PQP Information and Regulations

Our Principal’s Qualification Program (PQP) is a unique learning experience that helps you to develop the necessary knowledge and leadership skills to lead a school. This section provides you with an overview of important information and regulations that apply to our PQP program.

To access information about our PQP, visit this page for course details and use the following resources:

PQP Prerequisites

Prerequisites PQP Part I

In addition to Lakehead University’s general requirements, as stated in the Calendar, all prospective PQP Part I students must meet the following requirements:

  • A university degree recorded on your Ontario College of Teachers Certificate of Qualification
  • Qualifications in three (3) divisions, including the Intermediate Division, recorded on your Ontario College of Teachers Certificate of Qualification
  • Five (5) years of successful teaching experience, certified by a Supervisory Officer (click here to download the Supervisory Officer Signature Form)
  • Two (2) specialist qualifications or a Master’s degree (30 credit hours) or one specialist qualification and completion of half of the requirements for a Master’s degree. (The Master's degree must be above and beyond the degree used for initial teacher certification. By way of example, if your initial teacher education program was a Master of Science in Teaching consisting of 42 credit hours, and you became certified prior to 2015 when 30 credit hours were the requirement, you would have only 12 credit hours remaining to count towards the PQP prerequisite.)
Prerequisites for PQP Part II

In addition to Lakehead University’s general requirements, as stated in the Calendar, all prospective PQP Part II students must meet the following requirements:

  • Principal’s Qualification Program Part I listed on your Ontario College of Teachers Certificate of Qualification
  • Submission of an acceptable leadership practicum proposal

Course Delivery

Both PQP Part I and Part II are offered fully online.

The PQP comprises Part I, Part II and a Leadership Practicum. Part I and Part II of the program are each 125 hours in length, and the Leadership Practicum consists of a 60-hour leadership experience.

To complete our PQP, each student must plan and complete a mandatory Leadership Practicum.

 PQP Leadership Practicum

Leadership Practicum Proposal

Part I candidates are expected to arrive with an idea of a potential topic for the Leadership Practicum and a potential supervisor. Your instructor will make suggestions regarding various aspects of the practicum, including appropriateness of scope, the contribution to the school or board, the amount of detail required as well as how to present the product.

Leadership Practicum Experience 

The Leadership Practicum Experience is a minimum of 60 hours and consists of a practicum that is a minimum of 40 hours as well as 20 hours of job-shadowing/observing. You will also complete a practicum log that will include your activities, a reflective journal, and a summative report. You will complete your Leadership Practice once you complete both PQP Part I and II.

Leadership Practicum Overview

  • The practicum proposal is approved in Part 1. This involves feedback from the part 1 instructor. Candidates must retain their signed form to submit with their completed practicum.

  • The practicum is presented to Part 2 class.

  • Part 2 instructor provides feedback by end of course, and can answer some questions by email for the next 2 months. (Use discretion, the big issues should be resolved before end of course.) 

  • Practicum is due within 6 months of end of PQP part 2.

Leadership Practicum Extensions 

The Leadership Practicum should be completed within six (6) months of a candidate finishing the Part 2 course. If required, students can apply and pay for a Practicum Extension.

  • If there are questions or concerns about meeting the deadline, candidates should email directorpd.educ@lakeheadu.ca. The Practicum Evaluator is not a resource for support during the practicum process, unless the candidate pays a practicum extension fee.

  • A practicum extension fee of $150 must be paid by candidates who submit their practicum after the due date. 

  • Candidates must pay the $150 extension fee if they need to resubmit their practicum proposal. 

  • Candidates can opt to pay the $150 in order to receive additional support or consultation, even if they have not exceeded their time.

  • The candidates have 6 months from the date of the extension fee to complete their practicum.

Textbooks and Materials

There are no required textbooks for either PQP I or PQP II. Below are the optional textbooks which may supplement the freely available readings for the course:

PQP Part 1 & Part 2
  • Learning as a Way of Leading: Lessons from the Struggle for Social Justice (2009), Preskill & Brookfield.
  • Consolidated Ontario Education Statutes and Regulations (2021), Anthony F. Brown, LL.B., M.Ed.
  • Culturally Responsive School Leadership (2018), Khalifa, M.
  • Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation (2021), Sfir & Dugan.

You can order textbooks and materials directly from Lakehead University’s Alumni Bookstore.

Withdrawing from a PQP Course

To withdraw from a course, you must complete a Change in Registration form and then submit it to the Department of Professional Development in Education.

A $150.00 non-refundable fee will be applied to candidates who withdraw from the program, as per the refund policy.

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