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Online Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate

Number online M.Ed. 1 program in Ohio by U.S. News and World Report

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 provides the flexibility to balance work and personal commitments while completing the coursework required to sit for the Ohio Principal Licensure Exam. This certificate program provides a pathway into school leadership, whether you are aiming to advance within your current school or seeking new opportunities in elevated roles elsewhere.

 

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The Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate is ideal for

Graduate-Educated Professionals: Educators who have already earned a master’s degree and need only the coursework for Ohio Principal Licensure.

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.
 

M.Ed. in Ohio principal licensure graduates work in a wide range of positions:

  • 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 2024-2025 cost for the Ohio principal licensure certificate is $5,400.

  • Program Starts

    4

    The M.Ed. in Ohio principal licensure has start dates in May, July, October, and March.

Ohio Principal Licensure Market Demand

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

 

Why Choose Mount Union?

 

  • Admission

    Admission Requirements | Online Ohio Principal Licensure Certificate Program

    Degree/Credentials: Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. 

    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 $100. 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

    FALL 2025:
    Application Deadline:  October 10, 2025
    Start Date: October 20, 2025

    SPRING 2026:
    Application Deadline: March 6, 2026
    Start Date: March 16, 2026

    SUMMER 2026:
    Application Deadline: May 1, 2026
    Start Date: May 11, 2026
     

    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.

Master of Education Student Spotlights

Shawn Collins '15 M'19 College football coach

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I felt that I could still do the day-to-day tasks required of a college football coach (ie: travel, game prep, recruiting etc) as well as continue my educational goals and earning a masters degree.
Maggie O'Brian
Maggie O'Brian

Maggie O'Brian M'20 Fourth grade teacher

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This program provides the flexibility for a full-time working parent, while allowing the rigor and support needed to grow as a professional. 
bill johnson headshot
bill johnson headshot

Bill Johnson M'21 Athletic Director

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Quite simply, I wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for Mount Union and this program.
matt hise headshot
matt hise headshot

Matt Hise '10 M '14 Senior Customer Success Manager

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Mount Union's Master of Education program merges the communal sense of a small university with robust and industry-leading academics.
Jena Finch
Jena Finch

Jena Finch '16 M'20 Special Education Teacher, Leadville, CO

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As teachers, we are always looking to grow professionally, and Mount Union's coursework was the perfect balance of professional development hours and graduate credits.
Price M'24
Price M'24

Cristian Price M'24 Intervention Specialist

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Getting to sharpen my skills, learn new material, and dialogue with other educators has been everything I needed to continue to serve my students and their families.
Botzman '17 M '23
Botzman '17 M '23

Gabriela Botzman '17 M'23 Third grade teacher

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I credit a lot of my skills - professional and personal, to my time spent on campus at Mount Union.
McClure '24 M'26
McClure '24 M'26

Ryan McClure M'26 Athletic Coaching graduate student

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I chose Mount Union because I had a great experience during undergrad and received a great education. I ultimately decided that Mount Union was the school for me to pursue a graduate degree at.
Pierce M'26
Pierce M'26

Rachel Pierce M'26 Kindergarten teacher

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I decided to attend Mount Union for graduate school because it was highly recommended by a colleague. They said it was the best school to attend to obtain an Ohio Principal's License.
Gaitor M'26
Gaitor M'26

Darrell Gaitor II '10 M'26 Residence Life Coordinator

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When I spoke to Dr. Mandy Capel about what programs were offered, the motivation and encouragement I received was nothing short of confirmation that Mount Union is the place for me.