Online Superintendent Certification Program - For Texas Educators Only

Now Accepting Applications!

The Superintendent Certification is a completely online 17-semester-hour program that requires a) holding a Standard Principal, Mid-Management, or other Texas Administrator Certification, or you have three years of creditable years of public school managerial experience and TEA has approved your experience for a Substitution of Managerial Experience waiver; b) completion of the specified course sequence within five years; and c) satisfactory performance on the appropriate TExES exam. TExES Certification scores are an important factor in content mastery. During the 2024-2025 completion year, 91.4% of the superintendent candidates passed the Superintendent TExES Certification Exam.

Admission Deadlines:

Applications and application materials must be submitted and received by the following deadlines:

• Fall - August 15
• Spring - December 20
• Summer - April 15

Program Costs:

This program follows the standard tuition and fees as published by the university and the total program cost will be approximately $9,054*.

*Approximation based on 2025-2026 Tuition and Fee Schedule – prices are subject to change.

Admission Requirements:

To be admitted to the Superintendent Certificate program, a prospective student must:

• Hold a master's degree from an accredited institution.
• Provide evidence of holding a Standard Principal, Mid-management, or other Texas Administrator Certificate; or three creditable years of managerial experience in a public school district.
• Complete the application submission process.

Application Submission Process:

Step 1:  Submit Graduate Application and Transcripts

• Complete the application for admission.

• Request official transcripts from all previously attended undergraduate and graduate institutions.  Transcripts should be sent to:

By Email:  GradAdmissions@uttyler.edu

By Mail:

The Office of Graduate Admissions, HPR 248
The University of Texas at Tyler
3900 University Blvd
Tyler Texas 75799

Step 2:  Upload Required Documents

Once you receive your student ID, submit the following through the application portal:

• A copy of your Standard Principal, Midmanagement or other Texas administrator certificate.
• A copy of your complete teaching service record from all school districts where you have worked (available from HR departments). 
• Complete the Reference Request Form after you receive your student ID number.

The Office of Graduate Admissions, HPR 248
The University of Texas at Tyler
3900 University Blvd
Tyler Texas 75799

You may also email documents to gradadmissions@uttyler.edu

Step 3:  Complete the Admission Screening Survey

• After submitting all required materials and receiving your student ID, complete the Admission Screening Survey.

Admission Decision

Once all application components have been received and reviewed, you will be notified of the admission decision. If accepted, you will receive an official offer of admission and program acknowledgment forms that must be accepted to finalize your admission to the university and the Educator Preparation Program.

Note: This program does not offer provisional admission. You must be fully admitted to begin coursework.

Criminal History Acknowledgement:

As required by Texas HB1508, applicants need to be aware of the following.

1. In order to receive a superintendent certification, you must pass a criminal history background check.
2. If you have been convicted of an offense that is considered not appropriate for a superintendent, you could be ineligible to earn this certification from the state of Texas.
3. You have a right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the Texas Education Agency.  The Texas Education Agency currently charges a $50 fee for this criminal history evaluation.

For more information, see Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation.

Superintendent Certification Program (17 hours):

Course Number	Course Title
EDLR 5350	Personnel Administration
EDLR 5360	School Superintendent
EDLR 5453	Public School Finance
EDLR 5458	School Facilities
EDLR 5375	Practicum in the Superintendency (Fall and Spring semester only)

View the annual rotation of courses for the online superintendent certification program.

Additional Information:

• Superintendent Flyer
• Course Descriptions
• Superintendent Handbook

Contact:

For Program Information:

Dr. David Simmons, Program Coordinator
davidsimmons@uttyler.edu

For Admission Information:

903.566.7361
SOEgraduate@uttyler.edu

For complaints about this certification educator preparation program, please follow the policy outlined in the Certification Program's Complaint Policy.