Overview
The EdConsult Administrator Certification Academy, powered by ASAP®, is a 12-month, assessment-driven, blended certification program combining individualized online modules, three immersive leadership retreats, one-on-one mentorship, a 240-hour supervised field experience, and a capstone portfolio — culminating in recommendation for building-level or district-level administrator certification in states that offer administrator certification. In all states, it delivers rigorous, standards-aligned leadership development, with CEUs/SCECHs available for certificate renewal.
Developed with practitioners, for practitioners
Unlike traditional university preparation routes, the Academy is affordable, manageable alongside a full-time role, and built around each candidate. Every candidate's journey begins with data, not coursework: comprehensive ASAP® Educational Leadership Assessments, a personal interview, and a Decision-Making & Prioritization Skills Simulator generate an individual profile measured against the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL). That profile drives an Individualized Development Plan (IDP) for every candidate — including possible exemption from modules based on prior graduate coursework, training, and portfolio evidence.
What's included
- Two tracks: Principal & Superintendent
- PSEL & NELP standards-aligned
- Three immersive leadership retreats
- 240-hour supervised field experience
- Individualized Development Plan (IDP)
- 1:1 mentorship & 24/7 online community
- CEUs/SCECHs available for certificate renewal
- Graduate credit through university partnerships
Two certification tracks
| Building Administrator Track | District Administrator Track |
|---|---|
| Principal Certification. For teacher leaders, assistant principals, deans, and instructional coaches preparing for the principalship. Aligned to PSEL and the NELP Building-Level standards. | Superintendent Certification. For principals and central-office leaders preparing for the superintendency. Aligned to PSEL and the NELP District-Level standards, with added emphasis on governance, board relations, district finance, and systems leadership. |
Both tracks culminate in institutional recommendation for the applicable administrator certificate in states where the program holds approval, subject to each state's eligibility requirements.
Your Academy year at a glance
The Academy runs on a 12-month cohort calendar, July through June. Candidates remain in their current roles throughout; module work is online and asynchronous, cohort meetings are virtual, and the three retreats run Friday–Sunday.
| When | Phase |
|---|---|
| July | Admission & Assessment — application, district endorsement, interview, ASAP® assessment battery and Decision-Making & Prioritization Simulator |
| August | IDP & Onboarding — plan built from assessment data, module exemptions determined, mentor matching |
| September | Launch Retreat (#1) — 2½-day immersive retreat; field experience hours begin |
| Oct – Dec | Core Modules 1–3 with monthly cohort meetings and mentor check-ins |
| January | Mid-Year Retreat (#2) — progress assessment, simulations, improvement planning, portfolio checkpoint |
| Jan – Apr | Core Modules 4–7; cohort meetings, mentorship, and field experience continue |
| May | Module 8 & Synthesis — field experience completed (240 hours across two building levels); capstone portfolio assembled |
| June | Capstone Retreat (#3) — portfolio defense, ASAP® exit assessment, licensure exam prep, graduation |
| June – July | Certification — institutional recommendation submitted to the state (in approved states) |
Eight problem-based modules
Visionary Leadership & Leading Change; Culture, Climate & Inclusive Environments; Instructional Leadership — Observation, Feedback & Educator Evaluation; Safe & Supportive Learning Environments; School Law, Policy & Ethics; School Improvement & Data-Driven Decision Making; Human Resources, Finance & Operations; and Technology & Innovation for School Leaders. Superintendent Track candidates complete extended units addressing district governance, board relations, district-level finance and bonding, and strategic planning at scale.
Powered by ASAP® — a research-validated engine
The Academy is built on the Accelerated School Administrator Program® (ASAP®), which originated in 2001 through the South Florida Annenberg Challenge, with outcomes independently studied by the University of Miami School of Education. The suite comprises 20 courses, 23 assessments, and 15 workbooks, benchmarked against national averages built from two decades of participant data and fully aligned to PSEL. ASAP has supported leadership cohorts in a majority of the nation's largest school districts.
Partnership with your district
EdConsult builds each cohort in concert with district leadership — from candidate selection through completion — and provides support in applying for and securing Title II, Part A funding, which may be used for leadership development and administrator pipeline programs. Districts sponsoring multiple candidates may request a custom cohort calendar aligned to their academic year.
Candidate qualifications
- Valid teaching certificate (or equivalent credential accepted by the state)
- Bachelor's degree; master's degree where mandated for certification
- Minimum three years of successful, verified professional education experience
- District endorsement or letter of support
- Superintendent Track: current administrator certificate and building- or district-level leadership experience
Download the full program guide (PDF)
Accelerated School Administrator Program® and ASAP® are registered trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Certification is granted by state education agencies, not by EdConsult, LLC; recommendation for certification is contingent upon program approval in the candidate's state and the candidate's satisfaction of all state eligibility requirements.