# KRS § 161.027: 161.027 Preparation program for principals -- Assessment and internship requirements > Kentucky · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.027 ## Section - **Citation:** KRS § 161.027 - **Heading:** 161.027 Preparation program for principals -- Assessment and internship requirements - **Jurisdiction:** Kentucky - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** KY Code / Title XIII / Chapter 161 / Section 161.027 ## Text 161.027 Preparation program for principals -- Assessment and internship requirements. (1) The Education Professional Standards Board, pursuant to KRS 161.028, shall by administrative regulation establish requirements for a preparation program in institutions of higher education for all new applicants for principal certification and establish criteria for admission to the program. (2) The Education Professional Standards Board and the Council on Postsecondary Education shall evaluate the preparation programs for principals and maintain only those institutional programs that can demonstrate both the quality and the capability to enroll adequate numbers of students to justify the resources necessary for maintenance of a quality program. (3) The Education Professional Standards Board shall develop or select appropriate assessments for applicants seeking certification as principals, including an assessment of the ability to apply knowledge, instructional leadership, management, and supervision skills. (4) The Education Professional Standards Board shall establish the minimum score for successful completion of assessments and shall establish a reasonable fee to be charged applicants for the actual cost of administration of the assessments. The Education Professional Standards Board shall provide for confidentiality of assessment scores. (5) The Education Professional Standards Board shall develop an internship program which shall provide for the supervision, assistance, and assessment of beginning principals and assistant principals. The internship shall not be required of applicants who have completed, within a ten (10) year period prior to making application, at least two (2) years of successful experience as a principal in a school situation. The Education Professional Standards Board, by administrative regulation, shall establish the internship program. (6) The certification of principals shall require the successful completion of the examinations required by subsection (3) of this section. A one (1) year certificate may be given to a person who has: (a) A comparable certificate from another state; or (b) All other qualifications except the assessments and is selected as a principal or assistant principal in a district where the superintendent certifies to the Education Professional Standards Board that there is a limited number of applicants to meet the requirements. Upon successful completion of the assessments, a certificate shall be issued for an additional four (4) years. A person employed in Kentucky as a principal or assistant principal who was certified in another state and practiced in that state for two (2) or more years is exempt from taking the assessment described in subsection (3)(a) of this section. (7) Upon successful completion of the approved preparation program and the assessments, the Education Professional Standards Board shall issue to the applicant a statement of eligibility for internship valid for five (5) years. If the applicant does not participate in an internship program within the five (5) year period, the applicant shall reestablish eligibility by repeating and passing the assessments in effect at that time or by completing a minimum of six (6) graduate hours, directly related to instructional leadership, management, or supervision, at a regionally or nationally accredited institution. The option for renewal through completion of graduate hours shall be available only for the first reestablishment of eligibility. Upon obtaining employment for an internship position as principal or assistant principal within the period of eligibility, the applicant shall be issued the appropriate one (1) year certificate for the position. at a regionally or nationally accredited institution. The option for renewal through completion of graduate hours shall be available only for the first reestablishment of eligibility. Upon obtaining employment for an internship position as principal or assistant principal within the period of eligibility, the applicant shall be issued the appropriate one (1) year certificate for the position. (8) All applicants for principal certification, after successfully completing the assessments, shall successfully complete the internship program described in subsection (5) of this section for principal certification. If the principal's or assistant principal's internship performance is judged to be less than satisfactory pursuant to administrative regulations developed by the Education Professional Standards Board, the applicant for principal certification shall be provided with an opportunity to repeat the internship one (1) time if the applicant is employed by a school district as a principal or assistant principal. (9) Following successful completion of the internship program, the principal certificate shall be extended for four (4) years. Renewal of the certificate shall require the completion of a continuing education requirement as prescribed by the Education Professional Standards Board. ## Nearby sections - [KRS § 161.010 161.010 Definitions for KRS 161.020 to 161.134](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.010.md) - [KRS § 161.011 161.011 Definitions of "classified employee" and "seniority" -- Job classifications and minimum qualifications -- Requirement of written contracts and written personnel policies -- Reduction in force -- Registry of vacant classified employee positions and training -- Review of local board policies by Department of Education](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.011.md) - [KRS § 161.017 161.017 Education Professional Standards Board to be headed by commissioner of education -- Duties and powers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.017.md) - [KRS § 161.020 161.020 Certificates required of school employees -- Filing requirements -- Validity and terms for renewal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.020.md) - [KRS § 161.027 161.027 Preparation program for principals -- Assessment and internship requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.027.md) - [KRS § 161.028 161.028 Education Professional Standards Board -- Powers and duties regarding the preparation and certification of professional school personnel -- Membership](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.028.md) - [KRS § 161.030 161.030 Certification authority -- Assessments of beginning teachers and teachers seeking additional certification -- Conditional certificates -- Temporary certificates -- Emeritus and exception certificates](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.030.md) - [KRS § 161.031 161.031 New teacher induction and mentor programs provided by school districts -- Definitions -- Standards -- Evaluations -- Annual report](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.031.md) - [KRS § 161.032 161.032 Certification incentive fund -- Purpose of grants -- Eligibility -- Priorities -- Forgivable loan incentive -- Stipend -- Other financial incentives](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.032.md) - [KRS § 161.042 161.042 Status of student teachers -- Responsibility to administrative staff and supervising teachers -- Professional competency requirement for supervising teachers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.042.md) - [KRS § 161.044 161.044 Requirements for teachers' aides -- Legal status -- Preference to certified applicants -- Training](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.044.md) - [KRS § 161.046 161.046 Adjunct instructors](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.046.md) - [KRS § 161.048 161.048 Legislative findings -- Alternative certification program -- Purpose -- Options -- Testing and eligibility requirements -- Salary schedule](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.048.md) - [KRS § 161.049 161.049 Professional support teams -- Training program -- Alternate training program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.049.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXIII_C161_S161.027. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.