the state-required Georgia Educator Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment.

*International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES accredited evaluation service and must be a course by course evaluation and include a GPA. (naces.org)

Provisional Admission

Applicants may be approved for provisional admission based on the quality of the admission material presented. Provisional students must earn grades of “B” or higher in their first nine (9) hours of course work after admission and meet any other stipulations outlined by the department to be converted to regular status