Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATES
(Principal, Special Education Director, Career Education Director)

The Initial Administrator Certificate is valid for 4 years during which time the administrator must complete the following to upgrade to a Transition Administrator Certificate:

1. Current employment as an administrator;
2. Participation in two (2) years of district-provided mentoring (during the first two (2) years of administrator experience);
3. Completion of at least 120 contact hours of professional development and/or eight (8) semester hours of graduate credit toward an advanced degree in educational leadership, reading/literacy or curriculum/instruction; and
4. Successful participation in an annual leader evaluation.
   

The Initial Administrator Certificate is valid for 4 years during which time the administrator must complete the following to upgrade to a Career Administrator Certificate:

1. Completion of at least four (4) years of Department-approved administrative experience;
2. Participation in two (2) years of district-provided mentoring (during the first two (2) years of administrator experience);
3. Possession of an educational specialist degree or higher in educational leadership, reading/literacy or curriculum/instruction. The degree must be completed through an accredited institution with a state-approved program; and
4. Successful participation in an annual leader evaluation.

The Transition Administrator Certificate is valid for 6 years during which time the administrator must complete the following to upgrade to a Career Administrator Certificate:

1. Completion of at least four (4) years of Department-approved administrative experience;
2. Participation in two (2) years of district-provided mentoring (during the first two (2) years of administrator experience);
3. Thirty (30) contact hours of professional development annually;
4. Participation in an annual leader evaluation; and
5. Possession of an educational specialist degree or higher in educational leadership, reading/literacy or curriculum/instruction. The degree must be completed through an accredited institution with a state-approved program.
   

The Career Administrator Certificate is valid for 99 years. The administrator must have a professional development plan on file with the local school. The plan must include thirty (30) contact hours of professional development annually.

Superintendent Upgrade Requirements

The Initial Administrator Certificate for Superintendent is valid for 4 years during which time the administrator must complete the following to upgrade to a Career Administrator Certificate for Superintendent:

1. Four (4) years of state-approved district-level administrator experience;
2. Participation in one (1) year of district-provided mentoring (during the first year of superintendent experience);
3. Thirty (30) contact hours of professional development annually;
4. Successful participation in an annual leader evaluation.

The Career Administrator Certificate for Superintendent is valid for 99 years.  The administrator must have a professional development plan on file with the local school. The plan must include thirty (30) contact hours of professional development annually.