1. (1) Initial certificate.

   1. (i) Validity of certificate. The initial certificate shall be valid for five years from its effective date.

   2. (ii) Requirements for an initial certificate as a school building leader in the educational leadership service. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following clauses:

      1. (a) Education.

         1. (i) For candidates who apply for and meet the requirements for a certificate under this subdivision on or before September 1, 2019, the candidate shall hold a master's or higher degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution or an equivalently approved higher education institution as determined by the department and have successfully completed a program leading to the initial certificate as a school building leader in the educational leadership service registered pursuant to section 52.21(c)(2) of this Title, or its equivalent as determined by the department, or an educational leadership program leading to a regular certificate in an equivalent title to a school building leader, accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education at a regionally accredited institution outside of New York State.
         2. (ii) For candidates who apply for a certificate under this subdivision on or after September 1, 2019 or candidates who apply for a certificate on or before September 1, 2019 but do not meet all the requirements for a certificate on before September 1, 2019, the candidate shall hold a master's or higher degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution or an equivalently approved higher education institution as determined by the department and have successfully completed a program leading to the initial certificate as a school building leader in the educational leadership service registered pursuant to section 52.21 (c)(2) of this Title, or its equivalent as determined by the department, or an educational leadership program leading to a regular certificate in an equivalent title to a school building leader, accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education at a regionally accredited institution outside of New York State, provided that such program leads to an initial certificate, or a similar certificate title and type, in the jurisdiction in which the higher education institution is located.

         (1)

      2. (b) Examination. The candidate shall submit evidence of having achieved a satisfactory level of performance on the New York State assessment for school building leadership. In addition, for candidates applying for certification on or after May 1, 2014 or candidates who apply for certification on or before April 30, 2014 but do not meet all the requirements for an initial certificate on or before April 30, 2014, the candidate shall also achieve a satisfactory level of performance on the educating all students test.
      3. (c) Experience. The candidate shall have successfully completed three years of classroom teaching service and/or pupil personnel service experience in public or non-public schools N-12; except for candidates admitted into a Pilot P-20 Partnership for Principal Preparation Program pursuant to section 52.21(c)(7) of this Title because the program determined that the candidate demonstrated the potential for instructional leadership based on prior experiences that were evaluated using criteria established by the program and which were uniformly applied.

2. (2) Professional certificate.

   1. (i) Requirements for the professional certificate as a school building leader in the educational leadership service. The candidate shall have successfully completed, in addition to the requirements for the initial certificate: three years of school experience in an educational leadership position in public or non-public schools N-12, including at least one year of such experience as a school building leader. The candidate who completes this requirement in total or part through providing educational leadership service in a school district or board of cooperative educational services in New York State shall be required to participate in a mentored program in the first year of employment, unless the candidate has successfully completed two years of educational leadership service prior to such public school service.

      (b) School district leader.

      (Superintendent of schools, district superintendent, deputy superintendent, associate superintendent, assistant superintendent and any other person having responsibilities involving general district-wide administration, except a person serving as a school district business leader, shall hold this certificate.)

3. (1) Holders of a professional certificate as a school district leader may not serve as a school building leader unless they are certified as a school building leader or school administrator and supervisor under the requirements of Part 80 of this Title and may not serve as a school district business leader unless they are certified as a school district business leader or school business administrator under the requirements of Part 80 of this Title or are otherwise authorized by law to serve as a school district business leader.

4. (2) Requirements for a professional certificate as a school district leader in the educational leadership service. The candidate shall meet the requirements of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph or the alternative requirements of either subparagraph (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph.

   1. (i) The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following clauses:

      1. (a) Education. The candidate shall meet the following education requirements:

         1. (1) The candidate shall hold a master's or higher degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution or an equivalently approved higher education institution as determined by the department; and

         2. (2) either:

            1. (i) have successfully completed a New York State program leading to a professional certificate as a school district leader in the educational leadership service registered pursuant to section 52.21(c)(3) of this Title, or its equivalent as determined by the department. As part of the program completion requirements, the candidate shall have successfully completed at least 60 semester hours of graduate study, which may include graduate study completed prior to admission to the program, and achieved a satisfactory level of performance on the New York State assessment for school district leadership. The requirement of achieving a satisfactory level of performance on the New York State assessment for school district leadership shall be waived if the candidate completes the registered program prior to the availability of such New York State assessment. The department shall determine the date on which such assessment is available and required; or

               (ii)

               (ii)(A) for candidates who apply for and meet the requirements for a certificate under this subdivision on or before September 1, 2019, have successfully completed an educational leadership program outside of New York State that is equivalent to a program leading to a professional certificate as a school district leader in the educational leadership service registered pursuant to section 52.21(c)(3) of this Title or an educational leadership program leading to a regular certificate in an equivalent title to school district leader, accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education at a regionally accredited institution outside of New York State, including a requirement to pass an assessment equivalent to the New York State assessment for school district leadership, or alternatively the candidate shall satisfy this component of the educational leadership program by passing the New York State assessment for school district leadership. The requirement of achieving a satisfactory level of performance on an assessment equivalent to the New York State assessment for school district leadership or alternatively passing such New York State assessment shall be waived if the candidate completes the program prior to the availability of such New York State assessment. The department shall determine the date on which such assessment is available. The candidate shall have successfully completed at least 60 semester hours of graduate study, which may include graduate study completed outside of the educational leadership program.

5. (B) for candidates who apply for a certificate under this subdivision on or after September 1, 2019 or candidates who apply for a certificate on or before September 1, 2019 but do not meet all the requirements for a certificate on before September 1, 2019, have successfully completed an educational leadership program outside of New York State that is equivalent to a program leading to a professional certificate as a school district leader in the educational leadership service registered pursuant to section 52.21(c)(3) of this Title or an educational leadership program leading to a regular certificate in an equivalent title to school district leader, accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education at a regionally accredited institution outside of New York State, provided that such program leads to a professional certificate, or a similar certificate title and type, in the jurisdiction in which the higher education institution is located, including a requirement to pass an assessment equivalent to the New York State assessment for school district leadership, or alternatively the candidate shall satisfy this component of the educational leadership program by passing the New York State assessment for school district leadership. The requirement of achieving a satisfactory level of performance on an assessment equivalent to the New York State assessment for school district leadership or alternatively passing such New York State assessment shall be waived if the candidate completes the program prior to the availability of such New York State assessment. The department shall determine the date on which such assessment is available. The candidate shall have successfully completed at least 60 semester hours of graduate study, which may include graduate study completed outside of the educational leadership program.

   1. (b) Experience. The candidate shall have successfully completed three years of classroom teaching service and/or educational leadership service and/or pupil personnel service experience in public or non-public schools N-12.
   2. (c) Examination requirement. Any candidate applying for a professional certificate as a school district leader on or after May 1, 2015, shall also achieve a satisfactory level of performance on the educating all students test.
   3. (ii) Alternative route one, the alternative school district leader certification program. A candidate may qualify for a professional certificate as a school district leader through meeting the requirements in the alternative school district leader certification program for exceptionally qualified persons, as prescribed in section 80-5.15 of this Part.

   4. (iii) Alternative route two, the certification of exceptionally qualified persons through screening panel review. The Commissioner of Education, at the request of a board of education or board of cooperative educational services, may provide for the issuance of a professional certificate as a school district leader (superintendent of schools) to exceptionally qualified persons who do not meet all of the graduate course or school teaching requirements in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, but whose exceptional training and experience are the substantial equivalent of such requirements and qualify such persons for duties of a superintendent of schools. Prior to the appointment of any such individual, the board must obtain the approval of the commissioner. In its formal request to the department the board must submit its resolution noting approval of the request, the job description, its rationale for requesting such certification of the individual, a statement identifying the exceptional qualifications of the candidate, the individual's completed application for certification, vitae and official transcripts of collegiate study. The certificate, if issued, will be valid only for service in the district making the request. The commissioner will refer the materials submitted by the board to a screening panel consisting of representatives of the department and appropriate educational organizations for review and advice.

      (c) School district business leader.

      (Deputy superintendent of schools for business, associate superintendent of schools for business, assistant superintendent of schools for business and any other person having professional responsibility for the business operation of the school district shall hold this certificate.)

   5. (1) Holders of a professional certificates as school district business leader may not serve as a school building leader unless they are certified as a school building leader or school administrator and supervisor under the requirements of Part 80 of this Title and may not serve as a school district leader unless they are certified as a school district leader or school district administrator under the requirements of Part 80 of this Title.

   6. (2) Requirements for a professional certificate as a school district business leader in the educational leadership service. The candidate shall meet the following requirements:

      1. (i) The candidate shall hold a master's or higher degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution or an equivalently approved higher education institution as determined by the department; and

      2. (ii) either:

         1. (a) have successfully completed a New York State program leading to a professional certificate as a school district business leader in the educational leadership service registered pursuant to section 52.21(c)(5) of this Title, or its equivalent as determined by the department. As part of the program completion requirements, the candidate shall have successfully completed at least 60 semester hours of graduate study, which may include graduate study completed prior to admission to the program, and achieved a satisfactory level of performance on the New York State assessment for school district business leadership. The requirement of achieving a satisfactory level of performance on the New York State assessment for school district business leadership shall be waived if the candidate completes the registered program prior to the availability of such New York State assessment. The department shall determine the date on which such assessment is available and required; or

            1. (1) for candidates who apply for and meet the requirements for a certificate under this subdivision on or before September 1, 2019, have successfully completed an educational leadership program outside of New York State that is equivalent with a program leading to a professional certificate as a school district business leader in the educational leadership service registered pursuant to section 52.21(c)(5) of this Title or an educational leadership program leading to a regular certificate in an equivalent title to school district business leader, accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education at a regionally accredited institution outside of New York State, including a requirement to pass an assessment equivalent to the New York State assessment for school district business leadership, or alternatively the candidate shall satisfy this component of the educational leadership program by passing the New York State assessment for school district business leadership. The requirement of achieving a satisfactory level of performance on an assessment equivalent to the New York State assessment for school district business leadership or alternatively passing such New York State assessment shall be waived if the candidate completes the program prior to the availability of such New York State assessment. The department shall determine the date on which such assessment is available. The candidate shall have successfully completed at least 60 semester hours of graduate study, which may include graduate study completed outside of the educational leadership program.
            2. (2) for candidates who apply for a certificate under this subdivision on or after September 1, 2019 or candidates who apply for a certificate on or before September 1, 2019 but do not meet all the requirements for a certificate on or before September 1, 2019, have successfully completed an educational leadership program outside of New York State that is equivalent with a program leading to a professional certificate as a school district business leader in the educational leadership service registered pursuant to section 52.21(c)(5) of this Title or an educational leadership program leading to a regular certificate in an equivalent title to school district business leader, accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education at a regionally accredited institution outside of New York State, provided that such program leads to a professional certificate, or a similar certificate title and type, in the jurisdiction in which the higher education institution is located, including a requirement to pass an assessment equivalent to the New York State assessment for school district business leadership, or alternatively the candidate shall satisfy this component of the educational leadership program by passing the New York State assessment for school district business leadership. The requirement of achieving a satisfactory level of performance on an assessment equivalent to the New York State assessment for school district business leadership or alternatively passing such New York State assessment shall be waived if the candidate completes the program prior to the availability of such New York State assessment. The department shall determine the date on which such assessment is available. The candidate shall have successfully completed at least 60 semester hours of graduate study, which may include graduate study completed outside of the educational leadership program.

            (b)

(a) School building leader.

(Principal, housemaster, supervisor, department chairman, assistant principal, coordinator, unit head and any other person serving more than 25 percent of his or her assignment in any building level leadership position shall hold this certificate.)