OVERVIEW
AI for K–12 Education Leaders Certificate
As AI becomes a bigger part of education, schools and districts need leaders who can make informed decisions about how these tools are used. With an AI for K–12 Education Leaders Certificate from the WGU School of Education, you’ll build skills to guide the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
In this certificate, you will:
- Use AI to support planning, communication, decision-making, and daily operations in schools or districts.
- Create clear organizational guidelines that help educators use AI responsibly in teaching and learning.
- Identify AI risks related to students, privacy, equity, and accuracy while keeping human judgment central.
- Lead AI efforts that align with your school or district’s goals and support responsible innovation.
Do you work in an instructional role? Learn about our AI for K–12 Teachers Certificate.
Cost
$699
No additional fees
Courses
2 online courses
4 total credits
Time to Complete
3 months
15 to 20 hours per week
COURSES
AI for K–12 Teachers Courses
This certificate is designed for principals, assistant principals, district administrators, instructional leaders, curriculum directors, operations and student services leaders, technology and innovation leaders, aspiring education administrators, and other education professionals interested in AI leadership skills. No administrative license is required.
Course Structure
Certificate courses can be completed on your own schedule. You’ll complete two courses with readings, videos, interactive elements, and practice activities to help you master the material. Each course includes a graded performance assessment where you’ll apply what you’ve learned.
The 2 courses in this program are:
Artificial intelligence has become part of our everyday lives—at home and in the office. This course introduces generative AI by pulling back the curtain on how it actually works and how you can use it wisely. You’ll start with the foundations. You’ll learn what AI is (and isn’t) and how generative models differ from other kinds of AI. From there, you’ll learn how prompts, instructions, and context shape results. And you’ll discover why AI can sound confident even while being wrong.
The course also addresses the risks and responsibilities associated with this technology. You’ll explore ethical considerations, potential harms, environmental and societal impacts, and the limits of AI’s strengths. In addition, you’ll evaluate outputs for accuracy, bias, and usefulness. You’ll learn how to apply human judgment, protect privacy, and choose the right tasks and tools. Finally, you’ll practice using AI in real-world scenarios.
In this course, you will work through two modules. These modules are broken into smaller lessons. By studying this material and engaging with the practice activities, you will develop skills for identifying organizational use cases for AI, using strategic decision-making to apply AI, developing organizational guidance for the ethical and responsible use of AI, and defining systems that support equitable and responsible adoption of AI in your organization.
CAREER OUTCOMES
Build AI Leadership Skills for Today’s K–12 Schools
Develop foundational AI literacy, then build applied skills tailored to K–12 education leadership. You’ll explore how to guide responsible AI strategy, decision-making, and implementation in schools and districts.
Skills You’ll Build:
- Find practical uses for AI in your school or district.
- Use AI to improve planning, communication, and operations.
- Create clear organizational guidelines for responsible AI use.
- Help educators use AI thoughtfully in teaching and learning.
- Identify AI risks related to students, privacy, equity, and accuracy.
- Lead AI efforts that support your school or district’s goals.
Roles that can benefit:
- School administration
- District leadership
- Instructional leadership
- Curriculum design or curriculum leadership
- Operations or student services
- Technology integration
- Leadership support roles
COST
Two online courses. One flat cost.
$699 gives you access to your certificate courses for three months, including:
- Program access
- E-textbooks
- Learning resources
Financial aid isn't available, but we do offer monthly payment plans.
Most learners finish within three months. If you need more time, your enrollment will automatically transition to a $149 monthly subscription until you earn your certificate. You can cancel at any time.
$699
Total cost | No additional fees
Payment Plan Option
3 monthly payments of $233
HOW IT WORKS
What to Expect From This Certificate
Requirements
- You must have access to a computer and the internet.
- There is no administrative license or AI experience required.
- You must complete the Generative AI Skills course before beginning the AI for K–12 Leaders course.
- Each course includes a final, project-based performance assessment. You must achieve a ranking of Competent on each assessment to pass each course.
Program Expectations
- This certificate is designed for current or aspiring education leaders.
- WGU uses a competency-based learning model, meaning you can progress through coursework as quickly as you are able to master the material.
- You should plan to dedicate 15 to 20 hours a week to this certificate program.
- The certificate is designed to be completed in three months, depending on your learning pace.
Why Choose a Certificate?
If you're not quite ready to commit to a full degree program, want to try out online learning, or need a faster way to boost your résumé, a WGU certificate could be the right fit for you. With a certificate program, you can begin any time you want—no need to wait for the first of the month. WGU Certificates are also self-paced, so you can move as quickly as you are able to master the material. Plus, the certificate courses are transferrable to WGU degree programs, so you can continue your education whenever you're ready.
100% Online Courses that Work with Your Schedule
Our certificates are 100% online, and there are no set class times. This means you can work on your certificate whenever it makes sense for you and your busy schedule. You're in the driver's seat of your education.
Full Suite of Support Services
WGU serves students from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds. Our program support, instruction, and career resources will help you complete your certificate and reach your goals.
Explore Your Next Step
With affordable tuition and real-world outcomes—a WGU certificate delivers measurable value. Every WGU certificate is built to help you make progress—whether you're seeking a new opportunity, exploring a new career field, or preparing for a full degree program down the line.
Request More Information
In just a few months, you can build practical AI skills that help you lead with confidence in today’s K–12 classrooms. Fill out this form to learn more about WGU’s AI for K–12 Education Leaders Certificate.
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