KY: Education Professional Standards Board - School Principal Certification


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Instructional Leadership - School Principal Certification

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The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board issues a Level I five year Statement of Eligibility - School Principal to applicants who:

Have successfully completed an approved program of preparation;
Have three years of full-time teaching experience;
Have successfully completed the appropriate assessment requirements outlined in
16 KAR 6:030 (.pdf) or qualify for a one year period of completion for assessments under KRS 161.027(6)*
Hold a master's degree in education;
The statement of eligibility allows the candidate to obtain employment in a principal/assistant principal position and complete one year in the Kentucky Principal Internship Program (KPIP); (Click here for SOE renewal requirements.);
Upon successful completion of KPIP, the 5-year Professional Certificate is issued

Additional Information: "Level I" means the standards-based program of studies designed for minimal preparation to serve in the position of instructional leadership - school principal. *

"Level II" means the standards-based program of studies to attain the first five year renewal of the certificate for the position of instructional leadership - school principal.

* Out of State Applicants : Principal applicants in Kentucky are required to take the new School Leaders Licensure Assessment and the Kentucky Specialty Test of Instructional and Administrative Practices. Out of state principal certification applicants who have two years of fulltime principal experience may be waived from the SLLA test. These individuals are required to take only the Kentucky-based test. Out of state principal applicants who do not have two years of verified experience as a fulltime principal must participate in and successfully complete the one year Kentucky Principal Internship Program.

How to apply for Instructional Leadership - School Principal Certification

Fill out TC-1 (.pdf) application form
Upon approval of TC-1 (.pdf), the EPSB will issue a 5-year Statement of Eligibility
After employment is obtained, applicant must submit Confirmation of Employment, then complete one year in the Kentucky Principal Internship Program; and
Submit a $50 money order or certified check made payable to the "Kentucky State Treasurer" to the EPSB or applicants may also use EPSB "E-Pay" online payment service to pay certification fees once the completed application has been mailed.
Upon receipt, the EPSB will issue a 5-year Professional Certificate

Statement of Eligibility (SOE) Renewal (Principal—Levels I and II)

The SOE allows candidates five years to apply and receive employment as a principal/assistant principal in a Kentucky school. During the first year of employment, the Kentucky Principal Internship Program (KPIP) must be successfully completed. (Currently the KPIP program is suspended due to budget constraints.)
If the applicant does not participate in KPIP within the five (5) year period, the applicant may renew the SOE by repeating and passing the assessments in effect at that time or by completing a minimum of six (6) graduate hours, directly related to instructional leadership, management, or supervision, at a regionally or nationally accredited institution. (If KPIP is suspended, the hiring district sends a Confirmation of Employment to EPSB and a principal certificate will be issued.)
The option for renewal through completion of graduate hours shall be available only for the first reestablishment of eligibility.

Level II School Principal Certification Renewal

Each five year renewal of the certificate for instructional leadership - school principal, level II shall require:

Completion of a TC-2 (.pdf) application and
A recommendation from the approved recommending authority regarding the successful completion of an approved Level II program.
Successful completion of two years of experience as a school principal within the preceding five years; or

If the applicant has not successfully completed the two years of experience:

Completion of three semester hours of additional graduate credit directly related to the position of school principal for each required year of experience the applicant has not completed; or
Successful completion of forty-two hours of approved training selected from programs approved by the Kentucky Effective Instructional Leadership Training Program provided in KRS 156.101.
Submission of a $50 money order or certified check made payable to the "Kentucky State Treasurer"or applicants may also use EPSB "E-Pay" online payment service to pay certification fees once the completed application has been mailed.
Mail to:

Division of Certification
Education Professional Standards Board
100 Airport Road , 3rd Floor
Frankfort , Kentucky 40601

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Contact the EPSB Division of Certification

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