Degrees for Licensure
Your path to teacher or principal licensure with ACE.
Programs for Principal Licensure
If you’re an experienced educator ready for a principal or administrative position, ACE has online principal licensure programs that can get you there.
Whether you’d like to pursue a master’s degree or already have one and just need a certificate program, we have a pathway that can equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to pass your examination and lead with confidence. In fact, in all states where we track data, ACE graduates meet or exceed state pass rates on leadership and principal examinations.
Our programs are approved for principal licensure in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Texas. If you are seeking licensure in another state, you are still welcome to apply. Just note that you may also need to satisfy other requirements set by your state for licensure, such as years of service or internship hours.
For more details on principal licensure compatibility by state, visit our licensure resources page.
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership*
Certificate in Texas Educational Leadership*
Certificate in Principal Preparation*
Florida Modified for Educational Leadership
Programs for Teacher Licensure
American College of Education (ACE)’s teaching licensure online programs are a path to the certifications you need to become a classroom teacher. If you’d like to learn more about how to obtain a teacher licensure from start to finish, consult this guide.
Choose from a range of certificates and master’s degrees that are approved pathways to teacher licensure in Indiana. Because Indiana has reciprocity agreements with most states, once you hold an Indiana initial teacher license, you may be able to gain equivalent licensure in the state where you live or intend to be employed.
States may still have additional requirements for educators licensed in another state. For more information on reciprocity and licensure requirements in your state, visit our licensure map.
M.A. in Elementary Teaching*
M.A. in Secondary Teaching*
Certificate in Transition to Teaching in Elementary Education*
Certificate in Transition to Teaching in Secondary Education*
Certificate in Transition to Teaching in Special Education*
Programs for Teacher Endorsements
Beyond teacher licensure, ACE also has programs that can help current educators add educational endorsements to their resume quickly and affordably. These endorsements signify that you’re qualified to teach in specific areas, as you’ve completed the additional coursework and training required.
M.Ed. in Teaching English Learners*
Illinois Certificate in English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education*
Early Childhood Special Education Endorsement*
Reading Teacher Endorsement*
Certificate in Teaching English Learners*
Micro-credential in Learning Behavior Specialist 1*
Elementary Education Endorsement*
What Is Licensure?
Teacher or principal licensure is how states certify teachers and principals have the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in their respective roles.
Different states have different requirements for teacher and principal licensure for several reasons. Student demographics, amount of funding and philosophical approaches to education all vary from state to state – these factors influence the preparation that each state wants their teachers and educational leaders to have. For more information on licensure requirements in your state, visit our licensure map.
Even teachers at schools providing online education are typically required to hold a teaching license. For teachers at online schools that serve multiple states, multiple licenses may be required. While this sounds intimidating, many states have reciprocity agreements that allow teachers to easily gain equivalent licenses in other states.
Educator License Reciprocity†
The state of Indiana has a compact agreement with most states. This means that if you hold an initial teacher or administrator license in Indiana, you may be able to gain equivalent licensure in the state where you live or intend to be employed.
States may still have additional requirements for licensed educators in another state. These additional requirements are called Jurisdiction Specific Requirements (JSRs) and usually vary depending on the educator’s years of experience, content exams, or state specific coursework requirements. Some jurisdictions, however, consider themselves “full-reciprocity” and do not have any additional requirements.
For current information regarding license educator reciprocity by state, please visit the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification website.
†Prospective students are strongly advised to confirm the benefit(s) for which they may be eligible with their state’s department of education prior to enrolling in an American College of Education degree or certificate program.
Alumni Success Stories
Start Earning Your License
If you’re ready to become a teacher or principal, start working toward your licensure requirements today.
*This is an estimated value of the cost for tuition and fees. Amounts may vary depending on number of transfer credits applied to the selected program hours, the pace and satisfactory completion of the selected program, receipt of institutional scholarship and/or grant amounts, or adjustments to tuition or fees as described in the Catalog Right to Modify Tuition section. State sales and use tax will apply where required by law.
**This is an estimated time to completion. Actual completion time may vary depending on the number of transfer credits applied, availability of courses, a satisfactory pace, successful course completion, and meeting program milestones as required.