Add-on Licensure
School Administration

Program Description

Overview

The School Administration Add-on Licensure Program is designed to prepare a select group of experienced educators for positions of administrative leadership in K-12 settings. The resulting earned license as a K-12 School Administrator is available as “add-on” licensure only to well-qualified candidates who already possess a master’s degree, a teaching license and have minimum school experiences as noted below.

Though graduates of the licensure program will be eligible for licensure as a K-12 school administrator, the add-on program is intended for those who aspire initially to serve in public school assistant principal positions.

The program is 18-credit hours and requires a part-time, year-long internship at a K-12 school site that is deeply committed to the candidate’s success and is willing to provide substantive mentorship support and accommodations to the candidate.

The program begins in the fall semester of each year and takes two years to complete. Program participants typically retain their current employment.

To receive the School Administrator add-on license, candidates who are admitted to the program must successfully:

  • Complete a part-time, full-year internship at a participating school. The internship requires a site-based principal mentor who meets the UNC criteria to serve in that role as well as series of supervisory visits to the site by a UNC internship supervisor. The internship requires a portfolio as a substantive learning product, as well as an internship seminar directed by UNC personnel.
  • Pass all courses, with no more than one grade of L. A candidate who receives a second L, or any F, will be immediately and automatically ineligible for registration for further classes in the program, i.e. will be administratively withdrawn from the add-on program.
  • Pass the School Leaders Licensure Examination, administered by ETS and required by the State of North Carolina for administrative licensure. This is a state condition of add-on licensure.

Admissions

The K-12 School Administrator add-on license is available only to candidates who are currently licensed by NC DPI, or, if applying with out-of-state credentials, have a current license that would otherwise qualify for NC licensure. 

Candidates must also:

  • Hold a master's degree in an education-related field from an accredited institution;
  • Have a minimum of three years of teaching experience, or three years of experience as an educational support person (e.g., counselor, media specialist, etc.), or a combination of these experiences that total a minimum of three years; OR, hold an appointment (or appointment contract) as an assistant principal.

Additional Information

Program Contact

James Veitch, Ed.D., Program Coordinator
veitch@unc.edu
(919) 966-1354