How to become an assistant principal, step by step
Most assistant principals get there the same way: several years of teaching, a master's degree in educational leadership or administration, a state administrator license, and a track record of leading other adults in the building.
Hiring panels look for evidence that you have already led something: a department, a committee, a data team, a new teacher. Below are the steps, what each involves, and a first step for this week. Requirements differ by state, so check your state's certification requirements before you pay for a program.
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Steps from teacher to assistant principal
Take on a leadership role now
Department head, grade-level or team lead, instructional coach, or chair of a school committee. These roles let you practice the parts of administration teachers rarely see: running meetings, giving colleagues feedback, and carrying a decision through. They also give your principal a reason to recommend you.
- First step
- Ask your principal which leadership role in the building needs someone this year, and volunteer for it.
Lead one project with a result you can show
Run something from start to finish, such as a data team, a new-teacher mentoring program or a schoolwide attendance push, and track what changed. A panel will ask what you led and what happened. A specific answer beats a list of committees.
- First step
- Pick one problem your school already talks about and write down how you would measure whether it improved.
Earn a master's in educational leadership
BLS says principals typically need a master's degree in education leadership or education administration, and that these programs cover topics like budget management and setting goals. Many teachers complete it part time while still teaching.
- What it takes
- Tuition varies widely by program. Some districts help pay for it, so ask HR before you enroll.
- First step
- Confirm that any program you are considering is approved for administrator licensure in your state before you apply.
Get your state's administrator certification
BLS notes that most states require public school principals to be licensed as school administrators, and most also require an exam and a background check. Some states offer alternative routes for candidates without a master's in administration. Private schools do not require a state license. Check your state's certification requirements, since they differ.
- What it takes
- Exam and application fees, set by your state.
- First step
- Find your state education agency's page for administrator certification and list each requirement with a target date next to it.
Complete your internship hours
Preparation programs often include a supervised internship with a practicing principal. Hour requirements differ by state and program. Use it to handle the work teachers rarely see up close: discipline, scheduling, budgets and teacher evaluations.
- First step
- Ask your principal now whether they would supervise your internship and which duties you could take on.
Build a leadership portfolio
Collect the evidence in one place: results from projects you led, professional development you ran, feedback you gave colleagues, and a short statement of how you would lead. It makes your application concrete and gives you stories for the interview.
- First step
- Start a folder this week with one artifact from each leadership task you have done this year.
Prepare for the interview
Assistant principal interviews are often panels of administrators, teachers and sometimes parents, with scenario questions: a discipline case, a struggling teacher, an upset parent, a dip in test data. Answers with specific examples from your own school land better than general philosophy. Carmen can run a practice panel with you.
- First step
- Write out your answer to "Tell us about a time you helped a colleague improve" and say it out loud once.
Sample conversation
How a conversation with Carmen starts
Carmen asks before she suggests. An illustrative example, not a real person.
Eleven years teaching high school English, department head for two. I want to be an assistant principal but I don't have my admin license yet.
Department head is a real head start. Do you know what your state's license asks for, or is that still a blur?
A blur. A master's, some test, internship hours I think.
Let's pin it down: your state's list, which programs count, and when you could realistically finish. Then we can start your portfolio from the department work you already lead.
Work it out with Carmen, free
30 free minutes with Carmen and the team. No card needed.
Questions & answers
- How long does it take to become an assistant principal?
- BLS lists 5 years or more of related work experience for principals, usually as a teacher, plus a master's degree. How long the degree and certification take depends on your program and your state.
- Do you need a master's degree to be an assistant principal?
- In most states, yes, for public schools. BLS says most states require a master's degree to be licensed as a school administrator, though some offer alternative programs. Private schools do not require a state license.
- How much do assistant principals make?
- BLS reports a median of $105,870 a year for elementary, middle, and high school principals in May 2025. Assistant principal pay is set by each district, so check your district's published salary schedule.
- What questions are asked in an assistant principal interview?
- Expect scenarios: a student discipline case, a teacher who is struggling, an upset parent, how you use data, and why you want to leave the classroom. Practice answering out loud with specific examples from your school.
More for teachers
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Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: High School Teachers
Last checked September 29, 2026.