School Principal Certification

The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board issues a Statement if Eligibility for School Principal to applicants who:

  • Have completed an approved program for Instructional Leadership - School Principal.
  • Receive a recommendation from an EPSB approved institution.
  • Successfully passed the School Leadership Licensure Assessment (6990).

To receive the Statement of Eligibility, applicants must:

  • Fill out an application (CA-1) in the KECS Portal.
  • Upon approval, the EPSB will issue a 5-year Statement of Eligibility;
  • After employment is obtained, applicant must submit Confirmation of Employment, and
  • Make the appropriate payment through the online payment service in KECS for certification fees. Please note that any other forms of payment are not accepted and will be returned to the applicant.

Statement of Eligibility (SOE)

  • The SOE allows candidates five (5) years to apply and receive employment as a principal/assistant principal in a Kentucky school. 
  • If the applicant does not obtain a position requiring principal certification within the five (5) year period, the applicant may renew the SOE by repeating and passing the assessment in effect at that time or by completing a minimum of six (6) graduate hours, directly related to instructional leadership, management, or supervision, at a regionally or nationally accredited institution. (the hiring district sends a Confirmation of Employment to EPSB and a principal certificate will be issued.)
  • The option for renewal through completion of graduate hours shall be available only for the first reestablishment of eligibility.


Professional Certificate for School Principal

The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board issues a five-year Professional Certificate for Principal to applicants who:

  • received a confirmation of employment from a district requiring principal certification 
  • makes the appropriate payment through ePay online payment service in KECS for certification fees. Please note that any other forms of payment are not accepted and will be returned to the applicant.


Renewal of a Principal Statement of Eligibility

Renewal shall require:

  • Completion of an online CA-2 application on the KECS Portal
  • Official transcripts showing six (6) new semester hours of graduate level coursework completed in educational leadership*; OR
  • New passing SLLA (6690) scores required for the Principal certification.

  • Appropriate payment through the KECS system via the online payment service for certification fees. Please note that any other forms of payment are not accepted and will be returned to the applicant.

*Renewal of a Principal Statement of Eligibility based on six (6) semester hours is a one time option. 


Renewal of a Professional Certification for Principals and Assistant Principals

Level I renewal shall require:

  • Completion of an online CA-1 application on the KECS Portal;
  • Completion of a Level II program approved by the Education Professional Standards Board pursuant to 16 KAR 5:010;
  • Submission of official transcripts to show the coursework for the Level II program has been completed.
  • Appropriate payment through the KECS system via the online payment service for certification fees. Please note that any other forms of payment are not accepted and will be returned to the applicant.

Level II renewal shall require:

  • Completion of an online CA-2 application on the KECS Portal;
  • Two (2) years of experience as a principal or assistance principal; OR
  • Three (3) semester hours of additional graduate credit related to educational leadership for each year of experience the applicant has not completed; OR
  • Forty-two (42) hours of approved Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) training.
  • Appropriate payment through the KECS system via the online payment service for certification fees. Please note that any other forms of payment are not accepted and will be returned to the applicant.

The above Level II renewal requirements must be completed within the last 5 year issuance of the certificate.


Last modified: Thursday, March 20, 2025, 10:44 AM