We are now accepting applications for our Fall 2027 cohort!

Review our Application Guide for details about the admissions process, application requirements, and important dates, including our priority application deadline on Sunday, December 6.

We also encourage all prospective applicants to join our mailing list to stay connected throughout the admissions process and receive program updates, application tips, invitations to upcoming events, student highlights, and important announcements from our Admissions Team.

All Applicants:

Dispositions Toward Equity Leadership

Strong applicants for our M.Ed. and PASC pathways are self-reflective, collaborative, open to feedback, bring a commitment to equity in their practice, and are passionate about reimagining schools.

Active Connection to a TK–12 School
Applicants must have regular, ongoing access to a TK–12 educational setting where they can apply coursework directly to their professional context.

Conferred Bachelor’s Degree 

Earned BA/BS from a regionally accredited university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 are encouraged to include an explanation of their academic qualifications within the initial application form.

Employment History

• For TK-12 educators and leaders, at least three years prior teaching or other relevant experience is strongly preferred.
• For aspiring leaders working in the education ecosystem (e.g. nonprofits, startups, etc.), at least three years prior work experience designing and facilitating learning is strongly preferred.

Note: The GRE is not required for admission to the HTH GSE.

Employment History

The following eligibility requirements must be verified:

• a minimum of four years of professional experience for applicants currently employed in an eligible public, nonpublic, or private school setting 
• a minimum of five years of professional experience for applicants not currently employed in one of the settings listed above

Note: Verification must be provided on official school or district letterhead and include dates of employment and an authorized signature.

Appropriate Prerequisite Credential
PASC applicants must hold at least one of the following credentials/licenses:

• valid clear or life California teaching credential that requires a baccalaureate degree and a program of professional preparation, including student teaching or the equivalent, and holds an English learner authorization
• valid clear or life California designated subjects teaching credential in adult education, career technical education, vocational education or special subjects, provided the applicant also possesses a baccalaureate degree, and holds an English learner authorization
• valid clear or life California services credential in pupil personnel services, health services for school nurse, teacher librarian services, or speech-language pathology or clinical or rehabilitative services requiring a baccalaureate degree and a program of professional preparation, including field work or the equivalent
• valid license to practice occupational therapy issued by the California Board of Occupational Therapy or a valid license to practice physical therapy issued by the Physical Therapy Board of California, provided the applicant also possesses a baccalaureate degree. Please note: Candidates recommended for the preliminary administrative services credential based on an Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy prerequisite credential will not be authorized to supervise teachers

Basic Skills Requirement
PASC applicants must meet California’s Basic Skills Requirement through an approved option, which may include a bachelor’s degree, qualifying coursework, a combination of coursework and examination, or an approved examination pathway.

Transcript Evaluation

If you’ve earned your degree outside of the United States, your transcript must be evaluated for equivalence by World Education Services, Inc. (WES) or Educational Perspectives with a Course-by-Course Report.

English Proficiency

The program requires a strong command of written and spoken English prior to entry.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English are required to achieve the following scores on either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or The International English Language Testing System (IELTS):
• TOEFL minimum scores: 550 on the paper-based version, or 216 on the computer-based version, or 80 on the internet-based version (iBT). TOEFL scores must be no more than five years old at the time of application. You can request that your scores be sent directly to the institution through ETS by entering the school code B433 when requesting your test scores.
• IELTS minimum score of 7.5 on the Academic Module with individual section scores (e.g., reading, writing, listening and speaking) of at least 7.5.

If you attended a four-year undergraduate institution in the U.S. and successfully earned your Bachelor’s degree, the language testing requirements will be waived.

Preliminary Services Administrative Credential (PASC) 

M.Ed. in Educational Leadership 

M.Ed. in Educational Leadership + PASC

Additional Fees:

• Enrollment Fee – $250/one-time
• Student Services & Technology Fee- $300/annually

Explore our Tuition & Financing page for a complete breakdown of program tuition, required fees, payment plans, and available funding resources, including FAFSA and financing options for the stand-alone PASC pathway.

Funding Your Education 

Monthly payment plans are available for all pathways. Candidates in the M.Ed pathways may also be eligible for Federal Student Loans, while PASC-only candidates can explore financing through the SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Special Curriculum Loan for up to the full program cost. 

Visit our Tuition & Financing page for more information on how to fund your education. 

All pathways take core courses essential to leadership development. These six-week courses meet synchronously online one evening each week. All core courses are aligned to the California Administrator Preparation Expectations (CAPEs): 

1. Core Values & Foundations
2. Design for Deeper Learning
3. Facilitating Adult Learning
4. Financial Resourcing for Equity
5. Lead for Liberation
6. Leading Innovative Schools
7. Positive School Culture & Law

Each pathway has a specific leadership strand with courses connected to practicing leadership skills within your school or organization. These 12-week courses meet synchronously online one evening every two weeks and permit candidates to learn and apply their learning directly to their context.

To be recommended for a California Preliminary Administrative Services Credential, candidates must satisfy all the following requirements:

1. Possess a valid clear or life California teaching or services credential, or another qualifying credential/license (with at least one year remaining on document). Candidates recommended for the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential based on an Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy prerequisite credential will not be authorized to supervise teachers.
2. Complete the HTH GSE Commission-approved PASC program with the following requirements to earn program sponsorship for CTC recommendation:
   1. Pass all three California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA) cycles.
   2. Complete 120 hours of fieldwork hours aligned with the California Administrator Performance Expectations (CAPEs).
   3. Pass all required program courses: EDU 600, 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630, 660A, 660B, 660C.
3. Complete five years of full-time experience (see CTC Terms and Definitions).
4. Submit a Verification of Employment as an Administrator (see CL-777 form). Any candidate who has completed the requirements above but does not have an offer of employment in an administrative position may apply for a Certificate of Eligibility, which verifies completion of all requirements for the preliminary credential and authorizes the holder to seek employment as an administrator.

Visit the CTC Website to learn more about requirements for the Preliminary Administrative Credential.