Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Certificate
- Online
- Online
Varies (See Course of Study Section)
Fall Term (Aug.)
Spring Term (Jan.)
Summer Term (May)
$722/Credit
Online Certificate for Teacher Leadership
Ready to become a leader in your school? With our online Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate, you can take on leadership roles without leaving the classroom.
This certificate is a great way to improve your skills and get ready for career advancement. You can finish your certificate in as few as two terms (8-9 months) while you keep teaching.
What You’ll Learn
This program gives you the tools to help improve your school. You’ll learn how to:
- Lead with confidence while working with other teachers, administrators and the community.
- Develop the best teaching practices to help students learn.
- Improve your school by building teamwork and generating ideas for improvement.
- Become a mentor for your fellow teachers.
Become a more effective leader with a graduate certificate from a university known for preparing top educators.
Get Started in Educational Leadership
Begin Leading in Your School
This program will help you take on site-based leadership activities, including:
- Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) projects
- Professional Learning Communities (PLC)
You can even align these roles or projects to your program internship credits. You will also be well-prepared for other projects and roles in the future.
Progress Toward a Future Degree
All credits earned in this graduate certificate will count toward a future graduate degree or licensure from UNC. Examples include our Educational Leadership Master of Arts (MA) and Educational Specialist (EdS) degrees, or the Principal Licensure program.
Course of Study
Delivered Fully Online
Your coursework is completed online. This includes internship coursework that lets you apply the knowledge you gain to a practical project at your school.
Synchronous Online Sessions
Each online course will include synchronous learning sessions where the professor and students meet online at the same time. These sessions will be held one weeknight per week during the academic terms.
To see specific course offerings, visit an example current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 16-credit graduate certificate program.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Dalton Chamberlin
Enrollment Counselor
Michael Cohen
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Financial Aid and Support
- The federal government only awards financial aid for courses that count toward completion of a UNC degree, so federal aid is not available for this stand-alone certificate.
- If you will need financial aid, please work with UNC Office of Financial Aid for information about non-federal loans.
- UNC also offers a monthly payment option.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- Have a valid teaching license.
- Have completed two years of successful teaching experience at time of application.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
International Student Eligibility
You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.
No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.
You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Recommended Application Deadlines
For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:
- Summer term: March 15
- Fall term: June 15
- Spring term: Nov. 15
You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact an Enrollment Counselor for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate
- Start term: Fall Term (Aug.), Spring Term (Jan.) or Summer Term (May) are available in the application. Please check with the Program Coordinator about which upcoming terms will have TLC coursework.
View the full program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status