The assistant principal (AP) role is one of the most important steppingstones in education administration. It is the position where most future principals build the operational experience, leadership credibility and institutional knowledge they need to eventually run a campus. If you are a teacher or school support professional thinking about moving into administration, understanding the steps to becoming an assistant principal gives you a clear idea of the path forward.
The online Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Educational Administration with a Specialization in Principal Preparation program from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) prepares educators for administrative licensure in Illinois, qualifying them for both the assistant principal and principal role. The fully online program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) through December 2029. It is aligned with standards set by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) and the National Policy Board for Educational Administration. Explore how SIUE’s online program can prepare you for a career in school administration.
What Does an Assistant Principal Do?
Assistant principals support the principal by managing the day-to-day operations of the school. Their responsibilities typically include student discipline, attendance and scheduling, staff supervision and coordination of extracurricular activities. In larger schools, multiple assistant principals often divide responsibilities by grade level, subject area or function. APs may also serve as instructors.
Many APs conduct classroom observations, assist with teacher evaluations, coordinate professional development and help with curriculum implementation. The balance between administrative tasks and instructional leadership varies by school and by how the principal delegates responsibilities. Because the role touches so many stakeholders, from students to families to teaching staff, day-to-day success often depends as much on interpersonal skills as it does on administrative know-how.
Assistant Principal Requirements
Assistant principal requirements follow the same general framework as principal requirements in most states, since both roles typically draw on the same underlying license and preparation program. Illinois offers a clear example of how that shared pathway works in practice, from required teaching experience through state licensure exams.
Education
Most states require assistant principals to hold a master’s degree in educational leadership, administration or a related field. The same graduate credential that qualifies you for the principalship typically qualifies you for the assistant principal role. A bachelor’s degree alone is not sufficient for most administrative positions.
Teaching or Related Experience
A background in classroom teaching is the standard starting point. Most states require candidates to have spent several years as licensed teachers before they can earn administrative certification. The exact number of years varies, but five or more years of experience is common across state requirements.
Administrative Certification or Licensure
Nearly all states require assistant principals to hold the same administrative license as principals. That means completing a state-approved principal or educational leadership preparation program and passing required licensure exams. In Illinois, that means earning the Pre-K – Age 22 Principal Endorsement on your professional educator license through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Steps to Becoming an Assistant Principal
The path to the assistant principal role follows the same pipeline as the path to principalship. Each step builds directly on the one before it, from initial teacher certification through the state licensure exam required for an administrative role.
Step 1: Earn a bachelor’s degree and teaching certification
Most future assistant principals start as classroom teachers. A bachelor’s degree in education, or a degree in another subject area followed by teacher certification, puts you on the right starting track.
Step 2: Build classroom experience
Years in the classroom form the foundation of your credibility as an administrator. You will draw on your teaching experience constantly in the AP role, especially when working with instructional staff and supporting struggling students.
Step 3: Earn a master’s degree in educational leadership
A graduate program like SIUE’s online MSEd in Educational Administration gives you the knowledge and credentials you need for state licensure. Look for programs that combine coursework with a supervised field internship, since both are typically required for administrative certification.
Step 4: Complete a state-approved preparation program
Many states require candidates to finish a state-approved program as part of their licensure application. These programs pair graduate coursework with internship hours that give you real administrative experience before you take on an AP position.
Step 5: Earn your administrative license and apply for positions
Once you complete your program and pass required exams, you apply for your administrative license through your state education agency. With that credential in hand, you are eligible to apply for assistant principal openings in your district or elsewhere in your state.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Assistant Principal?
The timeline is similar to the principalship timeline: most candidates spend four years earning a bachelor’s degree, followed by several years teaching, then one to two years completing a master’s program. Including the teaching experience requirement, most educators reach the assistant principal role eight to ten years after finishing their undergraduate degree.
Some educators move into an AP role more quickly if they enter an accelerated graduate program while teaching and apply for administrative positions immediately after earning licensure. Starting a master’s program as soon as the minimum teaching-experience requirement is met, rather than waiting several additional years, is typically the biggest factor in shortening the timeline.
Assistant Principal Salary and Career Outlook
Assistant principal salaries vary by state, district and school level. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups assistant principals together with principals in its occupational data, reporting a median annual wage of $104,070 for the combined category as of May 2024. PayScale, which tracks assistant principal pay specifically, puts the average assistant principal salary at $83,177, as of July 2026. While that number runs below the BLS median for the combined category, it is consistent with what assistant principals typically earn, which is somewhat less than principals in the same district.
BLS projects approximately 20,800 principal and assistant principal job openings per year through 2034, driven mainly by retirements and turnover. That demand makes administrative positions relatively accessible for qualified candidates with the right credentials and experience.
The Assistant Principal Role as a Career Foundation
For most educators, the assistant principal role is not the destination; it is preparation for the principalship. Time and experience as an AP builds skills you cannot get in the classroom: managing staff performance issues, navigating district relationships, running complex logistics and handling the high-pressure situations that define school administration.
Educators who enter the AP role with a clear growth plan and who pursue ongoing leadership development are typically well prepared to step into the principal role when the opportunity arises. SIUE graduate Dr. Brad Skertich followed that path, moving from the classroom into his first administrative role and eventually into a district superintendency.
Prepare for School Administration Roles With an Online MSED From SIUE
SIUE’s online MSEd – Principal Preparation program gives working educators the credentials and competencies they need to pursue an assistant principal position. The program is fully online with a field-based internship that meets ISBE requirements. SIUE faculty support candidates through every step of the licensure process.
With flexible, career-focused coursework, educators can complete the program in as few as 12 months while continuing to teach or work in their current school or district. For teachers ready to take that next step in school leadership, SIUE’s program offers a direct and practical path from the classroom into the administrator’s office.
Learn more about SIUE’s online Master of Science in Education in Educational Administration with a Specialization in Principal Preparation program.
About SIUE’s Online MSEd in Educational Administration – Principal Preparation Program
SIUE’s online MSEd in Educational Administration with a Specialization in Principal Preparation program pairs graduate coursework with a field-based internship that meets Illinois State Board of Education requirements, allowing working teachers and school support professionals to complete licensure requirements without stepping away from their current classroom or district. The fully online program is CAEP-accredited through December 2029 and aligned with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL), preparing educators for leadership roles in P–12 schools.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public university in Edwardsville, Illinois, in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. Founded through a 1950s community campaign for accessible public higher education in the Metro-East region, SIUE opened its campus in 1965 and today spans more than 2,600 acres of woods and rolling land. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs across the arts and sciences, business, education, engineering and nursing, and remains one of the largest employers in Madison County.
