Teachers of all kinds are crucial in impacting their students’ educational, emotional, and overall well-being, both inside and outside the classroom. Yet, many educators long to make a difference and enact change in their schools and school districts through their school or district administration.

School administrators guide schools and districts’ management, growth, and development. They hire and supervise teachers and fellow administrators, create and manage budgets, direct educational programming, design curricula, and oversee recordkeeping.

To obtain this position and perform these duties, Connecticut educators must earn their 092 Certificate, an educational administration certificate that prepares them to undertake the work of school and district leadership.

Let’s explore what an 092 Certification is and the 092 Certification pathway candidates can take from educator to administrator, including the requirements, eligibility criteria, and the steps in obtaining this educational administration certificate.

What is a 092 Certification? Why Do Educators Want It?

The 092 Certificate is an advanced professional certification for experienced educational professionals and community educators seeking to deepen and expand their knowledge of teaching and learning.

Educators are provided with practical and performance-based preparation to develop the skills, knowledge, and proficiencies needed to be successful school administrators.

Furthermore, individuals seeking to go from educator to administrator through this pathway are motivated to shape their school’s organizational direction, influence their school’s performance, and positively impact institution development. Graduates with their 092 Certification go on to a variety of positions, including:

• Assistant Principal
• Principal
• Assistant superintendent of schools
• Department chair
• Athletic director
• Special education director

How to Earn an 092 Educational Administration Certificate in Connecticut (CT)

To pursue any of the aforementioned positions and work as an intermediate administrator, specifically in the state of Connecticut, candidates must earn their 092 Certification from a state-approved program at a regionally accredited college or university.

092 Certification Requirements

In addition to the criteria above, candidates must also meet the following requirements to be awarded their 092 Certificate:

• A master’s degree from an accredited higher education institution
• Thirty semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master’s degree
• Fifty months of teaching experience or service
• Thirty-six clocked hours of special education study (including the credits earned in an 092 Certification program)
• Graduate coursework in the following areas
  • Psychological and Pedagogical Foundations of Learning
  • Curriculum Development and Program Monitoring
  • School Administration
  • Personal Evaluation and Supervision
  • Contemporary Education Programs and Solutions

092 Certificate Program Eligibility Criteria

Admission and eligibility requirements to enroll in an 092 Certificate program will vary depending on the institution and program. Interested candidates should do their research to ensure they understand what will be required of them.

For example, at University of Bridgeport, our 092 Certification applicants must have a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and be a current licensed Connecticut teacher with a minimum of three years of certified teaching experience. They must also submit an application, official transcripts for their last degree earned, two letters of recommendation from employers or professional associates, a two to three-page essay on leadership, and their resume.

092 Certification’s Role in the Educational System

The 092 Certification plays a vital role in authorizing individuals to serve in administrative positions within the education system.

This performance-based program is designed to help educators develop the proficiencies they need to be successful educational administrators and meet the educational needs and challenges of today’s world.

Administrators create change on a larger scale, and with an 092 Educational Administration Certification, you will be empowered and show others that you can:

• Make a positive impact on the lives of students and faculty
• Create and enhance supportive educational environments for all students, including ones with exceptionalities
• Evaluate a school’s effectiveness according to the state’s criteria
• Oversee curriculum development for elementary, middle, and high school-aged students

Lastly, this impact makes educational administrators an invaluable resource to the schools and school districts, leading to personal and professional rewards and fulfillment for the educational administrators.

How to Go From Educator to Administrator

Going from an educator to an administrator involves several steps, starting with obtaining the 092 certification.

Step 1: Meet the School Administrator Education Requirements

Candidates must earn, at minimum, a master’s degree in a related field from a regionally accredited institution, complete thirty semester hours of a program in education and leadership, and pass the Connecticut Administrator Test (CAT to enroll in an 092 certification program.

Step 2: Earn an 092 Certification

As a part of earning an 092 Certification, candidates take the following classes:

• Introduction to Education Leadership
• Evaluation of School Effectiveness
• Curriculum Development
• Public School Finance
• School Law
• Supervision of Personnel

Students also complete an administrative internship, a course in special services, and education leadership electives, including Urban Leadership, Current Topics in Education Leadership, Leadership and Management of School Facilities, and Research and Data-Informed Supervision.

Candidates can earn their 092 Certification through UB’s Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) or a Sixth-Year Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS)—both programs that can be completed in two years or less. Or, if they have already earned an advanced diploma, a sixth-year certificate or a second master’s degree, they can earn their 092 Certificate by enrolling in the required courses and electives needed to become certified.

Many schools and universities, like University of Bridgeport, also enable students to earn their 092 Certificate in hybrid formats, both on-campus and online, providing maximum flexibility to maintain and meet their personal and professional responsibilities and goals. Our classes are offered one evening per week for two hours, alternating between online and in-person formats. Alternatively, we offer Saturday classes in an accelerated format that runs every seven weeks.

Step 3: Start a Rewarding Career in Educational Leadership

Now that you’ve met all the requirements and eligibility criteria and earned an 092 Certification, it’s time to take the next step in shaping the school system from the inside out.

As an educational administrator, you’ll be leading schools, making impactful connections with students, teachers, and the community, supporting staff members in the present school year and beyond, and opening yourself up to even more job opportunities and positions like post-secondary administrators, instructional coordinators, education consultants, and deans of students.

Pursuing post-graduate studies in Educational Administration and Supervision obviously carries a number of benefits for schools, students, teachers, and the administrators themselves. So, if you are passionate about guiding the growth and development of the entire educational ecosystem, an 092 Certification is the only option.

Apply to University of Bridgeport’s flexible and affordable 092 Certification today or contact us for more information. Financial aid is available, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Don’t wait. Your future starts today!