Principal License Instructions

Version 06/2024

Applying to the Oregon TSPC for a Principal License 

STEP 1—Congratulations

Begin the licensing process as soon as you either receive the “Congratulations, you are now eligible to apply for your license…” email from Lewis & Clark licensure staff or you see the Program Completion Report (PCR) from Lewis & Clark in your TSPC eLicensing account under “Documents.”

• If you apply for your license before you receive the email or can view the PCR, your license application may be denied by TSPC requiring you to reapply. 
• If you are in a degree program, you will receive a separate email from the graduate registrar’s office when your degree posts. This email is NOT the same as the “Congratulations, you are now eligible to apply for your license…” email.
• If you do not have 3-years of licensed teaching or personnel services experience in schools in the United States (or a jurisdiction, thereof), you will need to co-apply with an employing school district to TSPC for a Restricted Administrator License. Once you have 3-years of licensed experience as an administrator, you can then apply to TSPC for the full Principal License. Details on the application process are available on page 11 of this linked TSPC document.

STEP 2—Application to TSPC 

Complete an eLicensing application with TSPC, including paying the required fees.

Application Fees

• As of April 2022, the application fees should be $182 for the “Evaluation In State,” $10 for a “Portal Provider Fee,” and $5 for a “Licensure System Fee” for a total charge of $197. Follow the instructions in the red box if the fees appear otherwise.

Background Check

• As part of the application process to TSPC, TSPC staff will conduct a background check including: A Law Enforcement Data Systems (LEDS) check, a National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Clearinghouse for Educator Discipline check, and, in some circumstances, an internet or social media search.

STEP 3—Official Transcripts

Request an official transcript from the Graduate Registrar’s office at Lewis & Clark and from any other colleges or universities from which you transferred credit for your license program. Your transcripts should show all courses required for the license, including course grades. If you have not already done so, you must also submit to TSPC an official transcript showing your master’s degree or higher.

• Instructions for sending official transcripts to TSPC

STEP 4—PEER Form, Required If You Already Hold a TSPC-Issued License

If you have held any other TSPC-issued license(s) and *have worked on that license, request that your employing school district’s human resources office complete TSPC’s Professional Educator Experience Report (PEER) form.

• If you worked in multiple school districts in positions that required you to hold a TSPC-issued license, you will need to request PEER forms from each school district.
• Only submit PEER forms that document work experience that is new since you last applied to TSPC.
• *PEER forms are no longer required for substitute teaching experience. (06/2024)

DO I NEED TO BE FINGERPRINTED?

If you are unsure of your fingerprint clearance status, please contact TSPC at contact.tspc@oregon.gov.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO APPLY FOR MY PRINCIPAL LICENSE?

TSPC’s rules allow candidates 3-years to apply for their license, endorsement, or specialization following completion of a program. If it has been more than 3-years since completion, candidates will need to meet with a Lewis & Clark Graduate School faculty advisor to determine whether additional course work, testing, and/or field experiences are required, including admission into the current program.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TSPC TO ISSUE MY LICENSE?

Approximately 4 - 6 weeks.

WHOM DO I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT MY PROGRAM?

The faculty program advisor for the Principal License program is Megan Barrett.

Special Note: TSPC Adopts New Administrator License Rules (February 2019)

At their February 2019 meeting, TSPC commissioners adopted new administrator license and program rules. A webpage is available to answer questions about this change, timelines, and the new Principal License and Professional Administrator License requirements.