If you’ve spent most of your career in the classroom, you’ve probably collected a handful of moments when you’ve thought, “I love serving students… but what’s next for me?”
Maybe you enjoy mentoring the new teachers at your school. Maybe you have ideas for improving the curriculum, or maybe you just want a bigger role in shaping the direction of the schooling system.
That’s when you start searching: How to become a principal.
The path isn’t instant, but it is clear. And if you’re intentional about each step, it’s absolutely within reach. Let’s dive in.
Step 1: Earn your bachelor’s degree
If you are already working in the classroom, you’ve likely completed this step. In Connecticut, you need a bachelor’s degree to teach. But not every state’s the same, and the journey toward school leadership starts with a strong foundation. For non-educators or early career teachers, this means earning a bachelor’s degree in Education.
This is where you learn how students think, how classrooms function, and how teaching really works. It’s also where you begin to understand the bigger picture of education. Something that becomes even more important as you move into leadership.
Step 2: Build real classroom experience
Almost every principal you encounter was once a teacher. Principals typically average about 10 years of classroom experience. Before you lead a school, you need to understand one.
That’s why teaching experience has become such an important part of how to become a school principal. Most states (like CT) require classroom experience, and for good reason. This is where you learn what teachers face every day, what students need to succeed, and how schools operate on a practical level.
Great principals aren’t removed from the classroom; they’re grounded in it. Your classroom experience shapes how you lead, support your staff, and make decisions.
Step 3: Earn a graduate degree in Education Leadership
With a bachelor’s degree and classroom experience in hand, the next step is a graduate degree. To move into leadership, you’ll need to deepen your knowledge and sharpen your skills.
That’s when an Ed.D. Educational Leadership program enters the picture.
Many aspiring principals pursue a master’s degree, which is a valid direction, but choosing a Doctor of Education degree can give you a competitive advantage as you prepare for higher-level leadership. A Doctor of Education, Ed.D., focuses less on theory and more on real-world application. It’s built for professionals who want to lead schools, influence systems, and solve complex challenges in education.
If you’re balancing work, life, and everything in between, an online Ed.D. or hybrid format can make a big difference. It gives you the flexibility to keep teaching while preparing for your next role.
Learn more about the Doctor or Education (Ed.D.) program at University of Bridgeport!
Step 4: Get your leadership certification
Education Doctorate degrees are only part of the equation. To officially step into a principal role, you’ll also need the right credentials.
Each state has its own requirements, but most include some sort of administrative certification. In Connecticut, for example, that means earning the 092 certification for intermediate administration and supervision.
Programs like University of Bridgeport’s 092 educational administration and supervision certificate help aspiring leaders meet those requirements while building the skills you’ll use every day in educational administrative positions.
We know this step can feel technical, but it’s a key milestone in the process of how to become a principal.
Step 5: Grow into a leadership mindset
Let’s face it, becoming a principal isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s about stepping into a completely different way of thinking.
Instead of focusing on one classroom, you’re now responsible for an entire school. That means supporting teachers, guiding instruction, managing resources, and building relationships with families and the community.
A strong Doctor of Education degree helps you make that shift. Through an Ed.D. educational leadership program, you’ll learn how to be a good leader, use data to make better decisions for the school, and navigate the challenges schools face in the world today.
These aren’t abstract ideas. They’re the skills principals rely on every single day.
Step 6: Think beyond the role
For many educators, becoming a principal is the goal. But for others, it’s just the beginning.
Earning a Doctor of Education Ed.D. can open doors beyond school leadership, including district-level roles, policy work, and broader educational leadership positions. It prepares you not just to manage a school, but to improve systems and drive change at a higher level.
What does a principal actually do?
It’s one thing to learn how to become a school principal. It’s another to understand what the job really looks like.
Principals are the center of a school’s leadership. They guide instruction, support teachers, manage budgets, and set the tone for the entire school environment. On any given day, they might be coaching a teacher, meeting with parents, reviewing school data, or planning for long-term improvements.
It’s a role that blends leadership, communication, and strategy. And it requires both experience and preparation. Something an Education Doctorate degree is designed to support.
Bringing it all together
If you’re thinking about how to become a principal, the path is less about a single step and more about steady growth. You start in the classroom, build on your experience, invest in your education, and over time, develop the confidence and skills to lead at a higher level.
It doesn’t happen overnight. But with the right plan, it does happen.
If you’re ready to take that next step, University of Bridgeport offers a flexible, career-focused hybrid or online Ed.D. path. You can learn more about the program or apply today and start turning your experience into leadership.