Principal Credentials

The NDDPI issues three types of Level I Professional Principal Credentials:

• The Elementary Principal Credential (for individuals serving grade levels K-8)
• The Secondary Principal Credential (for individuals serving grade levels 5-12)
• The K-12 Principal Credential

An internship is required at both the elementary and secondary grade levels for individuals to be eligible for the K-12 Principal Credential.

To qualify for a Level I Professional Principal Credential, an applicant must have:

• At least three years of teaching or administrative experience at the applicable grade levels, AND
• A Master's degree in Educational Administration, or another field plus 20 graduate credits completed within a state-approved educational leadership program

In both cases, all coursework from a state-approved educational leadership program must align to the leadership standards identified in ND Administrative Code 67-11-21.

The Provisional Principal Credential allows an individual to serve as a principal for a term of three years while completing the Level I coursework requirements.

To qualify for a Provisional Principal Credential, an applicant must:

• Have at least three years of teaching experience. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
• Be accepted into an Education Leadership Master's degree program.
• Enroll in a peer-to-peer mentorship program.

To apply, submit and attach the following directly into the ND Teach application:

1. A completed Principal Credential application on ND Teach. There is no separate application for the Provisional credential; applicants complete the regular Elementary/Secondary/K-12 Principal Credential application.
2. Proof of acceptance into an Education Leadership Master's degree program.
3. Two letters of recommendation from education professionals the applicant currently works with, or has worked with, who can attest to the applicant's teaching experience and leadership competency.

Term: The Provisional Principal Credential is valid for three years. It may be renewed for one additional year if the applicant has completed at least 20 credits in their Education Leadership Master's degree program.

In North Dakota, your teaching license and Principal Credential renew at the same time but through two separate processes. The credential is tied to your teaching license, so the two expire together.

Two things to keep straight:

• You do not choose your renewal term. The term (one, two, three, four, or five years) is assigned to you, based on the length of your current credential, which is set by your teaching license.
• You do choose how to meet the requirements. Within your assigned term, complete one of the options listed for that term.

Most people are on the standard five-year term. A shorter, prorated term is assigned only when the credential needs to align with the teaching license, for example when the credential was first issued partway through your license cycle. In that case the credential is issued for the time remaining on the license so the two line up. After that renewal, you are on the five-year cycle going forward.

Use the chart below as a lookup. Find the term you were assigned, then complete one of the requirement options in that row.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, along with workshop or conference verifications.

Note: ND Teach has a transcript upload feature. Once transcripts are uploaded to a Principal Credential application, a to-do item may still appear asking for mailed copies of official transcripts. That item will be overridden by NDDPI staff when your application is processed.

Guidance for Aspiring and Current School Leaders

Credentialing school leaders in North Dakota is the responsibility of the NDDPI Office of School Approval & Opportunity. NDDPI issues three types of Level I Principal Credential: Elementary (grades K-8), Secondary (grades 5-12), and K-12. A provisional credential is also available for applicants who are still completing their coursework. All applications are completed online through ND Teach.

Credential Requirements

1. Do assistant principals or deans of students need a Principal Credential? No. North Dakota Administrative Rules do not require assistant principals or deans of students to hold a Principal Credential. This is left to the hiring school district.

2. What experience is needed to qualify for a Principal Credential? You need three years of teaching experience at the grade level for which you are applying.

• Grades 5-8 can count as both elementary and secondary experience.
• Experience must be specific to the level (elementary or secondary) of the credential you are seeking.
• For the K-12 Principal Credential, an internship is required at both the elementary and secondary grade levels.

3. Does my degree qualify me for a Principal Credential? A Master's or Doctorate in an education-related field is acceptable. However, you must still complete the required Educational Leadership coursework through a state-approved program, and you need three years of teaching experience at the appropriate grade level.

4. Can NDDPI review my transcripts to see if my coursework qualifies? No. NDDPI no longer conducts transcript reviews to determine alignment with state-approved educational leadership programs for the Level I Principal Credential. Because program design and standards vary by institution, only university advisors from state-approved educational leadership programs can accurately assess coursework for alignment. NDDPI remains available to assist with questions related to provisional credential eligibility.

Out-of-State and Additional Credentials

5. I'm a principal moving to North Dakota. Do I need to take additional coursework? It depends. If you have a Master's degree in Educational Leadership, you can receive a credential without additional coursework. You still need three years of experience at the appropriate grade level.

6. Can I add a Secondary Principal Credential if I already have an Elementary one? Not automatically. You must have three years of experience at the secondary level and complete a secondary-level internship course.

7. Can I get a provisional credential if I'm short on experience? No. North Dakota requires three full years of experience at the grade level, and there are no exceptions. You may, however, serve as an assistant principal to gain the necessary experience.

Provisional Principal Credential

8. What is a Provisional Principal Credential, and what does it require? The Provisional Principal Credential allows you to serve as a principal for up to three years while you complete the Level I coursework requirements. To apply, submit the following to the Office of School Approval & Opportunity:

• A completed Principal Credential application on ND Teach. There is no separate provisional application, so complete the regular Elementary, Secondary, or K-12 application.
• Proof of acceptance into an Educational Leadership Master's degree program.
• Two letters of recommendation from education professionals who can attest to your teaching experience and leadership potential.
• Enrollment in a peer-to-peer mentorship program.

The provisional credential can be renewed for one additional year if you have completed at least 20 credits in your Educational Leadership program. You must still have three years of teaching experience to qualify, and there are no exceptions.

9. What if my school becomes K-12 and I'm asked to serve as both elementary and secondary principal? Even if you have completed all coursework, you must still have three years of experience at the secondary level to receive a Secondary Principal Credential.

Transcripts and Documentation

10. Are official transcripts required? No. Unofficial copies are acceptable and can be uploaded directly into your credential application.

11. I already sent transcripts for my teaching license. Do I need to send them again? Yes. Teaching license renewals are handled by the Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB), and Principal Credential renewals are handled by NDDPI. Because these are different offices, you can either ask ESPB to forward your transcripts or upload a copy to your credential application.

12. I uploaded transcripts to ND Teach, but it says I need to mail originals. Do I? No. Uploaded copies are acceptable. The to-do item will be overridden once your transcripts are reviewed by NDDPI staff.

Receiving and Renewing Your Credential

13. How will I receive my Principal Credential? You will receive an email with a PDF certificate and a congratulatory letter. The letter includes your credential details, expiration date, and renewal instructions.

14. Do I need to renew my Principal Credential if I have a lifetime teaching license? Yes. Even with a lifetime teaching license, your Principal Credential must be renewed every five years.

15. Why does my new credential expire next year already? Level I Principal Credentials align with your teaching license expiration. If your teaching license expires soon, your credential will too, and you will follow a prorated renewal schedule.

16. Do I still need to keep my teaching license current? Yes. All North Dakota principals must hold a valid teaching license for the life of the credential.
 

Complete the Elementary, Secondary, or K-12 Principal Credential application on ND Teach. Submit a separate application for each credential you are seeking.

1. Upload a copy of your transcripts to the application.
2. If applying for a Provisional Principal Credential, also submit proof of acceptance into an Education Leadership Master's degree program and two letters of recommendation from education professionals who can attest to your teaching experience and leadership competency.

Note: ND Teach has a transcript upload feature. Once transcripts are uploaded to an application, a to-do item may still appear asking for mailed copies of official transcripts. That item will be overridden by NDDPI staff when your documents are downloaded and viewed during processing.