Online Educational Leadership/Administration

Applicants must have the following experience in a Florida school:

• A minimum of two years of full-time PK-12 classroom teaching experience in a public, private, or charter school OR
  A minimum of two years of full-time PK-12 experience in a comparable instructional role, such as a school counselor, or similar positions in public, private, or charter schools.
• Two recent Summative Performance Evaluations.
• Current Employment in a Florida School or Florida school district.

Out-of-state applicants, with 2+ years of PK-12 Instructional experience, who are relocating to Florida and are interested in our program, please email Allison Young; aryoung@fsu.edu

• Employment in a Florida public, private, or charter school is required for Level I Certification.
• Applicants must be employed in a setting that allows them to complete field-based assignments beginning their first semester and continuing to the end of the program.
• Admitted students must have a supervising administrator, with a Florida Certificate in Educational Leadership (e.g., principal or assistant principal) at the site where they will complete their field-based assignments.
• Applicants must have access to students and staff for leadership-related activities

Master’s Program: An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in Upper-Division coursework attempted (Last 60 hours).

Specialist's Program: An earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA).

Please upload your most recent Resume/CV including your current employment. Your resume should show at least two years of full-time PK-12 classroom teaching experience in a Florida school.

All PK-12 Teachers are required to submit their professional or temporary Florida Educators Certificate in the application portal.

Eligible applicants whose position does not require a teaching certificate will have this requirement waived in their application upon submitting complete and approved performance evaluations.

Applicants in a Florida public or public charter school must submit two complete, summative performance evaluations per section per Section 1012.34, F.S. Each must include:

• A final rating of “Effective” or “Highly Effective” on both:
  • Instructional Practice
  • Performance of Students
• Clear alignment with Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs) or equivalent.
• Evidence of Student Learning or growth outcomes under your instruction or guidance.
• Most recent evaluations are preferred
• Obtained in the last 5 years

If you are in a Private or non-teaching role (e.g., School Counselor) and do not receive performance evaluations that include the required information, please email the admissions rep, Allison Young, at aryoung@fsu.edu. If you are eligible, we will provide a link to a digital form that your direct supervisor can complete to fulfill the performance evaluation requirement.

Important FAQs

• Classroom observations (formal or informal) do NOT meet the criteria under FEAPS and cannot be accepted and should not be submitted.
• If your most recent evaluation will not be complete with an overall final rating by the admissions deadline, but you have additional complete evaluations with effective or highly effective ratings within the last five years, you can submit those.
• If you recently completed your second year of teaching but your evaluation will not be completed by the admissions deadline, please email the admissions rep, Allison Young, at aryoung@fsu.edu to request the digital performance evaluation form. Your direct supervisor can complete this form to fulfill the performance evaluation requirement.

The Principal Leadership Recommender Form must be completed by your current school Principal, who has evaluated your most recent teaching or performance and has knowledge of your demonstrated critical leadership skills, dispositions, and leadership potential.

Step 1: Submit an FSU application through the portal and upload your CV/Resume showing current employment. This is required before submitting the Principal Leadership Recommender Form.

Step 2:  Using the DocuSign link below, you will fill out your name, as well as the name and email of the Principal who will complete the form. Once this is complete, you will click “Begin Signing”. On the next page, you will enter your application number and hit “Finish”.  The form will then be sent to the Principal’s email you provided to complete the form. When the Principal completes their portion of the form, a final copy will be sent to the Academic Specialist to be uploaded to your application portal and marked complete.

The form must be filled out and signed electronically through DocuSign.  Handwritten copies will not be accepted.

DocuSign Link: Principal Leadership Recommender Form Link or https://bit.ly/4c5M9QE

Spring 2026 applicants, please follow the prompt below
(12 pt. font, Single-spaced, Limit of 2 pages) Describe your aptitude and interest in graduate study in educational leadership, including your preparation for this field and future career goals. Please specify why FSU is a good intellectual and professional fit for you.

Summer & Fall 2026 Applicants, please follow the prompt below
(12 pt. font, single-spaced, 2-page maximum) Describe your motivation for pursuing graduate study in Educational Leadership. Your response should convey clarity of purpose, a commitment to educational leadership, and a strong alignment with the mission of FSU’s program.

In your statement, address the following:

• Why Educational Leadership? What experiences, values, or aspirations have led you to pursue a leadership role in education?
• Your Vision for Impact: What changes or contributions do you hope to make in your school, district, or the broader field of education?
• Preparation for Graduate Study: How has your academic background, professional experience, and personal development prepared you for success in this program?
• Why FSU? Why is Florida State University—and specifically the Online M.S. or Ed.S. in Educational Leadership & Administration—a good fit for your goals and professional growth?

Spring 2026 applicants, please follow the prompt below
(12 pt. font, Single-spaced, Limit of 1 page)
From your professional work experience, describe and analyze one situation that involved a dilemma related to school leadership and how you demonstrated critical leadership skills and dispositions in response to this dilemma.

Summer & Fall 2026 Applicants, please follow the prompt below
(12 pt. font, single-spaced, 1-page maximum)
Reflect on a professional experience that involved a leadership dilemma in an educational setting. Describe the situation and analyze how you responded using critical leadership skills and dispositions. Explain your decision-making process, the challenges you faced, and what the experience taught you about effective educational leadership and how it shapes your approach today.

A total of two Letters of Recommendation must be submitted. Both letters should be from individuals who can describe your ability to meet the graduate level of rigor and expectations in coursework, writing and speaking skills, work ethic, and completing field experiences.

• Letters from friends or family will not be considered. Letters should be professional, typed on letterhead, and have a signature.
• Up to 5 letters of recommendation will be reviewed.
• Upon entering the recommender’s email address, the application system will send instructions to your recommender for uploading letters.

Beginning with the Spring 2026 admissions cycle, there will be no University-wide requirement for GRE admissions tests at the Master’s or Specialist level. The item will be waived on the application checklist.

Please see the “Transcript Requirement” section on The Graduate School website for detailed information and submission instructions: https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions

• Official Transcripts: Official transcripts are ONLY required for admitted students & applicants who require SpanTran evaluations of International Transcripts.
• Unofficial Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts are required for your application to be reviewed. Please submit ALL unofficial transcripts from each College and/or University attended. FSU only allows for application review with unofficial transcripts from U.S. institutions. For applicants with transcripts from a non-U.S. institution, a credential evaluation must be received before the application can be reviewed. *Official transcripts on the application checklist will show a red “X” until they are submitted. Applicants who have submitted all required documents and are only missing official transcripts are still considered complete and will be reviewed.
• International Transcript Requirements: FSU requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for Fall 2024 applicants and beyond who have degrees from a non-U.S. institution. International and domestic applicants with degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through a NACES approved evaluator for transcripts from a non-U.S. institution. SpanTran has created a custom application for FSU to ensure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. Please see the “Transcript Requirements” section of the Graduate School website for detailed information. https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions

Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. You can find the approved tests and minimum scores required here under the “English Language Proficiency” section: https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/international-admissions

• Self-Reported Scores
  Although official scores are required, most departments will begin reviewing your application with self-reported scores while waiting for the official scores to arrive. You can self-report your scores on your Online Status Page after you submit your application. 
• Waiving English Language Proficiency
  The English Language Proficiency requirement can be waived at the University level for applicants who have earned a BA or higher in the US or an English-speaking country. *A variety of countries are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement.

The FSU application is a 2-step process. You must first submit your online application. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email with information to access your Application Status Page. The Status Page is where you will pay your application fee, add recommenders to your application, and upload application materials.

Please select the applicable fields when applying:

Campus/Location = Online/Distance Learning
Master’s (M.S.) Program = Educational Leadership/Administration – MS – EH 
Specialist (Ed.S.) Program = Educational Leadership/Administration – EdS – EH

Apply Now

Apply Now - International Students

Can this program be completed while working full-time?

Yes, our program is designed for full-time working educators. We understand that many of our students also juggle family and other personal responsibilities. The online format is flexible so that you can work at your own pace on your schedule. Field experiences are built into courses and will be completed at your school site. You will have a dedicated support team to help you navigate the program. When life happens, we’re here to support you, explore your options, and develop a plan that fits your unique needs.

I do not teach in Florida; I teach in another US State. Am I eligible for the program? 

Unfortunately, you would not be eligible. The Master's & Specialist programs in Educational Leadership/Administration are state-approved programs whose guidelines require at least 2 years of teaching in Florida schools. If you plan to relocate to Florida, please email Allison Young, aryoung@fsu.edu

I taught in another US state for multiple years, I have relocated to Florida, or I plan to relocate to Florida. Am I eligible for the program?

Please reach out to Allison Young, aryoung@fsu.edu, for additional guidance on eligibility.   

Why are 2 years of teaching in Florida required for this program?  

Florida Administrative Code Rule 6A-5.081 requires candidates to demonstrate both instructional expertise and leadership potential as part of their admission to a state-approved Level I Educational Leadership program. This includes documented evidence of effective teaching performance in Florida public schools, typically through two years of evaluations showing student learning gains. These experiences ensure candidates enter the program with a solid instructional foundation and real-world context that supports their transition into leadership roles focused on improving teaching and learning across school communities.

Can the Master’s or Specialist program be completed in less than two years?  

Typically, no. Students complete the program in six semesters by taking 6 credit hours per term, which is the recommended pace to meet all state certification requirements. Because the program follows a cohort model, courses are offered only once per year and are intentionally sequenced to support your development as an instructional leader. This structure also allows time for meaningful field experiences, which are required for certification and essential for applying leadership skills in real school settings.

What type of leadership positions in my district does this program qualify me for? 

Level 1 certification in Educational Leadership qualifies you to become an assistant principal in the State of Florida. For other leadership positions, requirements may vary—check with your district, as they establish their own criteria for different leadership opportunities.

I am a substitute teacher. Am I eligible for the Program?

Not at this time. Florida’s state-approved Level I Educational Leadership programs require applicants to have at least two years of full-time, evaluated teaching experience. This includes documented instructional effectiveness and student learning gains, typically verified through formal evaluations in a Florida public school setting under Section 1012.34, F.S. Because substitute teaching does not typically include these evaluations or meet the state’s definition of instructional expertise, it does not satisfy this requirement under Rule 6A-5.081.

This program is not the right fit for me, or i am not eligible. I am still interested in Educational Leadership. What are my other Degree options at FSU? 

Additional programs to consider within Educational Leadership and Policy Studies:
Online - Educational Leadership/Administration EdD (Doctoral)
Online - Education Policy & Evaluation Masters
On Campus - Education Policy & Evaluation Masters & PhD
On Campus – Higher Education Masters & PhD

We encourage you to visit our graduate programs website and review the many programs the College offers!