Elementary school principal having a meeting in her office

Online Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate

Online Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate Program

The Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate at the University of Mount Union is designed for experienced educators who already hold a graduate degree and are ready to take on leadership roles in P–12 school settings. This fully online program offers the flexibility to manage work and personal responsibilities simultaneously while completing the coursework necessary to take the Ohio Principal Licensure Exam and meet the requirements set by the Ohio State Board of Education.

While this certificate is designed for Ohio educators seeking an Ohio principal’s license, the program may also fulfill educational requirements in other states. For a complete list of individual U.S. states and territories and the determinations we have made regarding our program meeting educational requirements for licensure, please follow the State-by-State Determinations link within the Education tab on Mount Union’s Professional Licensure Disclosure webpage. If your permanent home address is located in a ‘does not meet’ or ‘no determination’ state or territory, please contact Linda Bigham prior to enrollment in the Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate program.

REQUEST MORE INFO APPLY NOW

The Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate is ideal for

Graduate-Educated Professionals: Educators who have already earned a master’s degree need the coursework for Ohio Principal Licensure, and meet the requirements set by Ohio's State Board of Education.

Aspiring Leaders: Teachers and administrators seeking roles such as assistant principal, principal, or instructional coach.

Ohio-Based and Beyond: While tailored for Ohio licensure, the program may meet requirements in other states. Prospective students outside Ohio should review Mount Union’s Professional Licensure Disclosure webpage for details.

Ohio principal licensure certificate completers can work in a wide range of positions, such as:

Assistant Principal
Principal
Instructional Coach
Athletic Director
Dean of Students
Head of School
Central Office Curriculum Specialist

Credit Hours
18

Structured for two seven-week classes per term, this certificate is 18 total credit hours.
Certificate Cost
$5,400

The 2025-2026 cost for the Ohio principal licensure certificate is $5,400.
Program Starts
5

OPL certificate has start dates in May, July, October, January, and March.

Ohio Principal Licensure Market Demand

Effective school leaders are vital, and the need for principals continues to grow:

Job Growth: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8% increase in school principal employment through 2026.
Higher Earning Potential: The median annual salary for school principals is $95,310, significantly higher than that of classroom teachers.
Transformational Impact: Principals shape school culture, improve student outcomes, and drive teacher growth, making this one of the most rewarding roles in education.

Why Choose Mount Union?

Flexible Online Learning: Designed for busy professionals.
Focused Curriculum: Covers leadership development, curriculum management, and school operations.
Proven Career Outcomes: Completers of the program often pursue roles as principals, assistant principals, athletic directors, instructional coaches, and more

Admission
Admission Requirements | Online Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate Program

Degree/Credentials: Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Have two years of successful teaching experience under a standard or professional teaching license (or work experience under a professional pupil services license) for the ages and grade levels for which the principal license is sought.

Undergraduate Achievement: Possess an undergraduate cumulative grade point average equal to or greater than 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale).

Experience: Provide a curriculum vitae or résumé.

Essay and Writing Ability: Applicants will submit an essay of approximately 250-500 words that outlines the applicant’s career aspirations and rationale for applying to the program. This piece will demonstrate the candidate’s ability to write at the graduate level.

Professional Recommendations: Provide one recommendation from an employer or former professor who is in a position to judge the applicant’s potential for graduate-level study and research, as well as suitability for educational leadership.

Consideration for Conditional Admission: Applicants who do not meet the above criteria will be judged on a case-by-case basis and will be asked to submit additional documentation in an attempt to gain conditional admission.

Personal Interview: Applicants may be selected for an interview conducted using phone or videoconferencing. Applicants who successfully complete the interview will be admitted into the Ohio principal's licensure certificate program.

Entrance to the Ohio Principal's Licensure Certificate Program

Fulfill all entrance requirements and possess at least one of the following criteria:

Possess a cumulative undergraduate GPA equal to or greater than 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)

Document satisfactory scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE): Verbal greater than or equal to 145, Quantitative greater than or equal to 144, and writing greater than or equal to 3.75

Possess a cumulative graduate GPA greater than or equal than to 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) from at least six semester hours

OTHER ADMISSION/ENROLLMENT-RELATED INFORMATION

Enrollment Deposit: If admitted to the program, candidates are required to submit a non-refundable deposit of $50. This deposit will be applied toward tuition charges. Pay Your Deposit

TOEFL Requirement: For admission into the Master of Education program, applicants whose primary language is not English must have a recent IBT (Internet-Based TOEFL) score of 100 or more in addition to meeting other program requirements.

The University of Mount Union prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, gender, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, marital or parental status, pregnancy, disability, or genetic information in student admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or employment as now or may hereafter be required by university policy and federal or state law. Inquiries regarding compliance may be directed to the Office of Human Resources, Beeghly Hall, (330) 829-6560, humanresources@mountunion.edu.
APPLICATION DEADLINES

SUMMER 2026:
App. Deadline: April 27, 2026
Session 1 Start: May 11, 2026
Session 2 Start: July 6, 2026

FALL 2026:
App. Deadline: August 14, 2026
Session 2 Start: October 19, 2026

SPRING 2027:
App. Deadline: December 28, 2026
Session 1 Start: January 11, 2027
Session 2 Start: March 15, 2027

APPLY NOW

PAY YOUR DEPOSIT

Curriculum

Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate Curriculum

COURSE NO.	COURSE NAME	CREDIT HOURS
EDL 603	School Law	3
EDL 502	School Finance	3
OPL 650	Principal Internship I	3
EDL 506	Supervision, Evaluation, and Professional Development	3
OPL 651	Principal Internship II	3
OPL 610	School Operations and Human Resource Management	3

Accreditation Status

Ohio Principal Licensure Program Accreditation Status

The University of Mount Union's Ohio Principal Licensure program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Certificate Cost

Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate Cost

The 2025-2026 program costs calculations are based on 18 credit hours at $300 per credit over three semesters.

Cost Per Credit Hour Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3 Total Credits

$300 6 credits 6 credits 6 credits 18 credits

TOTAL COST: $1,800 $1,800 $1,800 $5,400

Students enrolled in certificate programs are not eligible for federal financial aid. Financing options are limited to private loans from lenders that support non-degree programs. Explore potential lenders.

Online Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate