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College of Education

Accelerated Superintendent Certification

Accelerated Superintendent Certification

Become a Transformational School District Leader

Take your leadership to the next level in the Accelerated Superintendent Certification Program at the University of Houston. Flexible for working administrators, this certification-only program can be completed in as few as two semesters. You’ll build expertise in district governance, strategic planning, school finance and policy development to drive success for all students. Put simply, our high-quality, fast-track program prepares you for an influential, fulfilling career as a certified superintendent in Texas.

Program At A Glance

Highlights of the Accelerated Superintendent Certification program:

  • Format: Hybrid
  • Location: Main campus
  • Completion time: Typically, 1 year (2-3 semesters)
  • Semester start: Fall
  • GRE: Not required
  • Deadline to apply: Find all application deadlines.

Eligibility & Requirements

This certification-only program is designed for K-12 administrators looking to elevate their credentials and increase their impact in education.

Requirements include:

  • GPA of 3.0 or higher (based on last degree earned)
  • Master’s degree
  • Valid Texas principal certification*

*If you do not hold this certification, apply to the College’s  accelerated principal certification program and finish those requirements before starting the superintendent program courses.

Seeking a doctoral degree along with superintendent certification? Explore our Ed.D. in Professional Leadership – K-12 program.

Career Opportunities

Texas needs great school leaders, and the job market is ripe for superintendents — with more than 1,200 public school districts and charters in the state. In the Houston region, the average superintendent salary exceeds $234,700 (source: TEA, 2023-24).

Jobs include:

  • Superintendent
  • Deputy, associate or assistant superintendent
  • Chief academic officer
  • School district executive

Why Choose UH?

  • Proven Success: Our students have an excellent pass rate on the Texas superintendent certification exam (95% in 2023-24).
  • Expert Faculty and Mentorship: Learn from supportive professors with real-world experience and a passion for growing future leaders.
  • Powerful Network: Connect with educators in a diverse, dynamic location that includes 100+ school districts (Regions 4 and 6 in Greater Houston).

What You’ll Learn

In line with state standards, the Accelerated Superintendent Certification program at UH requires the following:

  • Five courses (225 clock hours of content and pedagogy)
  • Practicum in a school district (160 hours)
  • Three field observations (135 minutes) by a UH field supervisor

Courses include:

  • ELCS 8310 – The Superintendency   
  • ELCS 7392 – Internship in Superintendency 
  • ELCS 8361 – Public & Community Relations  
  • ELCS 8350 – Resource Management   
  • ELCS 8356 – Program & Policy Evaluation 

Certification Steps

To earn superintendent certification in Texas, you must:

  • Successfully complete all coursework.
  • Complete all required practicum hours and observations.
  • Hold a principal certification or the equivalent issued by the Texas Education Agency, another state or country, or have TEA approval to substitute managerial experience.
  • Hold at minimum a master’s degree.
  • Pass the state TExES 195 certification exam.

How to Apply

To take the next step in your school leadership journey, apply today!

Application Requirements

Please read the application instructions and check application deadlines.

*In addition to being admitted into UH, you also must be admitted into our superintendent certification program. This is a state requirement for all educator-prep programs. UH typically has a high admission rate for those who meet the state requirements. Students should look for more information from the College of Education after being accepted into UH.

Costs & Financial Support

To estimate costs, use the UH tuition calculator (for hours, select 6 hours for typical enrollment). Please note that federal aid is only available for UH degree programs but not for certification-only programs.

Contact Us

For questions or assistance about the Accelerated Superintendent Certification program at UH, please contact us at elpssuptcert@central.uh.edu. We’re happy to help!

Note: An applicant or candidate who has been convicted of an offense may be ineligible for issuance of a certificate upon completion of the Educator Preparation Program. Please refer to the current State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules prescribed in  §249.16 of the Texas Administrative Code (relating to Eligibility of Persons with Criminal History for a Certificate under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter  53, and Texas Education Code, Chapter  21). Applicants/candidates have the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter as provided in Chapter 227,  Subchapter B, of the Texas Administrative Code (relating to Preliminary Evaluation of Certification Eligibility).