Principal License Certificate

Program Details

Demand for skilled educational leaders is growing as schools seek visionary, effective leadership. The Principal License Certificate at Western Oregon University equips educators with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to excel in leadership roles. Through evidence-based practice and real-world application, students learn to support and facilitate learning within their professional contexts while developing key leadership attributes. Ready to take the next step?

Real-world experience and scheduling that fits your life!

Start Term & Application Deadline

Spring Term:

February 1

Apply Now

Attend a Program Information Session

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Program Overview (structure & format)
Courses, Clinical Practice Experience, and Applied Leadership Projects
Financial Information
Open Q&A

Upcoming Info Sessions

Monday, Oct. 19, 5:30 – 7pm, RSVP Meet Virtually on Zoom

Click image above to download PDF flyer.

What Our PLP Students Say

“You can’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. That secondary location was hard to get into but such an incredible experience. Advice to potential candidates: Jump! Just go for it. You will be surprised at what you are capable of doing.”

— Kara Dickey

“One of my favorite parts of the WOU PLP experience was learning from the instructors who have walked the walk! Top-notch instructors!”

— Aubrey Dunham

“I appreciate how the PLP experience is grounded in current reality. Being instructed by administrators who are doing this work every day, or very recently retired, meant that our topics and conversations were relevant and credible.”

— Anonymous

“Don’t hesitate to ask the questions, make the reflections and invest in others. Your growth will be exponential.”

— Robert Hunter

“One of the most valuable aspects from this program was to learn firsthand from leaders who are actively doing the work and leading our schools.”

— Maria Banuelos

“Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself and for the support you need. Take advantage of all the opportunities.”

— Erica Denton

“My experience through the WOU PLP Program has truly been transformative. Learning and anchoring that learning in my core values has led me to a path in leadership that I am now passionate about.”

— Rubi Hovenden

“I appreciated that I could take what I was learning and immediately apply it to my own classroom and my role on my school’s leadership team. The learning is invaluable.”

— Jennifer Kercher

Program Details

Overview

Designed for:

This program is designed for current licensed educators who are seeking to enhance their leadership skills and prepare for a position as a building administrator in Oregon K-12 schools.

The Principal License Certificate helps you meet the requirements to become a licensed school administrator in Oregon, preparing you to step into leadership roles such as principal or vice principal. It equips you with the skills to lead schools effectively, use data to drive decisions, implement equitable practices, and foster positive change in diverse educational settings. Through practical experience and coursework aligned with state and national standards, you’ll be ready to take on the complex challenges of school leadership with confidence. Upon completion of this certificate, candidates are eligible to be recommended for an Oregon Principal License through the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC).

To start, you need:

A master’s degree (must be completed by end of Summer 2027)
To be currently employed in a K-12 school in the state of Oregon
Two years of licensed educational experience

Finishing will take:

40 credits

Begin your Principal License Certificate:

Spring term

Where you will take classes:

Online: synchronous and asynchronous: fall, winter and spring

Technology you will need:

Computer with internet connection

Where this certificate can take you:

Building Administrator
Further career advancement

Learning outcomes:

Effectively apply the content expertise (knowledge, skills, dispositions) of their education profession.
Use research and evidence to develop environments that support and assess learning in their own professional practice.
Show commitment to, and develop professional, educational leadership attributes.

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

Spring Term: February 1

In order to be eligible for admission to the certificate program, students must:

Attend an online information session
You are required to attend an information session led by Dr. Alicia Wenzel offered in May or October the year prior to beginning the certificate program. This session provides essential details about the program and the application process.
Submit a WOU graduate application
Details about application requirements are listed below.

Detailed application requirements:

Application materials required for WOU Graduate admission:

Transcripts
- You can upload an unofficial copy of your transcript to complete your application for admission. Save as a PDF with your first and last name in time from all previous colleges. We will require an official transcript from the Colleges or Universities you have attended for formal admission.
- Transcripts are used as evidence of completion of a master’s degree (or international equivalent) or the ability to complete the degree by the end of Summer 2027. Students must have a cumulative B average (equivalent 3.00 on a U.S. 4.00 grading scale) on the most recent graduate degree; applicants with less than 3.0 can also provide passing GRE scores to be fully admitted.
Current Resume
- Submit a current resume saved as a PDF with your first and last name in the title.
Biographical Letter
- Please provide a biographical letter including an overview of your prior experience, why you are interested in participating in the certificate program, and how it meets your professional goals.
District Support Letter
- Provide a letter of support from a district administrator endorsing the applicant’s participation in the certificate program, including ability to assist with connecting applicant with two clinical placements sites within the district.
Responses to Short Answer Questions (written/video)
Two Recommendations
- Provide at least two recommendations from current or former school administrators. Recommendations should speak to the applicant’s competence, leadership, or mentoring potential, and ability to work effectively across differences in communication or perspective. The online recommendation system will send an email request to each recommender.
Professional Characteristics Form
- Review the professional characteristics document and upload it.

Process: Applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been submitted. Please refer to the Application Checklist in your Graduate Application Portal to confirm the status of your submitted materials. The Graduate Application Portal will also provide additional details about the checklist items for further clarification. You will be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing any application components.

Curriculum