Online Superintendent Certificate Program

The online Superintendent Certificate Program is ideal for students who would like to attain their Superintendent Certificate without going through a doctoral program. This one-year program prepares students to be adaptive leaders who are able to lead urban, rural, and suburban school communities in Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) environments.

The Online Superintendent Certificate Program is a one-year, practice-based leadership experience designed to prepare future superintendents to lead innovative, future-ready school districts. Grounded in adaptive leadership, systems thinking, AI integration, and cutting-edge curriculum design, the program equips candidates with the tools needed to navigate complexity and drive sustainable change. Taught by experienced superintendents, each course bridges theory and practice, culminating in a supervised internship that provides real-world leadership experience. Upon successful completion, graduates are eligible to apply for superintendent certification and are prepared to lead districts that empower both educators and students to thrive in an AI-driven, rapidly evolving world.

Why Choose Drexel for A Superintendent Certificate Program?

Our one-year online program is an executive-style leadership program designed for working professionals who wish to expedite the process of achieving their superintendent certificate.

It is our mission to educate students through an internship that supports experiential learning, action research designed to apply theory to practice, application of current and emerging technology, and learning environments designed to promote creativity and innovation.

Drexel University is an urban research university that integrates education, scholarship, diverse partnerships, and our global community to address society’s most pressing challenges through an inclusive learning environment, immersive experiential learning, external partnerships, transdisciplinary and applied research, and creative activity. We prepare graduates of diverse backgrounds to become purpose-driven professionals and agents for positive change.

Successful graduates of this certificate program should be eligible for a Department of Education Superintendent Certification in any state in the US. Students studying internationally can use the Superintendent certificate to advance in their educational career according to the guidelines in their country. Drexel University’s Online Education Program is an award-winning nationally-recognized program.

Key Program Features

In the online superintendent certificate program, you'll have the opportunity to learn from expert faculty who are current or former Superintendents, Directors of Special Education, Curriculum Supervisors, Principals, and Directors of Intermediate Units.

When earning the Superintendent Certificate online, you can expect to learn:

• How to lead K-12 urban, rural, and suburban school districts utilizing adaptive leadership
• How to create equitable learning environments
• How to prepare students for college and a career in a technologically-advanced global society

Superintendent certificate courses will include skill building in:

• Curriculum models
• Instructional and curriculum leadership in special education
• Parents and schools
• School superintendency

You can expect 400 hours of experiential learning through internships that are documented through a digital portfolio of your work.

What Can You Do with a Superintendent Certificate?

Typical career paths of students who complete the online superintendent certificate program include:

• Chief Education Officer
• School Administrator
• School Superintendent
• Superintendent

Career Outlook

A school superintendent is the chief executive officer of a school district. They are often the person who meets with school boards and elected leaders to report on progress within their schools and address concerns. Superintendents oversee student achievement and academic standards, manage the district’s budget, and hire and maintain senior level staff. The American Association of School Administrators cites their annual average salary as $156,468.

Department of Education Requirements for Superintendent Licensure

Graduates of the program are eligible for PA Department of Education Superintendent Certification, dependent on a successful score on the required Praxis Assessment. The PA Superintendent Certification with an accompanying passing score on the Praxis Assessment for the specific state is accepted in most states in the US.

Candidates for the Pennsylvania Superintendent Certification must have a minimum of 6 years of teaching experience, at least 3 of which must be in a leadership role. Candidates may be admitted to Drexel’s online Superintendent Certificate program before they meet these requirements, but they cannot apply for state certification until they have satisfied the Department of Education requirements for years of experience and Praxis Exam scores. It is recommended to have at least 5 years of experience when applying to this program, so upon completion, students are eligible to apply for state certification.

Learn more about how to become a superintendent.

Related Programs

• EdD Online Program
• EdD Philadelphia Hybrid Online Program
• MS in Educational Administration
• School Principal Certification

State restrictions may apply to some programs.