Move your career forward by building on the experience and graduate coursework you already have.
School Building Leader Certificate Online
100% Online Certificate Program
- Continue working in your current role while earning the certificate
- ain administrative certification
- Learn from experienced practitioners
- Be eligible for promotion within your school district
About the School Building Leader Certification
The School Building Leader (SBL) Certificate of Advanced Study is a 30-credit, 100%
online graduate certificate that qualifies educators for New York State administrative
certification at the building level. The program is offered by SUNY Plattsburgh’s
AAQEP-accredited Education Department and is designed for working teachers who want
to move into principal and assistant principal roles without leaving their current
positions.
Coursework covers digital-age learning, school law, instructional leadership, curriculum and data-driven assessment. The program includes a 400-hour internship with guidance from a school-based mentor and a college supervisor.
Students who complete the SBL certificate can continue into the School District Leader (SDL) Graduate Certificate through a simplified admissions process, with transferable credits.
The Internship Experience
The 400-hour internship is an integrated part of the program, not an add-on at the end. Hours are spread across a full school year and include experiences at elementary, middle school, high school and central office levels. Most hours are completed at the your primary work site.
You will be paired with a school-based mentor, an experienced school administrator who signs a formal agreement outlining the program requirements. A college internship supervisor is also assigned to you to periodically visit your site to assess your progress and support you.
You will also maintain a log documenting your competency development throughout the experience. Standards guiding the internship include ISLLC, ISTE-NETS, and TEACC guidelines.
Career Outcomes & Salary
The SBL certificate qualifies you for roles including principal, assistant principal, and other school-based leadership positions.
Employment of principals and school administrators is expected to remain steady, with ongoing demand driven by retirements in the current administrator workforce and increased administrative needs at the building level.
I chose SUNY Plattsburgh because I earned my master’s degree there and was familiar with many of the professors in the administration program, several of whom are local professionals. I felt it was important to build relationships with administrators in my region and gain a deeper understanding of how schools operate within the local educational community.
Danielle B., ’26 S.B.L. C.A.S.