Specializations · California
Educational Leadership Pathways in California
Educational Leadership in California is a graduate award, not Preliminary Administrative Services Credential. This table lists 109 institutions with matching IPEDS completions. Completions are not approval to recommend candidates for the license. Use the California 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 California principal credential
The California license is Preliminary Administrative Services Credential. 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.
California does not fold building leadership into a generic administrator stamp. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing issues a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential only after a candidate already holds a qualifying prerequisite—historically a clear teaching or services credential, and, beginning January 1, 2026, an occupational therapy or physical therapy license that meets Assembly Bill 1009. That prerequisite is not a formality. Leaflet CL-574C states that Preliminary validity can be cut short by the expiration of the underlying credential, so candidates who let a teaching or services document lapse can lose administrative authorization even if the five-year Preliminary clock has not run out.
Preparation is a fork, not a single exam day. Most candidates complete a Commission-approved administrative services program that embeds the California Administrator Performance Assessment. Others serve on an intern authorization while finishing program requirements. A third group sits for CPACE and must pass both the content and performance subtests; those scores remain usable for ten years, which matters for people who complete testing well before they have a job offer. Mixing the routes without reading the exam-prepared checklist is a common source of delay, because CTC treats CalAPA-in-program and CPACE as alternative demonstrations, not interchangeable fragments.
Institutions with Educational Leadership programs in California
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 Preliminary Administrative Services Credential.
| Institution | CIP | Award level |
|---|---|---|
| Alliant International University-San Diego (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Alliant International University-San Diego (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Ashford University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Ashford University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (professional) |
| Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA) | 13.0410 Urban Education and Leadership | Master’s |
| California Baptist University (Riverside, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (professional) |
| California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Pomona, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-Bakersfield (Bakersfield, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-Channel Islands (Camarillo, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills (Carson, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California State University-East Bay (Hayward, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-East Bay (Hayward, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California State University-Fresno (Fresno, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (professional) |
| California State University-Fresno (Fresno, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-Fresno (Fresno, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California State University-Fullerton (Fullerton, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (professional) |
| California State University-Fullerton (Fullerton, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-Fullerton (Fullerton, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California State University-Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (professional) |
| California State University-Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California State University-Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California State University-Northridge (Northridge, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (professional) |
| California State University-Northridge (Northridge, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-Northridge (Northridge, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California State University-Sacramento (Sacramento, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (professional) |
| California State University-Sacramento (Sacramento, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-San Bernardino (San Bernardino, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-San Bernardino (San Bernardino, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California State University-San Marcos (San Marcos, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-San Marcos (San Marcos, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| California State University-Stanislaus (Turlock, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| California State University-Stanislaus (Turlock, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Chapman University (Orange, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Chapman University (Orange, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Concordia University-Irvine (Irvine, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Concordia University-Irvine (Irvine, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| DeVry University-California (Ontario, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Fielding Graduate University (Santa Barbara, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Fielding Graduate University (Santa Barbara, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Fresno Pacific University (Fresno, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| High Tech High Graduate School of Education (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Hope International University (Fullerton, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| La Sierra University (Riverside, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| La Sierra University (Riverside, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA) | 13.0410 Urban Education and Leadership | Master’s |
| Meridian University (Petaluma, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Mount Saint Mary's University (Los Angeles, CA) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| National University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| National University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| Northcentral University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Northcentral University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Northcentral University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Northcentral University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0408 Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship | Master’s |
| Notre Dame de Namur University (Belmont, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA) | 13.0410 Urban Education and Leadership | Master’s |
| Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Reach University (Oakland, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Saint Mary's College of California (Moraga, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Saint Mary's College of California (Moraga, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| San Diego State University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| San Diego State University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| San Francisco State University (San Francisco, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| San Francisco State University (San Francisco, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| San Francisco State University (San Francisco, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| San Jose State University (San Jose, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| San Jose State University (San Jose, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Soka University of America (Aliso Viejo, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Sonoma State University (Rohnert Park, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Touro University California (Vallejo, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| United States University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| United States University (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of California-Davis (Davis, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of California-Irvine (Irvine, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of California-Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of California-Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of La Verne (La Verne, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of La Verne (La Verne, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Massachusetts Global (Aliso Viejo, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Massachusetts Global (Aliso Viejo, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Redlands (Redlands, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Redlands (Redlands, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Redlands (Redlands, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| University of San Diego (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of San Diego (San Diego, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of San Diego (San Diego, CA) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Master’s |
| University of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) | 13.0410 Urban Education and Leadership | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) | 13.0410 Urban Education and Leadership | Master’s |
| University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Vanguard University of Southern California (Costa Mesa, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| William Jessup University (Rocklin, CA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
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.