Earn Your Ed.D. and Florida Educational Leadership Certification in 3 Years
Fully virtual and cohort-based, built for working administrators. NLU's Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration includes a Florida State Credential track that prepares you to take the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) and earn certification for the principalship, in about three years without leaving your role. Campus presence in the Tampa area.
- Completed in 3 Years
- Florida Educational Leadership Credential Track
- Virtual Classroom, Campus Presence in Tampa
- Preparing Education Leaders Since 1886
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Our stunning Tampa Florida Campus is conveniently located on West Hillsborough Ave. just west of Tampa Airport
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Apply systemic change frameworks to complex educational organizations
- Develop evidence-based leadership strategies for K to 12 and district settings
- Conduct original research and translate findings into school improvement practice
- Navigate Florida school law, finance, and accountability policy
- Lead schools and build authentic community partnerships
Full Course List
Next start: September 21, 2026 — seats filling fast.
Admissions Requirements
- Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Valid teaching certificate and educational experience (Florida applicants: a valid Florida Professional Educator's Certificate).
- Minimum 2 years of documented leadership in an educational setting.
- Resume, two letters of recommendation, and evidence of impact on student achievement.
- Written statement describing career goals and a dissertation problem of practice.
- Faculty interview required.
As a two-time graduate of National Louis University, I am profoundly grateful for my decision to enroll in their esteemed, student-centered educational leadership program. The extensive and profound learning I experienced, facilitated by highly qualified and skilled practitioners, reaffirmed my decision that, even over 20 years later, NLU was the optimal choice for my pursuit of lifelong learning. NLU has indelibly shaped my professional career.
Most Ed.D. programs take 4 to 6 years. NLU's accelerated cohort model completes in 3 years, fully virtual with no campus residency. Progress alongside peers at your career stage while staying in your current leadership role.
The Florida State Credential track prepares you to take the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) and earn certification in Educational Leadership, the certification for the principalship in Florida. The degree and the credential pathway are earned together.
The program requires an original research dissertation (12 SH), not a capstone project. For candidates seeking academic or research leadership roles, this is a critical distinction from programs that substitute alternative capstone formats.
NCE faculty are active researchers who understand the organizational realities of school leadership. They integrate theory, research, and real practice from day one, not theory in isolation from the leadership problems you are actually facing.
Where Will Your Ed.D. Take You?
The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership prepares graduates for the full range of K-12 administrative leadership , from principals managing school culture and instructional systems to superintendents leading district-wide reform. The three-year cohort model means this is a doctoral degree working educators can actually complete, and the dissertation means completion produces something that genuinely advances the field.
Just 3 Steps to Your Ed.D.
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Request Information
Fill out the short form on this page. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to answer your questions about the program, admission requirements, and start dates.
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Talk to an Advisor
A 15-minute conversation. Ask anything about the cohort model, the Florida State Credential track and the FELE, financing, or how the program fits your leadership timeline. We'll be honest with you.
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Start Your Ed.D.
Begin your program on September 21, 2026. You're one decision away from earning your doctorate while you continue leading.
Three Years. One Doctorate. Your Next Level of Leadership.
Connect with an NLU advisor to discuss which track fits your credentials and goals.
Take the First Step- Completed in 3 Years
- Florida Educational Leadership Credential Track
- Virtual Classroom, Campus Presence in Tampa
- Preparing Education Leaders Since 1886
** Median annual wage for Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2024.
*** Florida certification pathway: SmartCatalog, National Louis University, Educational Leadership and Administration Ed.D. State Credential Track (FL); candidates may take the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) toward Florida certification in Educational Leadership.