How to become a school principal
Thinking about elevating your career in education?
As one of Australia’s largest employing industries, the education and training sector offers many opportunities for aspiring school leaders.
Principals are a key type of school leader and play a core role in educational institutions and leadership teams. They inspire and empower teachers, foster student development, and engage with parents and local communities.
It’s a multifaceted career path that offers rewards across the board, from mentoring staff and guiding senior leaders to shaping brighter futures for students, all while receiving competitive compensation for your contributions.
But what exactly does a school principal do and what qualifications do you need to become one? In the guide below, we outline the key roles, responsibilities and skills required for the position, as well as the steps to take to become a school principal in Australia.
If you’re passionate about making a positive difference, few positions can match the influence of a school principal. Let’s prepare you for the journey.
What is a school principal?
If you’re considering a move into academic leadership and want to understand exactly what a principal does, picture a role where strategic direction meets supportive guidance.
A principal is the most senior educational leader, responsible for managing the school to ensure effective teaching and learning while promoting a safe, positive environment. It’s a dynamic role with many responsibilities, including:
- Managing staff and professional development: Interviewing and hiring new employees, overseeing staff performance, conducting appraisals, guiding staff through challenges, and fostering effective and engaging opportunities for staff training and development.
- Operational oversight: Ensuring the school runs smoothly from a logistical standpoint, including budgeting, roster management and resource allocation.
- Student welfare and school culture: Creating and sustaining a nurturing and psychologically safe environment that supports academic and social growth.
- Stakeholder engagement: Building relationships with parents, community groups, local authorities and educational bodies that your school will benefit from partnering with.
Understanding these core responsibilities is fundamental for educators exploring how to become a principal to ensure they’re well-prepared for and well-suited to the multifaceted nature of this role.
Is becoming a school principal right for me?
Before committing to the path of becoming a school principal, it’s important to assess whether the role aligns with your personal strengths and career aspirations. A principal is one of several impactful leadership roles within education.
You might also consider other types of school leader roles, such as:
- Assistant principal
- Head teacher
- Teaching principal
- Head of department
- Year coordinator
- Learning and development specialist
Each of these roles involves administrative responsibilities and strong interpersonal skills, leadership qualities and a commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive school environment.
Together, they work to enhance teaching effectiveness, improve student outcomes and strengthen the overall school community.
To determine if becoming a school principal is the right fit, take the time to consider what you want from your career and your readiness for the challenges ahead. This role requires managing complex tasks, leading diverse teams and shouldering responsibility for final decision-making.
Understanding your motivation and goals will help you make an informed choice about the best educational leadership position for you.
How to become a principal
While the specific pathway to becoming a school principal will vary depending on where you’re starting from and which state you live in, in most cases, certain steps will be required – and other steps will be highly beneficial. We’ve outlined each of them below.
1. Complete a bachelor’s degree in education
The first step to becoming a principal is completing a relevant undergraduate degree – such as primary education, or in some cases subject specialities for secondary education, such as history, art or maths if that’s what you wish to teach.
If you’ve obtained a bachelor’s degree from a different field, pursuing a postgraduate degree such as a Master of Teaching (Primary or Secondary) can qualify you to kickstart your career in education.
2. Register with your state or territory’s teaching regulatory body
Gaining your teaching certification is mandatory for anyone who wants to pursue a career in education in Australia. Each state and territory sets its own certification standards, and you’ll need to register with the one where you plan to practise as a teacher. The regulatory bodies are as follows:
- Australian Capital Territory: Teacher Quality Institute
- New South Wales: NSW Education Standards Authority
- Northern Territory: Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory
- Queensland: Queensland College of Teachers
- South Australia: Teachers Registration Board of South Australia
- Tasmania: Teachers Registration Board of Tasmania
- Victoria: Victorian Institute of Teaching
- Western Australia: Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia
3. Gain teaching experience
Knowing what qualifications a principal needs is essential, but gaining practical classroom experience is also a must. Most states and territories require at least five years of teaching before considering applicants for the role of principal or other school leadership positions.
Leverage this time to not only build your practical teaching skills and expertise, but engage in roles that provide leadership credentials, such as mentoring, coordinating school programs, or chairing school committees.
4. Pursue further education
While practical teaching experience builds your in-classroom expertise, postgraduate qualifications can provide a major advantage for those aspiring to leadership roles.
Research supports that effective school leadership relies on informed decision-making and strong leadership capabilities. Pursuing further education with a trusted institution demonstrates a differentiating commitment to school leadership and hones your ability to manage the complexities of school administration and guide teams effectively.
A postgraduate degree can also enhance your professional credibility and authority in modern education, as well as enhance your strategic thinking, creative problem solving and communication skills in various educational contexts.
University of Canberra’s online Master of Education (Leadership) and Graduate Certificate in Education support students’ aspiration to lead, enhancing their leadership capabilities and promoting the skills required in a school leadership role.
With a focus on practical application and relevant scenario-based learning, this degree will help teachers to shape their future professional pathways - whatever type of school leadership role they pursue.
5. Preparing to be a school principal
Preparing for school leadership doesn’t stop at obtaining degrees and accumulating teaching experience. Aspiring principals who are serious about achieving their career goals should seek opportunities to build their leadership skills through various roles and initiatives while working in a school setting.
These might include:
- Gaining leadership experience: Strive for positions such as Head of Department or Assistant Principal as early as possible to get firsthand insight into school management and strategic decision-making. These roles provide a platform to refine your leadership style, manage teams and understand the intricacies of school operations.
- Engaging in mentoring and networking opportunities: Joining mentorship programs allows you to learn from experienced principals and educational leaders to gain practical advice. Attending educational conferences and workshops is also invaluable for expanding your professional network and meeting potential employers.
- Meeting state-specific requirements: Each Australian state or territory will have specific mandates for becoming a school principal. To avoid any unnecessary last-minute stress, ensure you're entirely across these as early as possible in your career.
What key skills are required for a school principal?
A number of skills are non-negotiable for success as a school principal. Here’s a brief overview of the most important:
Leadership and decision-making
One of the most fundamental requirements of a principal's role is making informed decisions that align with the system’s expectations, the school’s vision and the educational goals.
Effective leadership demands balancing the needs of staff and students while guiding the school through inevitable challenges and meeting school performance targets.
Communication and interpersonal skills
Clear communication fosters trust and collaboration – both critical to effective leadership.
Principals must often engage with students, teachers, parents and external stakeholders to ensure that everyone is working cohesively and effectively toward shared objectives.
Trustworthiness, fairness and integrity
A principal's character sets the tone for the school’s culture by leading by example. Acting with honesty and integrity helps build a supportive environment where staff, students and parents feel heard and respected.
Conflict resolution and problem-solving
Disputes and conflicts are unavoidable in a school environment, involving students, staff and parents alike. Principals must be able to handle these issues with empathy and tact, developing solutions that promote healthy resolutions and productivity within the school community.
Vision and strategic planning for educational outcomes
Exceptional principals go beyond meeting the status quo when it comes to student satisfaction and overall school performance – they create new standards to strive for.
A standout skill is envisioning the school’s future and creating strategic plans to build it with a culture of continuous improvement.
Empower your passion for education and lead with purpose
Stepping into the role of a school leader is a commitment to lifelong learning and leadership that truly makes a difference.
University of Canberra’s online Master of Education (Leadership) will equip you with the knowledge and people-first leadership skills necessary to navigate the complexities of school management.
Delivered 100% online and accelerated to fit your life and work, this degree will provide you with both the confidence and credibility to advance your career in education. You’ll gain leadership and management skills so you can connect, inspire and influence across the school community, cultivating positive learning environments that encompass the unique needs of students and staff.
As a University of Canberra graduate, you’ll gain insights that place you at the forefront of the educational sector and help you stand out as a strong candidate for school leadership.
The journey may be challenging, but the rewards – both professional and personal – are genuinely worthwhile.
Ready to make a lasting impact in the field of education? Learn more about the University of Canberra’s online Master of Education by visiting our website or get in touch with one of our Student Enrolment Advisers on 1300 471 770.
