Specializations · Arizona
Educational Leadership Pathways in Arizona
Educational Leadership in Arizona is a graduate award, not Standard Professional Principal Certificate PreK-12. This table lists 21 institutions with matching IPEDS completions. Completions are not approval to recommend candidates for the license. Use the Arizona principal checklist for the credential.
Educational leadership is graduate study aimed at school and district leadership roles. Programs commonly sit inside an M.Ed., EdS, or EdD. Completing a leadership degree is not the same as earning a principal or administrator credential. States issue that license after an approved preparation sequence, experience, and any required exams.
Reviewed by Brittnie Vargas, School principal, M.Ed.Editorial processHow this degree relates to the Arizona principal credential
The Arizona license is Standard Professional Principal Certificate PreK-12. Read the principal checklist for steps, exams, and the board source — this page is the IPEDS inventory for Educational Leadership, not a second copy of that checklist.
Arizona’s principal certificate is a 12-year Standard Professional Principal Certificate PreK-12, and it is not optional window dressing. The Arizona Department of Education and Rule R7-2-616 require it for a Principal, an Assistant Principal, or anyone performing those duties under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 15. A teacher who “covers” the principal’s office during a vacancy is performing those duties. Districts that rely on an unofficial dean title to avoid certification are outside the rule’s wording.
Coursework is quantified. The educational administration program for principals must include at least 30 graduate semester hours that teach the Professional Administrative Standards, and those hours must include three credits of school law and three credits of school finance. A 24-hour certificate-only sequence, or a master’s that omitted school finance, does not meet R7-2-616 even if the transcript says “educational leadership.” The field component is a practicum as principal or two years already served as a principal or assistant principal under a certified principal—experience under an uncertified acting principal does not satisfy that alternative.
Institutions with Educational Leadership programs in Arizona
Rows come from IPEDS awards by CIP and award level. This extract reported no completion counts, so none are shown. An institution that conferred awards is not automatically approved to recommend candidates for Standard Professional Principal Certificate PreK-12.
| Institution | CIP | Award level |
|---|---|---|
| American InterContinental University System (Chandler, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (Tempe, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion (Scottsdale, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Aspen University (Phoenix, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Aspen University (Phoenix, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Post-master’s / EdS |
| International Baptist College and Seminary (Chandler, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ) | 13.0411 Superintendency and Educational System Administration | Doctorate (research) |
| Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ) | 13.0412 International School Administration/Leadership | Master’s |
| Ottawa University-Surprise (Surprise, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Prescott College (Prescott, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| University of Phoenix-Arizona (Phoenix, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Phoenix-Arizona (Phoenix, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Phoenix-Arizona (Phoenix, AZ) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
Frequently asked questions
Is educational leadership the same as principal certification?
No. Educational leadership is an academic concentration. Principal certification is a state-issued administrative credential. Many candidates earn both through the same approved program, but you must satisfy the state’s credential rules, not only complete graduate courses.
Which degree should I pursue for school leadership?
Many educators start with an M.Ed. in educational leadership. Some continue to an EdS for post-master’s depth, or an EdD for terminal practitioner study. Match the degree to your state’s credential checklist and your timeline, do not choose based on ranking lists.
Can I complete educational leadership online?
Many programs offer online or hybrid coursework, but internships and field experiences are usually local. Confirm that the program can place you in an approved setting in the state where you intend to hold an administrative license.
Which leadership exam will I take?
The exam is set by the state board. This site sources SLLA 6990, TExES 268 and PASL, FELE, CalAPA/CPACE, PAL, OAE 015, and other state instruments on the SLLA page and each principal checklist. Confirm the current test code and cut score on the board testing page.