Good educational administrators will have all the following attributes:

• The ability to make beneficial and constructive decisions
• A great deal of determination
• Excellent skills in both leadership and supervision
• Strong and effective communication and interpersonal skills
• A broad knowledge of the practices in schools
• Knowledge of computer technology
• Basic psychology

School administrators must work first as a teacher. To become a teacher, one will need a bachelor's degree in education. Teachers are also required to have a license or a teacher's certificate in the state or province in which they teach. Requirements vary in different countries, however, almost all of them need a bachelor's degree, an amount of "supervised" teaching and the successful completion of an examination. This exam includes such things as literacy, teaching ability and subject knowledge. Some schools need a person to work as a teacher for several years before he or she can become a principal.

The degrees and certifications required for a career as a principal also vary. In most public schools, however, educational administrators need to have a Master's degree in either Educational Leadership or Educational Administration. These programs include such courses as finance, leadership, curriculum planning, law and human resources. Some principals also have a doctoral or specialized degree and will have completed an internship.

The field of educational administrators is a rapidly growing field and there are many traditional as well as online schools offering programs. There is a lot of room for advancement in the educational field as well. Many principals receive promotions by being transferred to a place that offers more responsibility. Other types of promotions include being promoted to a superintendent or even a person who is an institutions president.