Specializations · Virginia
Educational Leadership Pathways in Virginia
Educational Leadership in Virginia is a graduate award, not Administration and Supervision preK-12 endorsement (Level I; Level II Principal of Distinction optional). This table lists 42 institutions with matching IPEDS completions. Completions are not approval to recommend candidates for the license. Use the Virginia 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 Virginia principal credential
The Virginia license is Administration and Supervision preK-12 endorsement (Level I; Level II Principal of Distinction optional). 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.
Virginia’s administrative authority lives on the same license that already authorizes teaching or another instructional role. The Virginia Department of Education does not print a separate administrator card. Regulation 8VAC20-23-620 adds an Administration and Supervision preK-12 endorsement. Level I is what a building administrator must hold. Level II Principal of Distinction is a later, optional designation after five years and induction—it is not the credential that first puts someone in the principal’s office, and skipping it does not make Level I expire.
The approved-program route is a three-part stack: a master’s degree, three years of successful full-time experience in an instructional personnel position that required licensure, and completion of an approved program. Experience as a classified instructional aide, or as a teacher on a license that was not required for the position, does not automatically satisfy the “position requiring licensure” clause. Candidates who spent three years in a private school that did not require a Virginia license should read 8VAC20-23-620 with a licensure specialist before paying for an approved program.
Institutions with Educational Leadership programs in Virginia
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 Administration and Supervision preK-12 endorsement (Level I; Level II Principal of Distinction optional).
| Institution | CIP | Award level |
|---|---|---|
| Averett University (Danville, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Bluefield University (Bluefield, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Ferrum College (Ferrum, VA) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Master’s |
| Ferrum College (Ferrum, VA) | 13.0404 Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision | Post-master’s / EdS |
| George Mason University (Fairfax, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Hampton University (Hampton, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Hampton University (Hampton, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA) | 13.0410 Urban Education and Leadership | Master’s |
| Marymount University (Arlington, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Marymount University (Arlington, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Radford University (Radford, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Radford University (Radford, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Regent University (Virginia Beach, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Regent University (Virginia Beach, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Regent University (Virginia Beach, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Regent University (Virginia Beach, VA) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Doctorate (research) |
| Regent University (Virginia Beach, VA) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Shenandoah University (Winchester, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Shenandoah University (Winchester, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Shenandoah University (Winchester, VA) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Strayer University-Virginia (Arlington, VA) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Master’s |
| University of Lynchburg (Lynchburg, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Richmond (University of Richmond, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Richmond (University of Richmond, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus (Charlottesville, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus (Charlottesville, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus (Charlottesville, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Doctorate (research) |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Master’s |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Post-master’s / EdS |
| Virginia State University (Petersburg, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Doctorate (research) |
| Virginia State University (Petersburg, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA) | 13.0401 Educational Leadership and Administration, General | Master’s |
| William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA) | 13.0499 Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | Doctorate (research) |
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.