# Title 67 — Public Instruction, Superintendent of

## Article 67-11 — Education Professional Credentials

## Chapter 67-11-21 — Principal Credentials

### § 67-11-21-01. Definitions.

For the purpose of this chapter:
1. "Board" means the North Dakota education standards and practices board.
2. "Department" means the North Dakota department of public instruction.
3. "Elementary principal credential" means the credential that allows an individual to serve as a
principal for any combination of grades kindergarten through eight.
4. "Secondary principal credential" means the credential that allows an individual to serve as a
principal for any combination of grades five through twelve.
5. "Superintendent" means the North Dakota superintendent of public instruction.
History: Effective July 1, 2019.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11
### § 67-11-21-02. Credentials required.

For purposes of school accreditation, a school may employ as an elementary principal only a
person who holds an elementary principal's provisional or professional credential issued by the
department. A school may employ as a secondary principal only a person who holds a secondary
principal's provisional or professional credential issued by the department. The department may issue a
credential under this chapter to an individual who has graduated from a program that meets the
program standards approved by the department for elementary and secondary school principals as
described in the North Dakota teacher education program approval standards 2000 with 2002 revisions
adopted by the board effective August 1, 2002.
History: Effective July 1, 2019.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11
### § 67-11-21-03. Issuing agency.

The North Dakota principal's credential issuing agency address is:
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Department of Public Instruction
600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 201

Bismarck, ND 58505-0440
History: Effective July 1, 2019.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11
### § 67-11-21-04. Types of credentials.

1. A provisional credential is:
a. Issued to an individual who does not meet the qualifications for a level I professional
credential;
b. Issued as the initial credential and is valid until the end of the third school year following
the year in which the provisional credential is issued and can be renewed one time for
two additional school years;
c. Issued upon satisfying the following requirements:
(1) Hold a valid teaching license issued by the board.
(2) Have a minimum of three years documented successful teaching experience, as
defined by subdivision e (elementary) or subdivision f (secondary) of subsection 2 of
section 67-11-21-06.
(3) Demonstrate leadership competency in an educational setting.
(4) During the provisional credential application process, submit three letters of
recommendation, one from a supervisor, and two from other professionals in the
field, who have knowledge of the applicant's qualifications which must contain:
(a) Verification of three years documented successful teaching experience; and
(b) Demonstrated leadership competency.
(5) Provide evidence of acceptance into an educational leadership program at an
accredited higher educational institution.
(6) Applicants receiving the provisional credential who are employed as a principal are
required to enroll and participate in a formal peer-to-peer principal mentoring
program for a minimum of two years upon their successful hiring as a principal.
d. Renewal of the provisional credential.
(1) The provisional credential may be renewed one time for a period of two years by
meeting the following requirements:
(a) Submit transcripts documenting progress in enrolled educational leadership
program towards master's degree, minimum of twenty credits that are included
in the master's degree plan of study.
(b) Show evidence of participation in principal mentoring program, if employed as
a principal.
(2) An individual issued an initial two-year provisional principal credential between
July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2019, may renew that provisional credential for two more
years, provided the individual meets the requirements set forth in paragraph 1. The

individual must agree to participate in two years of a formal peer-to-peer principal
mentoring program if the individual has not already completed one.
e. Upon the expiration of the two-year renewal of the provisional credential, the applicant
either must qualify for and attain the level I principal credential or the individual is no
longer eligible to serve as a principal.
2. A level II professional credential is:
a. Not issued to new applicants after July 1, 2019.
b. Issued to coincide with the period for which the individual is licensed to teach by the
board; however, an individual holding a lifetime educator's professional license must
renew the individual's credential every five years;
c. Renewal of the level II professional credential is available only for principals serving
schools in the enrollment category one hundred or fewer students; and
d. Issued upon satisfying standards identified in subsections 1, 2, and 3 of section
67-11-21-06.
3. A level I professional credential is:
a. Issued to coincide with the period for which the individual is licensed to teach by the
board and may be renewed at the end of that period; however, an individual holding a
lifetime educator's professional license must renew the individual's credential every five
years; and
b. Issued upon satisfying credential standards identified in subsections 1, 2, and 4 of
section 67-11-21-06.
4. The provisional credential, the level II professional credential, and the level I professional
credential are valid only if the individual holding the credential also holds a valid North Dakota
educator's professional license to teach during the period for which the credential has been
issued. An elementary principal credential is valid only if the individual is licensed to teach at
the elementary level, and a secondary credential is valid only if the individual is licensed to
teach at the secondary level.
5. If a level I professional credential issued under this chapter will expire within twelve months of
issuance because the educator's professional license will expire within twelve months of the
issuance of the new level I professional credential, the level I professional credential will be
issued for a period coinciding with the period of licensure of the succeeding educator's
professional license.
History: Effective July 1, 2019.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11
### § 67-11-21-05. Approval for educational administration programs.

Whenever this chapter refers to "state-approved program", it refers to the process by which the
board in concert with the department supervises a system of program approval at those colleges within
the state of North Dakota which provide educational administration programs. Educational
administration programs from other state or private colleges which meet state standards for program
approval are listed in the manual on certification and preparation of education personnel in the United
States and Canada published by the national association of state directors of teacher education and
certification.

History: Effective July 1, 2019.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11
### § 67-11-21-06. Principal credential standards.

The documentation on each standard must be verified within the department before any credential
will be issued.
1. An applicant must hold a valid North Dakota educator's professional license issued by the
board in accordance with North Dakota Century Code sections 15.1-13-08 and 15.1-13-10
and North Dakota Administrative Code title 67.1.
2. An applicant must have at least three years of teaching or administrative experience or a
combination thereof:
a. Equal to full-time equivalency as stated in North Dakota Century Code section
15.1-06-04.
b. Positions must have been stated on a professional contract.
c. Teaching is defined as being assigned as a regular classroom teacher, music teacher, art
teacher, counselor, physical education teacher, basic skills or remedial reading teacher,
special education teacher, or library media specialist, or any combination of these
assignments.
d. Administrative experience is defined as being assigned the duties of principal that
includes any combination of an approved school or as a superintendent or central office
administrator of an approved kindergarten through grade twelve school.
e. Applicants for the elementary principal credential must fulfill the requirements of this
subsection in any combination of grades kindergarten through eight.
f. Applicants for the secondary principal credential must fulfill the requirements of this
subsection in any combination of grades five through twelve.
3. The level II credential requires twenty semester hours of graduate credit taken in a master's
degree program from a state-approved program in educational administration. Course
preparation for the credential is as follows:
a. Leadership, planning, and organizational behavior in education.
b. Educational law and organizational structure of education.
c. Personnel, supervision, and staff development.
d. Curriculum, instruction, and learning theory.
e. Policy and educational finance.
f. Administration of the secondary school.
g. Secondary school curriculum.
4. The level I credential requires one of the following:
a. A master's degree in educational administration from a state-approved program. Course
preparation for the credential must be aligned to the standards listed below:

(1) Mission, vision, and improvement.
(2) Ethics and professional norms.
(3) Equity, inclusiveness, and cultural responsiveness.
(4) Learning and instruction.
(5) Community and external leadership.
(6) Operations and management.
(7) Building professional capacity.
(8) Internship. The internship standard must be specific to the grade level of the
credential being applied for. The internship for the elementary credential is specific
to the elementary school and must be completed through a field experience in
grades kindergarten through eight. The internship for the secondary credential is
specific to the secondary school and must be completed through a field experience
in grades five through twelve. These field experiences must take place under the
supervision of the university through which the individual's program is being
completed. Individuals interested in obtaining the kindergarten through grade twelve
principal credential must complete a separate field experience at both the
elementary and secondary level.
b. A master's degree with a major certifiable by the board in addition to twenty semester
hours of credit from a state-approved program that includes courses specific to all
standards listed in subdivision a.
History: Effective July 1, 2019.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11
### § 67-11-21-07. Kindergarten through grade twelve principal credential.

A kindergarten through grade twelve principal credential may be issued to any individual who meets
the requirements of both the elementary principal credential and the secondary principal credential.
Individuals who hold this credential may serve as a principal for any combination of kindergarten
through grade twelve.
History: Effective July 1, 2019.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11
### § 67-11-21-08. Application process.

The application process to obtain a credential under this chapter requires submission of:
1. A completed application, including the applicant's name, social security number, date,
address, telephone number, educator's professional license type and number, employment
information, academic preparation, and references;
2. A copy of official transcripts;
3. A letter of verification must be provided for applicants attending a North Dakota college with
an approved educational leadership program, attesting to the completion of the academic
standard required for the level of the credential requested. Applicants providing a copy of

official transcripts from an approved college in another state must have the academic standard
verification made by the department; and
4. Three letters of recommendation must be provided, one from a supervisor, and two from other
professionals in the field, who have first-hand knowledge of the individual's professional work,
experience, and service.
History: Effective July 1, 2019.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11
### § 67-11-21-09. Renewal requirements.

To renew the level I and level II professional credentials, an individual shall submit one of the
following:
1. A copy of official transcripts of eight semester hours of graduate work in education acquired
after the date of the original credentialing or last renewal, of which four semester hours are in
the area of educational administration; or
2. A copy of official transcripts of six semester hours of graduate work in education acquired after
the date of the original credentialing or last renewal and verification of attendance or
participation in at least six educational conferences or workshops from the listing in this
subsection. The verification must be a signed statement by the conference or workshop
sponsors, employer, or a school district business manager. Acceptable conferences or
workshops are:
a. North Dakota association of elementary school principals state and area conferences or
workshops;
b. National association of elementary school principals regional and national conferences or
workshops;
c. North Dakota association of secondary school principals state and area conferences or
workshops;
d. National association of secondary school principals regional and national conferences or
workshops;
e. North Dakota council of educational leaders state and area conferences or workshops;
f. American association of school administrators regional and national conferences or
workshops;
g. North Dakota association of school administrators state and area conferences or
workshops;
h. Accreditation annual or regional conferences or workshops;
i. Department of public instruction conferences or workshops;
j. North Dakota united sponsored state and area conferences or workshops;
k. North Dakota school boards association sponsored state and area conferences or
workshops;
l. Other educational workshops approved by the superintendent.

History: Effective July 1, 2019.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11
### § 67-11-21-10. Reconsideration.

If issuance or renewal of any credential under this chapter is denied, the denial must be in writing
and must state all reasons for denial and the applicant must be notified of the opportunity for
reconsideration. If an application for issuance or renewal of any credential under this chapter is denied,
the applicant may request a reconsideration of the decision. A request for reconsideration must be in
writing and must be received by the superintendent of public instruction within three weeks of the date
of mailing by the department of public instruction. Late requests may not be considered. The
reconsideration request must state the following:
1. The facts, law, or rule the applicant believes was erroneously interpreted or applied; and
2. The applicant's arguments on how the facts, law, or rule should have been applied, giving
specific reasons and thorough analysis. The superintendent of public instruction shall issue a
final written response on the reconsideration request within three weeks after receiving a
complete reconsideration request.
History: Effective July 1, 2019.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-02-04, 15.1-02-11
