Online School Administrator Certification and Certificate Programs

There are no colleges and universities in the United States that offer fully online programs since in-person internships are an important part of earning your certificate.

However, there are a few that offer coursework online and only require you to be in-person for your internship experience. A few may also require you to spend a handful of days on campus.

We've listed our top choices for these programs below.

1. George Mason University

George Mason University is a public research university west of Washington, D.C., in the suburban Virginia city of Fairfax.

It offers an educational leadership graduate certificate for students who already hold a master's degree and a valid teaching license.

This course sequence has been approved by the state of Virginia to lead to the Administration and Supervision PreK-12 endorsement.

The program requires 24 credits and can be done through a full-time or part-time schedule. It includes courses such as:

• Curriculum Development and Evaluation
• Leading Schools and Communities
• Organizational Theory and Leadership
• Using Research to Lead School Improvement

Coursework for this program can be done fully online, but students are required to attend an internship in an authentic educational setting during their second term.

2. George Washington University

George Washington University is a private university in the heart of Washington, D.C., just a few blocks from the White House.

It offers a post-master's certificate in educational leadership and administration for students who already hold a master's degree in education.

This program is designed to meet the academic requirements for administrative certification/licensure for the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and other states.

Students can complete the program within a year. 18 credits are required in courses like:

• Foundations of K-12 Educational Leadership
• Instructional Leadership for School Improvement
• School Finance and Resource Management for School Leaders
• School Law and Policy

The program is offered both in-person and online. An internship experience is required, and most students intern at the school or district in which they are employed.

3. Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University is a private research university based in Baltimore, MD. It's perhaps best known for its medical program but also has an excellent education program.

It offers a graduate certificate in school administration and supervision for students who hold a master's degree and have been employed within a school district for at least 27 months.

This program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education for Administrator I certification and may also be accepted in other states.

The flexible part-time format allows students to complete the program in one to three years. A minimum of 18 credits are required with courses such as:

• Curriculum Theory, Development, and Implementation
• Effective Leadership
• Organization and Administration of Schools
• School Law

All courses are available online, but an internship in administration and supervision is required. Students are expected to fulfill this internship at their school or district of employment.

4. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private Catholic university in Winona, a city in the southeast corner of the state.

It offers a K-12 principal graduate certificate. To be eligible for this certificate, you must hold a master's degree in any field and have at least three years of teaching experience.

This program fulfills the state of Minnesota's requirements for elementary and secondary principal licensure.

The certificate requires 30 credits, which includes courses like:

• Continuous Improvement for Learning
• Ethical Decision Making for School Leaders
• Leading Flourishing Schools
• School Leadership: Purpose and Motivation

All courses are available online, but students will need to complete 320 hours of in-person field experience. Students must also attend a five-day Summer Institute on campus during one summer.

5. University of Kansas

The University of Kansas is a public research university in Lawrence, a city west of Kansas City.

It offers an online post-master's certificate in educational administration for students who have already earned their master's degree in education.

Upon completion of the program, Kansas students will be able to add the Building Leadership and Administration endorsement to their license. Out-of-state students will be prepared to sit for their state exam.

Students need to complete 24 credits to finish this program. Courses include:

• Education Law
• Principalship
• School Resources Management
• Students in Society

All courses for this program are offered online, but students will need to complete an on-site internship to earn their certificate.

6. University of North Carolina, Greensboro

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a public university in Greensboro, a city in the northern part of the state.

It offers a post-master's certificate in school administration for students who already hold a master's in education or a closely related field and have at least three years of teaching experience.

This certificate meets North Carolina requirements for an alternative path to school administration licensure.

Students must complete 24 credits, split between four courses and one field experience. The courses in this program are:

• Cultural and Political Dimensions of Schooling
• Leadership for Teaching and Learning
• Teacher Rights, Recruitment, Retention, and Evaluation
• The School Principalship

Courses are available fully online, but students must attend an in-person orientation at the start of each semester as well as an on-site internship.