Administration Certification (LIFTS)
Take the next step in your educational career with our Leadership Initiative for Tomorrow’s Schools (LIFTS) program.
Your Leadership Potential
Designed for current professionals in the field, our School Building Leader (SBL) and School District Leader (SDL) certifications prepare you for New York State Education Department certification as a school leader. Our programs focus on cultivating trust, building strong relationships, and championing diversity, equity and inclusion—equipping you with the skills to lead with impact in today’s schools.
History of Excellence
GSE recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of the LIFTS program—an innovation in administration certification. It has served as a model and problem-solver throughout New York State and the country. Look back at LIFTS’ rich history and robust future as it continues to build its legacy.
Points of Distinction
With a 71% placement rate for all certified graduates, our program demonstrates a strong track record of success in helping educators advance their careers. This high placement rate reflects our commitment to providing the skills and support needed to thrive as leaders in education.
Our cohort-based learning environment fosters collaboration and mutual support, allowing you to grow alongside fellow educators who share your passion. You'll benefit from a network of experienced school and district leaders who provide mentorship, guidance and insight.
You'll engage with current issues that impact educational practice, allowing you to apply theory to everyday situations. This blend of coursework and experiential learning equips you with the confidence to lead in today’s evolving educational landscape.
Program Overview
| Academic credential granted | Administration Certification |
|---|---|
| Credentials required for admission |
|
| Credits required for completion | |
| Time to completion | 2 years |
| Course delivery |
|
| Clinical internship hours | 600 |
| Application deadline | Summer admission only April 15 |
School Building Leader (33 credits)
ELP 604 Law and Public Education
ELP 606 Changing Social Contexts for Educational Leaders
ELP 607 School and District Capacity Building
ELP 625 Studies in Educational Leadership
ELP 629 Human Resources and Labor Relations in Education
ELP 647 Educational Planning, Budgeting and Data Analysis
ELP 652 Leadership and Policy for Inclusion
ELP 658 Clinical Seminar: Internship
ELP 659 Clinical Seminar: Internship
ELP 664 Teacher Evaluation and Supervision
ELP 681 Curriculum & Instructional Leadership
School District Leader (36 credits)
ELP 604 Law and Public Education
ELP 606 Changing Social Contexts for Educational Leaders
ELP 607 School and District Capacity Building
ELP 625 Studies in Educational Leadership
ELP 629 Human Resources and Labor Relations in Education
ELP 635 Leading an Effective School District
ELP 647 Educational Planning, Budgeting and Data Analysis
ELP 652 Leadership and Policy for Inclusion
ELP 658 Clinical Seminar: Internship
ELP 659 Clinical Seminar: Internship
ELP 664 Teacher Evaluation and Supervision
ELP 681 Curriculum & Instructional Leadership
Clinical Experiences in Educational Leadership
You are expected to complete a 600 hour clinical internship experience, either one academic semester full-time; one summer full-time plus one academic semester part-time; or two academic semesters part-time. Except in unusual circumstances, the clinical internship will take place in the last two semesters of the program.
- Master's degree from an accredited institution
- Permanent or professional certificate in classroom teaching service or pupil personnel service
- Minimum three years of teaching experience
Submit your completed online application, which includes:
- Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
- Contact information for at least three individuals who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.)
- Diversity Statement: In a personal essay (double spaced) of no more than 500 words, please share how you, as an educator, respond to issues pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Be sure to include one or two specific examples from your current practice.
- Statement of education and career goals
Former/Maiden Name: Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.
Admission Decision: The admission decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
In-State Residency Tuition
In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload three documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.
International Applicant Additional Requirements
- Official original proof of your degree
- A copy of your passport biographical page
- Official test scores—dated within two years of submitting your application—for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, or DET (Duolingo English Test).
- TOEFL minimum score is 250 for computer-based test, 600 for paper-based test and 79 for internet-based test
- IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- DET minimum score is 120 overall
- Financial documentation: International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
- An official bank statement
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application and dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
New York State prides itself in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals. For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State. SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these State requirements. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public. Other states frequently have their own requirements, so if your goal is to practice in another state, this disclosure will help you check to see what that state requires.
Enrolled students and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact their state’s licensure entity using the links provided in the full disclosure document to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by their state(s) of choice.
Graduates go on to become:
- Assistant superintendent
- Superintendent
- School building leader
- School district leader