Quick Highlights
A superintendent role typically requires at least a master’s degree. Several states require an additional Education Specialist (Ed.S.) or Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.), and Arkansas licensure requires already holding a Building-Level or
Curriculum/Program Administrator license. Most superintendents come up through building-level leadership first. AASA’s 2025 American Superintendent Study found the typical superintendent had two to eight years of experience in the role after coming up through building-level leadership.
Becoming a school superintendent means combining a specific credential, a state-issued license and a track record of building-level leadership. Arkansas State University (A-State) offers two online paths to district leadership. The Ed.S., Superintendent is the credential tied to Arkansas superintendent licensure.
The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a terminal doctoral degree from a Carnegie R2 research university. Which one fits depends on whether your goal is a state license or a doctoral credential.
What a School Superintendent Does
A superintendent functions as the chief executive of a school district, they answer to an elected school board that sets district policy and holds final authority. Day to day, the role means managing the operations, budget and staff of every school in the system.
- Strategic planning: Superintendents set the district’s academic goals and long-range priorities.
- Financial stewardship: They manage the district budget and allocate resources across schools.
- Community and board relations: They serve as the public face of the district for families, staff and the school board.
- Policy and compliance: They ensure district practices align with state and federal education requirements.
Ed.S. vs. Ed.D.: Which Credential Leads to Superintendent Licensure
Most assistant principals and principals aiming for the superintendent’s chair choose the Ed.S., Superintendent. A-State’s version is a 30-credit-hour program built specifically around Arkansas’s District-Level Administrator licensure requirements, and it can be completed in as few as 18 months. Total tuition is $10,500 at a flat $350 per credit hour, with all fees included and the same rate for every U.S. resident, in state or out. Figures reflect published program details as of August 2026 and are subject to change; confirm current tuition, credit hours and admission requirements directly with A-State. Admission requires a master’s degree, a standard active teaching license carrying a Building-Level or Curriculum/Program Administrator endorsement, three years of teaching experience and one year of building-level or curriculum/program administrative experience.
The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a different kind of credential. It is a terminal, dissertation-based doctorate open to educators pursuing the highest academic credential in the field, and A-State’s program itself does not grant a superintendent license.
Important Note: An Ed.D. Does Not Grant Superintendent Licensure on Its Own
A-State’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a terminal degree, not a licensure program. Arkansas superintendent licensure is obtained by meeting the Division of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) requirements: holding a Building-Level or Curriculum/Program Administrator license, completing an approved superintendent-specific program such as the Ed.S. in Superintendent, and passing the School Superintendent Assessment. Educators who want both the license and the doctoral credential typically complete the Ed.S. first and pursue the Ed.D. afterward.
Dondre Harris, an A-State online Education Specialist, Superintendent graduate, explains what it did for him: “The Ed.S. prepared me well to become a superintendent. … I received very good value from the program.” Read more: Dondre Harris follows a path through the Ed.S., Superintendent program.
Superintendent Licensure Requirements by State: Three Common Patterns
In practice, most states fall into one of three patterns:
| Tier | What It Typically Requires | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced degree required beyond the master’s | A state rule requires an Ed.S. or doctorate in addition to a state exam and an approved superintendent program | Indiana |
| Master’s degree sufficient | The state approves candidates with a master’s degree, an approved superintendent program and a passing exam score, without requiring a further degree | Arkansas |
| District or board discretion | Local boards can request a waiver or temporary authorization for a candidate who does not meet the standard degree or license requirements | Varies by state |
Arkansas falls into the second pattern: a master’s degree plus an approved superintendent program and a passing SSA score, without a doctorate requirement. That makes the Ed.S. in Superintendent, rather than the Ed.D., the credential that satisfies Arkansas licensure on its own.
Superintendent Licensure and Exam Requirements in Arkansas
Arkansas licensure requires a candidate to already hold a Standard Building-Level or Curriculum/Program Administrator license before advancing toward the superintendency. From there, candidates must complete an accredited educational leadership program that includes superintendent-specific coursework, a supervised internship and required Science of Reading training.
Candidates must also pass the School Superintendent Assessment, a separate exam from the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) used for the other two administrator tiers, with a minimum passing score of 157. License renewal follows the same ongoing professional development and background-check cycle required of other Arkansas administrator licenses.
What School Boards Look for in a Superintendent Credential
School boards evaluate a candidate’s credential by its accreditation and state approval, not by name recognition alone. Arkansas State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Licensure programs within its College of Education & Behavioral Science are accredited by Council for the Accreditation Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the Ed.S., Superintendent is state approved for Arkansas superintendent licensure.
A-State’s online Ed.D. program is a member of the Carnegie Project on Education Doctorate (CPED). Both are taught by people who have held the job. Dr. Jackie McBride was a K-12 teacher, principal and superintendent from 1969 to 2002; Dr. Nicole Covey spent 20 years in public school education, 12 of them as an administrator. They are the same kind of practitioners who sit on the hiring committees you will eventually face.
From Principal to Superintendent: The Typical Career Path
Nearly every superintendent follows the same general ladder: a few years of classroom teaching, five or more years in a building-level role such as principal or assistant principal and often a stint in a central-office position such as curriculum director or assistant superintendent before taking the top job. AASA’s 2025 American Superintendent Study found the typical superintendent had prior experience as a principal, with two to eight years of experience in the superintendency itself.
That central-office step is common but not required. Many candidates move directly from a building-level role into a superintendent-specific credential and licensure process once they have the required years of administrative experience.
Skills Superintendents Need to Succeed
Credentials and licensure establish your eligibility, but they don’t guarantee success in the role. The job itself requires strategic leadership to set a long-range district vision, and financial management to oversee large-scale budgets.
It also demands communication, for board presentations and public speaking. Rounding that out is political judgment, needed to navigate board dynamics and community relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What online programs lead to superintendent certification?
In Arkansas, the Ed.S. in Superintendent is the online program built specifically to prepare for superintendent certification. A doctorate in educational leadership can also lead to certification in some states, though A-State’s Ed.D. is a terminal degree that does not itself grant a license.
How do I move from principal to superintendent?
Most principals move to superintendency by gaining a few years of central-office or additional administrative experience, completing a superintendent-specific credential such as an Ed.S. and passing the required state exam.
What credential do assistant principals need to move into a superintendent role?
An Ed.S. in Superintendent is the most direct online credential, since it is built around state licensure requirements and typically takes about 18 months to complete. An Ed.D. is worth considering later for those who also want the terminal doctoral credential.
Which online superintendent programs are respected by school boards?
School boards look for educator accreditation, like CAEP, and state approval rather than name recognition. A-State’s Ed.S. in Superintendent carries both, and its Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a CPED member program.
Does every state require a doctorate to become a superintendent?
No. States such as Arkansas will approve superintendent candidates with a master’s degree, an approved program and an exam score, while other states, such as Indiana, require an Ed.S. or a doctorate beyond the master’s.
What score do I need to pass Arkansas’s School Superintendent Assessment?
Arkansas requires a passing score of 157 on the School Superintendent Assessment, test code 6991, a higher cut score than the 151 required on the SLLA used for building-level and curriculum/program licenses.
Key Takeaways
- A superintendent role requires a master’s degree at minimum, and Arkansas licensure specifically requires already holding a Building-Level or Curriculum/Program Administrator license.
- Most superintendents come up through building-level leadership first.
- Arkansas’s SSA passing score is 157, higher than the SLLA’s 151 used for the other two administrator license tiers.
- States generally fall into one of three patterns: an advanced degree requirement beyond the master’s, a master’s-sufficient approach like Arkansas’s or local board discretion.
- A-State’s Ed.S. in Superintendent satisfies Arkansas licensure directly; its Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a terminal credential that does not itself grant a license.
Whichever path fits your timeline, the most direct next step for Arkansas superintendent licensure is A-State’s Ed.S. in Superintendent.
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