Degrees
Education Specialist (EdS) Degree Pathways
An Education Specialist (EdS) degree sits between a master's and a doctorate. Educators often pursue an EdS for advanced leadership preparation or specialist endorsements. Whether it satisfies a state administrative credential depends entirely on that state's published requirements, never on the degree name alone.
Reviewed by Brittnie Vargas, School principal, M.Ed.Editorial processKey takeaways
- An Education Specialist (EdS) degree sits between a master's and a doctorate. Educators often pursue an EdS for advanced leadership preparation or specialist endorsements. Whether it satisfies a state administrative credential depends entirely on that state's published requirements, never on the degree name alone.
- Requirements vary. Many states accept a master's in educational leadership plus an approved principal preparation program; some pathways use an EdS. Check the principal credential page and your state board.
- Choose based on the credential and career target. If you need post-master’s leadership preparation without a doctoral dissertation, an EdS may fit. If you need a terminal practitioner doctorate for district, system, or higher-ed leadership, compare EdD programs, and still verify licensure separately.
On this site the EdS is part of the master’s+ leadership ladder: M.Ed. → EdS → EdD. Many candidates use the EdS when they need post-master’s hours, internship depth, or a specialist credential without a dissertation-heavy doctorate.
EdS programs are common in educational leadership, school psychology pathways (in some institutions), curriculum, and literacy. Do not assume an EdS automatically qualifies you for a principal or school psychologist license.
Compare the EdS against your state's credential checklist for the target role. Some states specify semester-hour totals, internship hours, and exams that must align with an approved preparation sequence.
If your board already accepts an approved master’s-level principal sequence, an EdS is optional depth, not a shortcut around fingerprinting or leadership assessments. If the board asks for hours beyond the master’s, read whether those hours must sit in an approved administrator program — a generic specialist degree may not count.
Modality does not change the internship. Online EdS coursework is common; building-level field hours still have to be local and accepted by the board that will print the credential.
Browse Education Specialist pathways
Online Education Specialist (EdS) options →
Principal credentials by state
The ranking page for “how to become a principal in {state}” is the credential checklist. Degree and leadership × state URLs stay live for assistants and are not Google ranking targets.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EdS required to become a principal?
Requirements vary. Many states accept a master's in educational leadership plus an approved principal preparation program; some pathways use an EdS. Check the principal credential page and your state board.
Should I choose an EdS or an EdD?
Choose based on the credential and career target. If you need post-master’s leadership preparation without a doctoral dissertation, an EdS may fit. If you need a terminal practitioner doctorate for district, system, or higher-ed leadership, compare EdD programs, and still verify licensure separately.