ÌÇÐÄVlogÊÓƵ

Program Overview

The College of Education’s Alternative Certification Program (ACP) for Principals is 100% online and designed for candidates who hold a master’s degree and would like to pursue an educational leadership career. 

The online certification program prepares you to take both the TExES Principal (268) as an Instructional Leader exam and the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) 368 exam.

Candidates will complete eight (8) asynchronous content modules along with three (3) practicum modules designed to meet ÌÇÐÄVlogÊÓƵ Education Agency requirements for certification. These modules address a variety of essential topics, including introduction to educational leadership, school culture, human capital, and executive leadership, among other topics. 

Please note:
*Candidates must be employed full-time at a TEA-approved setting for their practicums to be eligible for certification.
*This program does not recommend students for internship or probationary certificates.
* Don’t have a master’s degree? Consider our M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with principal certification, which is ideal for aspiring principals and assistant principals who also need to obtain a master’s degree.

Program Advantages:

- 100% accelerated online coursework
- Prepares you for the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) 368 exam.
- Approved by the ÌÇÐÄVlogÊÓƵ Education Agency (TEA) as a Principal Educator Preparation Program
- Strong alumni network

Learning outcomes for this program include:

- Preparation to succeed in the critical role of an effective, entry-level school principal or assistant principal with an increased emphasis on instructional leadership
- Aspects of instructional leadership, such as data-driven decision-making, the continuous improvement cycle, the observation and coaching cycle, change management, and issues related to educational equity
- Contexts reflect early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, rural, urban and suburban schools
- Heightened understanding of the knowledge, skills and mindset that are key to being a successful school leader
- Coaching teachers: emphasis placed on instructional coaching and providing evidence-based feedback to teachers
- Emphasis on supporting staff in the effective use of instructional data to inform instructional practice and develop intervention plans
- The importance of culture and diversity in schools
- Future roles could include school Principal, Assistant Principal or private school Administrator. This program requires approved administrative practicum work.

Program Length

This program is designed to be completed within 12-15 months. 

While the program is designed to be self-paced, candidates who begin practicum observations are expected to follow the recommended milestone timelines when practicum starts. Staying on track with these milestones is important to ensure timely completion of practicum requirements.

Admission Requirements
Admission into ÌÇÐÄVlogÊÓƵ’s ACP is competitive and requires that candidates meet specific academic and professional standards. 

Requirements include: 
A master's degree with GPA 3.0+
2 years teaching experience (verified by teacher service record) 
Current verification of employment (to verify TEA accredited practicum site) 
Valid teaching certificate 
Two (2) letters of recommendation, with at least one being from a current principal or assistant principal.
Official transcripts (all transcripts) submitted directly to ÌÇÐÄVlogÊÓƵ to acpprincipal@uta.edu 
Responses to two essay questions regarding leadership goals and readiness

Program Cost

The program fee for our ACP is $7,250. Additionally, you’ll pay a $35 technology state-mandated fee paid to the ÌÇÐÄVlogÊÓƵ Education Agency (TEA) by candidates admitted into an Educator Preparation Program (EPP), as required by ÌÇÐÄVlogÊÓƵ Administrative Code Chapter 229.9.  Enrollees must pay the full cost of the program prior to ÌÇÐÄVlogÊÓƵ awarding any required certification or recommendation.

You may pay the program fee all at once ($7,250) or select one of the following payment options: 
                  - 2 payments of $3,625 (once every 4 months) 
                  - 4 payments of $1812.5 (once every 3 months) 

To fully complete the ACP program and receive any required ÌÇÐÄVlogÊÓƵ certification or recommendation, enrollees must have paid the full cost of the program.  If a payment is missed or late, access to all aspects of the program (modules, field observations, exam requests, etc.) will be paused until the payment is received and processed. Once the account is brought up to date, access will be reinstated. It is the candidate’s responsibility to remember all upcoming payment dates and ensure payments are submitted on time.  

Since the program is a non-credit program, federal financial aid is not available. However, funding opportunities may be available as part of a school district partnership program.

To become certified, you must pay additional state-required fees to outside agencies or companies, including, but not limited to,