How to become a school principal
Shape the learning environment for teachers, students and school communities.
Lead and inspire as a school principal
Principals are more than school managers – they’re the leaders who shape the direction, culture and wellbeing of entire school communities. Becoming a principal is a long-term career journey that combines classroom experience, ongoing professional development and a deep commitment to helping students thrive.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what principals do, the skills they need, the qualifications required, and the typical career pathway to become a school principal. Whether you’re just starting out in education looking to move into leadership, discover how UNSW can help turn your ambition into a meaningful role in education leadership.
What does a school principal do?
A school principal’s responsibilities are wide-ranging, from managing staff to long-term school improvement planning. The day-to-day responsibilities typically include:
- Overseeing teaching quality and curriculum delivery
- Managing staff performance and professional development
- Supporting student wellbeing and safety
- Fostering relationships with families and local communities
- Managing budgets, school operations and compliance
- Driving long-term school improvement and planning
Principals balance big-picture strategy with day-to-day problem solving. They set the tone for the whole school, creating an environment where staff and students can thrive.
Principal vs vice principal: How do they differ?
Both principals and vice principals (or deputy principals) are vital to school leadership. But their responsibilities differ.
The difference between a principal and a vice principal comes down to scope and authority. A principal holds overall responsibility for the school’s vision, culture, compliance and outcomes. Vice principals support the principal’s strategic vision, and typically lead specific areas such as wellbeing, curriculum, student engagement or daily operations.
It’s a collaborative relationship – with the principal as the ultimate decision-maker and the vice principal supporting the leadership agenda. Becoming a vice principal is a great stepping stone to the top role of principal.
Steps to become a school principal
Becoming a principal in Australia is a long-term journey that combines classroom experience, leadership opportunities and ongoing professional development. Here’s what the typical pathway looks like:
- Complete an undergraduate teaching degree
Start with a teaching qualification such as the Bachelor of Education (Primary) (Honours) or an education double degree, like the Bachelor of Arts/Education (Secondary) or Bachelor of Commerce/Education (Secondary) at UNSW. These programs prepare you with the knowledge, practical skills and school placements needed to launch your teaching career.
- Gain classroom experience
Work as a classroom teacher across various year levels or subject areas. This experience helps you build confidence, understand student needs and develop core teaching expertise.
- Step into a middle leadership position
Progress into roles such as a cohort or year leader or assistant principal. Here, you'll manage staff, oversee school operations and help guide strategic direction – gaining vital experience in school leadership.
- Return for postgraduate study
Strengthen your leadership capabilities by completing a postgraduate qualification. This will build your expertise in areas like educational leadership, policy, and strategic planning. UNSW offers a range of postgraduate education programs for aspiring principals, including the Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership and Master of Educational Leadership, as well as many graduate certificates and short course offerings.
- Apply for principal positions
With a strong mix of experience, leadership practice and postgraduate qualifications, you’ll be ready to step into a principal role. Before long, you’ll be leading an entire school community with confidence.
Must-have leadership skills of a principal
The most effective school leaders blend strong interpersonal skills (soft skills) with deep professional expertise (hard skills). A principal's skills grow and improve through time and experience.
Human skills of a principal | Technical skills of a principal |
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What qualifications do you need to become a principal?
To become a principal in Australia, you must first be a qualified and experienced teacher. Most education departments require:
- Full teacher registration with your state teaching board
- Several years of classroom teaching experience
- Postgraduate study or professional development in educational leadership
Many principals complete a postgraduate program, such as a Master of Educational Leadership or a Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership, to deepen their leadership capability and prepare for school-wide responsibilities.
Future opportunities as a school principal
As a principal in Australia, your career path can take many directions – each offering the chance to make a lasting impact on students, staff and the broader community.
Most principals begin by leading individual schools, where they shape teaching practice, wellbeing initiatives and whole-school improvement strategies. From there, you may choose to:
- Lead different types of schools – including primary, secondary, K–12, specialist or alternative education settings.
- Work in regional and remote areas – where you often receive greater autonomy, leadership opportunities and financial incentives. These roles can also include housing support or relocation assistance, depending on the state or territory.
- Move into system leadership roles – such as area directors, education consultants or executive principals. These positions involve supporting multiple schools, guiding policy implementation, and leading improvement across regions or sectors.
- Contribute to education policy or reform – working with state education departments, not-for-profits or education think tanks to influence systems-level change.
- Become an educational consultant, researcher or lecturer – drawing on your school leadership experience to support teacher development, publish research, or teach at universities and institutes.
Australian principals are also encouraged to participate in national and state-level leadership programs, such as the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) initiatives or the NSW School Leadership Institute, which support continuous development and leadership excellence.
FAQs about becoming a principal
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Becoming a school principal is a long-term career goal that typically takes around 8 to 15 years. Most principals start as classroom teachers and spend several years gaining experience, taking on leadership roles such as year coordinator or deputy principal, and completing further study – often a master’s degree in educational leadership. The exact timeline depends on your career development, school system, and opportunities available.
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Yes, international students can begin their journey toward school leadership in Australia. You can enrol in an accredited teaching degree at UNSW, such as the Bachelor of Education. To eventually become a principal, you’ll need to meet teacher registration requirements, gain classroom experience, and hold ongoing work rights in Australia. It’s important to check visa and registration criteria early if you plan to stay and work long-term.
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Principal salaries in Australia vary depending on the school type, size, location and the education system. On average, school principals earn $195,000 (Seek, 2025). Those working in larger or more complex schools – especially in executive roles may earn even more. Salaries are usually set by each state or territory's education department or the governing body of private and independent schools.
Start your journey to school leadership at UNSW
At UNSW, you’ll build a strong foundation in teaching, leadership and school improvement. Here are the programs we offer to help you reach principalship.
Undergraduate education degrees
Bachelor of Education (Primary) (Honours)
You can also study the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) as a double degree:
Bachelor of Arts/Education (Secondary) (Honours)
Bachelor of Commerce/Education (Secondary)
Bachelor of Design/Education (Secondary)
Bachelor of Economics/Education (Secondary)
Bachelor of Fine Arts/Education (Secondary)
Bachelor of Science/Education (Secondary)
Postgraduate education degrees
Want to find out more about studying education at UNSW?
Our education programs are led by the UNSW School of Education, part of the faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture. Visit our school site to learn more about degrees, student life and professional development.
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