Specializations · Louisiana
Educational Leadership Pathways in Louisiana
Educational Leadership in Louisiana is a graduate award, not Educational Leader Level 1 (EDL1), advancing to Level 2 (EDL2). This table lists 25 institutions with matching IPEDS completions. Completions are not approval to recommend candidates for the license. Use the Louisiana 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 Louisiana principal credential
The Louisiana license is Educational Leader Level 1 (EDL1), advancing to Level 2 (EDL2). 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.
Louisiana licenses school leaders through one credential family, Educational Leader (EDL), used for assistant principals, principals, parish or city supervisors of instruction, supervisors of child welfare and attendance, special education supervisors, and comparable school or district leader positions. Meeting the EDL1 requirements does not by itself produce a certificate. LDOE issues a letter of eligibility, and the EDL1 certificate is issued when an employing Louisiana school system verifies employment in an educational leader capacity and requests it. Candidates finishing a program before they have a leadership job should expect to hold eligibility, not a certificate.
The teaching prerequisite has two forms. The standard form is holding, or being eligible to hold, a Louisiana Type B or Level 2 teaching certificate (or a comparable-level out-of-state certificate, which needs additional documentation) with three years of teaching. The alternative form is an Ancillary Teaching certificate with at least five years of successful teaching. The graduate degree pathway then requires a competency-based graduate degree in educational leadership from an institution accredited under 34 CFR 602; a degree not titled “Educational Leadership” on the transcript needs a dean’s letter confirming alignment to the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders. Each EDL1 checklist cited here ends with a passing Praxis School Leaders Licensure Assessment score. The older Louisiana Leadership Assessment Series counts only if it was completed before Bloomboard retired it.
Institutions with Educational Leadership programs in Louisiana
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 Leader Level 1 (EDL1), advancing to Level 2 (EDL2).
| Institution | CIP | Award level |
|---|---|---|
| Grambling State University (Grambling, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Louisiana Christian University (Pineville, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (Baton Rouge, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (Baton Rouge, LA) | 13.0410 Urban Education and Leadership | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Louisiana State University-Shreveport (Shreveport, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Louisiana Tech University (Ruston, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Louisiana Tech University (Ruston, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Louisiana Tech University (Ruston, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Nicholls State University (Thibodaux, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Nicholls State University (Thibodaux, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (Natchitoches, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (Natchitoches, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Southeastern Louisiana University (Hammond, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Southeastern Louisiana University (Hammond, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Southern University and A & M College (Baton Rouge, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Tulane University of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Holy Cross (New Orleans, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Lafayette, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Lafayette, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe (Monroe, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe (Monroe, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of New Orleans (New Orleans, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of New Orleans (New Orleans, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Xavier University of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Xavier University of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
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.