Education Administrators

Education & Training

Preparation

To work as an education administrator, you must:

• have a high school diploma or GED;
• have at least a bachelor's degree;
• have years of experience in education;
• be self-confident and persuasive;
• be able to direct and motivate people;
• have strong communication skills; and
• be decisive and determined.

Education after high school

Many principals and assistant principals have an advanced degree in education administration. A master's degree in education is acceptable in most cases. Some jobs require a doctoral degree (Ph.D.).

School district superintendents must have at least a master's degree and experience in education administration. Administrators who oversee school counseling programs usually have a master's degree in school counseling.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's and master's degrees in education administration. Courses include school law, curriculum development, and personnel administration.

Work experience

Many principals and assistant principals begin their careers as teachers. Teachers in public schools must have at least a bachelor's degree and a teaching license.

On-the-job training

In your first year as an education administrator, you will receive some on-the-job training. This usually is in the form of supervision by other administrators.

Many states require you to take continuing education courses each year. This is so you keep your skills up to date and maintain your license.

Related Programs (Current training programs available)

• Educational Leadership and Administration, General
• Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision
• Educational Administration and Supervision, Other

Fields of Study (What to study to prepare for this career)

Click on any of the Fields of Study listed below to find out more about preparing for this career.

• Business Management and Administration
• Child Care Services Management
• Child Development
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Education Administration
• Education Measurement and Testing
• Educational Psychology
• Human Resources Management
• International and Comparative Education
• Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
• Urban Education

Level of Education

The table below lists the level of education attained by a subset of workers in this occupation. The workers surveyed were between age 25 and 44.

* National data

Helpful High School Courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this occupation include:

• Child Development
• Computer Applications
• Keyboarding
• Parenting
• Public Speaking
• Teacher Assisting

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career.