Principal, PreK-12

Certificate Information

Overview: The Standard Professional Principal Certificate is required for all personnel who hold the title of Principal, Assistant Principal, or perform the duties of Principal or Assistant Principal as delineated in Title 15 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The certificate is valid for 12 years and is renewable.  Requirements may be subject to change and are fully referenced in the Arizona Revised Statutes and Administrative Code R7-2-606; R7-2-607; R-2-601.01; R7-2-616 (A)(C); R7-2-621.

Out-of-State Certificate Holders: If you hold a valid, current, comparable out-of-state educator certificate/license that is in good standing in another state, follow this link for information and steps to apply under reciprocity. 

To qualify for this certificate, applicants must meet the Coursework, Experience, and Exam Requirements.  

A formal review is required to verify that all requirements have been met. Please visit the "How to Submit Official Documents" below for the proper submission of the required documents. Failure to submit documents as described could cause a delay in the processing of the application.

  • Application: A completed Application for Certification. 
  • Fee: The fee for this certificate is $60. Per Board-rule, certification fees are non-refundable. 
  • AZDPS IVP Card: A valid Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.
  • Official Transcripts: Official Transcripts documenting a Master's or more advanced degree and all applicable coursework.
    • Note: If you completed your degree and applicable coursework at an institution outside of the United States, you must submit an evaluation from a Department approved foreign credential evaluation agency.  Please see the "Approved Foreign Credential Evaluation Agencies" list.
  • Exams: A passing score on the required Arizona Administrator Exam or appropriate documentation to meet exam requirements.
  • Teaching Experience: Verification of three years of full-time teaching experience in PreK-Grade 12.  Please have your district/school human resources office complete and submit the "Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience" form to verify your teaching experience.
  • Other Verification (if applicable): If you are using administrative experience to meet requirements, Please have your district/school human resources office complete and submit the "Verification of PreK-12 Leadership Experience" form to verify your leadership experience.

Master's degree, coursework, experience, and exam

  • Master's degree: A master's or more advanced degree from an accredited institution.
  • Teaching Experience: Verification of three (3) years of full-time teaching experience in grades Prekindergarten–12; -AND-
  • Official Transcripts: Completion of a program in educational administration for principals, including at least 30 graduate semester hours of educational administration courses that teach the knowledge and skills described in the Professional Administrative Standards (R7-2-603) to include three credit hours in school law and three credit hours in school finance; -AND-
  • Principal Practicum or Experience: One of the following:
    • Practicum: Official transcript from an accredited institution documenting a practicum as a principal; -OR-
    • Administrative Experience: Verification of two (2) years of experience as a principal or assistant principal under the supervision of a certified principal in grades Prekindergarten–12. 

Administrator Exam Requirement. One of the following: 

  • Principal Exam: A passing score on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) Principal Subtests I and II exam (AZ181 and  AZ281); -OR-
  • Superintendent Exam: A passing score on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) Superintendent Subtest I and II exam (AZ180 and AZ280); -OR-
  • Administrative Experience: Verification of three (3) years of full-time experience as an administrator in any state, including Arizona.
    • Note: Experience as an administrator in a foreign school will not be accepted; -OR-
  • Comparable Exam: A passing score on a similar Administrator exam from another state. Submit an official score report and have reporting state complete and submit Verification of Out of State Exams.
    • Note: If you took a Praxis exam, submit a copy of the exam score report request that your scores be reported to the state of Arizona 8517, in place of the Verification of Out of State Exam form.

Documents Requiring Submission by the Verifying Authority

  • Official Transcripts: Transcripts that are uploaded through the educator portal or emailed by the applicant are not official and will not be accepted. Official transcripts and foreign credential evaluations must be submitted as follows:
    • Electronic official transcripts must be submitted directly by the college or university to [email protected].
    • Paper official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope and mailed by the college or university to:
      Arizona Department of Education - Certification Unit
      PO Box 6490 
      Phoenix, AZ  85005-6490.
    • Foreign credential evaluations must be sent directly by the approved foreign credential evaluation agency to [email protected] or mailed to the Arizona Department of Education - Certification Unit.
  • Out-of-State Exam Score Reports: If you are using out-of-state exams, include a copy of the out-of-state score report with your application and have exams verified as follows:
    • Forward the "Verification of Out-of-State Exams" form to the state agency that accepted the exam.  This form must be completed and submitted by an official with the state agency.
    • If you are using Praxis exam(s), have your scores reported by ETS to the Arizona Department of Education (8517).
  • Verification of Teaching Experience: Request that the district/school human resources office complete and submit the Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form directly to [email protected].  
  • Verification of Administrative Experience: Request that the district/school human resources office complete and submit the Verification of Leadership Experience form directly to [email protected]. 

Accepted Photocopies from the Applicant

  • AZDPS IVP Card: Submit a photocopy of the Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance card. 
  • Arizona Educator Exams:  Submit a photocopy of the official score report documenting a passing score on the Arizona educator exam(s) (AEPA/NES).  

    Ready to apply - click here for step-by-step directions

    Pursuant to section 41-1093.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, an agency shall limit all occupational regulations to regulations that are demonstrated to be necessary to specifically fulfill a public health, safety, or welfare concern. Pursuant to sections 41-1093.02 and 41-1093.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, you have the right to petition this agency to repeal or modify the occupational regulation or bring an action in a court of general jurisdiction to challenge the occupational regulation and to ensure compliance with section 41-1093.01, Arizona Revised Statutes.