Specializations · Georgia
Educational Leadership Pathways in Georgia
Educational Leadership in Georgia is a graduate award, not Educational Leadership — Tier I / Tier II. This table lists 42 institutions with matching IPEDS completions. Completions are not approval to recommend candidates for the license. Use the Georgia principal checklist for the credential.
Educational leadership is graduate study aimed at school and district leadership roles. Programs commonly sit inside an M.Ed., EdS, or EdD. Completing a leadership degree is not the same as earning a principal or administrator credential. States issue that license after an approved preparation sequence, experience, and any required exams.
Reviewed by Brittnie Vargas, School principal, M.Ed.Editorial processHow this degree relates to the Georgia principal credential
The Georgia license is Educational Leadership — Tier I / Tier II. Read the principal checklist for steps, exams, and the board source — this page is the IPEDS inventory for Educational Leadership, not a second copy of that checklist.
Georgia’s most expensive vocabulary mistake is calling Tier I “the principal certificate.” Rule 505-2-.153, issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, places Educational Leadership on two tiers with different job scopes. Tier I is entry leadership below the principalship and district work that does not supervise principals. Tier II is the certificate for principals, superintendents, and staff who supervise principals. A teacher who finishes a Tier I program in May is not cleared to open school in July as principal. Districts that advertise “must hold Educational Leadership certification” without naming the tier are using language that GaPSC’s rule does not treat as equivalent.
Tier I preparation is a GaPSC-approved program under Rule 505-3-.77. It is a master’s-level program, or a certification-only sequence if the candidate already holds a level 5 certificate and a master’s degree. That certification-only option is not a loophole for people with a master’s in an unrelated field and a level 4 certificate; both the level 5 certificate and the master’s must already be in place. Special education coursework must be completed at a grade of B or better. A C that still “passes” the campus catalog does not pass GaPSC’s Educational Leadership rule.
Institutions with Educational Leadership programs in Georgia
Rows come from IPEDS awards by CIP and award level. This extract reported no completion counts, so none are shown. An institution that conferred awards is not automatically approved to recommend candidates for Educational Leadership — Tier I / Tier II.
| Institution | CIP | Award level |
|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (Albany, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Albany State University (Albany, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Augusta University (Augusta, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Augusta University (Augusta, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Berry College (Mount Berry, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Columbus State University (Columbus, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Columbus State University (Columbus, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Master’s |
| Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Mercer University (Macon, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Mercer University (Macon, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Mercer University (Macon, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Piedmont University (Demorest, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Piedmont University (Demorest, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Pontifex University (Atlanta, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Pontifex University (Atlanta, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Shorter University (Rome, GA) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| Strayer University-Georgia (Chamblee, GA) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Master’s |
| Thomas University (Thomasville, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Thomas University (Thomasville, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| University of Georgia (Athens, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Georgia (Athens, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Georgia (Athens, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| University of North Georgia (Dahlonega, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| University of West Georgia (Carrollton, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Valdosta State University (Valdosta, GA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Valdosta State University (Valdosta, GA) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| Valdosta State University (Valdosta, GA) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Post-master’s / EdS |
Frequently asked questions
Is educational leadership the same as principal certification?
No. Educational leadership is an academic concentration. Principal certification is a state-issued administrative credential. Many candidates earn both through the same approved program, but you must satisfy the state’s credential rules, not only complete graduate courses.
Which degree should I pursue for school leadership?
Many educators start with an M.Ed. in educational leadership. Some continue to an EdS for post-master’s depth, or an EdD for terminal practitioner study. Match the degree to your state’s credential checklist and your timeline, do not choose based on ranking lists.
Can I complete educational leadership online?
Many programs offer online or hybrid coursework, but internships and field experiences are usually local. Confirm that the program can place you in an approved setting in the state where you intend to hold an administrative license.
Which leadership exam will I take?
The exam is set by the state board. This site sources SLLA 6990, TExES 268 and PASL, FELE, CalAPA/CPACE, PAL, OAE 015, and other state instruments on the SLLA page and each principal checklist. Confirm the current test code and cut score on the board testing page.