Below are the qualification standards (QS) for School Principal I and the rules on who may take the National Assessment for School Heads (NASH, formerly the NQESH): which master’s degrees count, what “relevant experience” in learning area coordination means, which training certificates count, and the documents that prove each requirement.
The rules come from DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2025, which adopts the new Civil Service Commission (CSC) standards. They also come from three Department of Education (DepEd) documents for fiscal year (FY) 2025 Batch 2: memorandum DM-OUHROD-2025-3318, its Annex 1, and the official application FAQs.
Key points
- You must pass a DepEd school head assessment, now the NASH, before your first appointment as School Principal I. Three policies require it: the rules of Executive Order No. 174, s. 2022, a DepEd-DBM joint circular, and DepEd Order No. 021, s. 2024.
- Some groups could take FY 2025 Batch 2 without meeting the QS. These were Head Teachers, Assistant School Principals, FY 2021 NQESH Category C takers, and FY 2023 NQESH Category B and C takers. Everyone else had to meet the QS.
- The School Principal I QS has four parts. You need a master’s degree, 5 years of teaching plus 1 year of relevant experience, 32 hours of training within the last 5 years, and RA 1080 (Teacher) eligibility.
- Coordinator roles count as relevant experience. Coordinatorships held before DepEd Order No. 005, s. 2024 count, and several short roles may be added together to reach one year.
- LAC and INSET certificates count as training. Learning Action Cell (LAC) and In-Service Training (INSET) certificates count when the Schools Division Superintendent or the school head signs them.
- Every requirement needs a document. Annex 1 lists the transcript, certificates, service record, and license that the Schools Division Office (SDO) checks.
Why the NASH is required for a first appointment as School Principal I
The NASH is required because three policies make passing a DepEd school head assessment a condition for the first appointment to a School Principal position. DepEd Memorandum No. 069, s. 2025 lists them, and the official FAQs repeat them.
| Legal basis | What it says, in short |
|---|---|
| Section 17(c), Implementing Rules and Regulations of Executive Order No. 174, s. 2022 | A Master Teacher I who moves to the School Administration career line must have passed the DepEd-administered school head assessment. |
| Section 7.4.3, DepEd-DBM Joint Circular No. 01, s. 2025 | School Principal positions require passing the school heads assessment or its equivalent, under DepEd guidelines. |
| Item 27, DepEd Order No. 021, s. 2024, amending DepEd Order No. 007, s. 2023 | First appointments to School Principal positions, by natural vacancy or reclassification, require passing the school head assessment. |
DBM is the Department of Budget and Management. Item 27 also says that only passers of the NQESH, the Principal’s Test, or a later DepEd school head assessment are eligible for a first appointment. The NASH guide on the app explains how the score is used in hiring and where the NASH fits in your career.
Who could take the FY 2025 NASH Batch 2
The Office of the Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development issued DM-OUHROD-2025-3318 on 17 November 2025. It named the groups that could take Batch 2 “regardless of whether they meet the Qualification Standards (QS) for the School Principal I”. All other applicants had to meet the new CSC-approved QS. Batch 1 was held in September 2025, and Batch 2, after two reschedules, in May 2026.
| Applicant | Had to meet the School Principal I QS? | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Head Teachers | No | DM-OUHROD-2025-3318; Item 6 of DM No. 069, s. 2025 |
| Assistant School Principals | No | Same |
| FY 2021 NQESH takers under Category C | No | Same |
| FY 2023 NQESH takers under Category B | No | Same |
| FY 2023 NQESH takers under Category C | No | Same |
| Head Teachers and Assistant School Principals rated “With Developmental Areas” in Batch 1 | No; they could choose to take Batch 2 | Item 6 of DepEd Memorandum No. 097, s. 2025 |
| Teachers-in-Charge, Master Teachers, teachers, and all other personnel | Yes | Item 5 of DM No. 069, s. 2025 |
| Central Office and Regional Office personnel | Yes; they apply through their former SDO | DM-OUHROD-2025-3318 |
Batch 1 takers in other positions who were rated “With Developmental Areas” were not in this list. The FAQs refer them to the interventions set in DM No. 097, s. 2025. The results of both batches are on the NASH results page.
Can a Head Teacher take the NASH without meeting the QS
Yes, for FY 2025 Batch 2. A Head Teacher could apply even without a master’s degree, the 1 year of relevant experience, or the 32 training hours. The official FAQs answer this question directly for a Head Teacher I who lacks one of the QS.
Taking the NASH and being appointed are separate steps. DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2025 states that “all appointments, including promotion and reclassification of positions, shall strictly adhere to the amended and newly created QS”. Passing the NASH does not replace the QS at appointment. Head Teachers and Assistant School Principals also have their own transition rules under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) system; see Head Teacher Retitling: Options Under ECP and RA 12288. Read the reclassification guide and confirm your options with your SDO Human Resource Management Officer (HRMO).
The next NASH may use different rules
These exemptions applied to FY 2025 Batch 2. The memorandum for the next administration may list different groups or different steps. Read it before you apply.
School Principal I qualification standards under DO 019, s. 2025
DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2025 adopts CSC Resolution No. 2500471 dated May 28, 2025. It sets these standards for School Principal I (Salary Grade 19):
| Requirement | School Principal I standard |
|---|---|
| Education | Master’s degree in Education, or Educational Management, or Educational Leadership; or master’s degree in relevant learning area with at least 9 units in Management |
| Experience | 5 years teaching experience and 1 year relevant experience in any of the following: learning area coordination, subject area supervision, school management and operations, instructional supervision |
| Training | 32 hours of training in any of or a cumulative of the following: Curriculum, Pedagogy, School Management and Operations, Instructional Leadership, acquired within the last 5 years |
| Eligibility | RA 1080, as amended (Teacher) |
The order took effect on its approval and publication. Vacancies posted before that date are processed under the QS in force when they were posted. The standards for School Principal II to IV are in the qualification standards table on the app.
Education: which master’s degrees count for School Principal I
The official FAQs describe two routes to the education requirement. The first route is any master’s degree in Education. The second route is a master’s degree in a learning area plus at least 9 units in Management.
Route 1: any master’s degree in Education
All master’s degrees in Education count. The FAQs treat Educational Management and Educational Leadership as generic programs in the field of Education. They give these examples:
- Master in Education (MEd)
- Master of Arts in Education (MAEd), including an MAEd major in a learning area such as English, Science, or Mathematics
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
- Master of Science in Teaching (MST)
- master’s degrees in Guidance and Counseling
For other programs, the FAQs point to the sample Level 7 programs in the field of Education in the Philippine Standard Classification of Education (PSCED) of the Philippine Statistics Authority, pages 189 to 197.
Route 2: a master’s in a learning area plus 9 units in Management
A master’s degree in a relevant subject or learning area counts if you also have at least 9 units of Management subjects. The FAQs give a Master of Science in Biology, Applied Mathematics, or English as examples.
The 9 units may be part of the degree program. You may also take them separately, outside the graduate program, as additional units. Either way, you need proof of completion, such as a Transcript of Records (TOR) or a certification.
MAEd graduates whose CHED Special Order is still pending
Some MAEd graduates have a TOR with no Special Order (S.O.) number from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Annex 1 accepts a certification from the school confirming that you completed the MAEd program.
Experience: 5 years of teaching and 1 year of relevant experience
The experience requirement has two parts. You need 5 years of teaching experience, and you need 1 year of experience in one of four areas: learning area coordination, subject area supervision, school management and operations, or instructional supervision.
Private school teaching and management experience
Teaching in a private school counts toward the 5 years. Your Certificate of Employment must state the position held, the subjects taught, the inclusive dates of service, and your employment status (full-time or part-time). It must carry the official school seal and the signature of the school head or an authorized official.
Experience managing a private school may also count. The FAQs accept government and private work if it is “functionally related to the duties of the position being applied for”. The Certificate of Employment must state your position, duties and responsibilities, inclusive dates, and employment status, with the signature and the official seal.
Coordinatorship experience before DO 005, s. 2024
DepEd Order No. 005, s. 2024 rationalized teachers’ workload and functions. The FAQs state that coordinatorship experience obtained before that order counts toward the 1 year of relevant experience in learning area coordination. The guide to teaching-related assignments lists the coordinator roles the order still allows.
You may add short roles together. If you held several coordinatorships of less than one year each, their combined length is credited toward the one year. For example, a teacher who was Phil-IRI Coordinator for five months, then LAC Coordinator for four months, then School Testing Coordinator for three months has twelve months in total.
The FAQs do not say how two roles held at the same time are counted. Ask your SDO before you rely on overlapping roles.
The three kinds of coordinatorship in the official FAQs
The FAQs sort recognized coordinatorships into three groups. Each group ends with “other related coordinatorship/functions”, so a role not listed may still count.
| Kind | What it covers | Examples from the FAQs |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum-related | Roles tied to teaching and learning, assessment, curriculum delivery, and instructional support | Reading/Literacy and Numeracy Coordinator; Phil-IRI Coordinator; Grade/Subject Area Coordinator; ELLN/EGRA/MFAT/Learning Assessment Coordinator; School Testing Coordinator; Remedial Class Coordinator; ARAL Program Coordinator; ADM Facilitator; Research/School-Based Research Coordinator; LAC Coordinator; Classroom Observer for MT; RPMS Coordinator; SNED/SPED/IPED/Inclusive Education Coordinator; ALIVE Coordinator; Guidance and Advocacy (curriculum support function) Coordinator |
| Co-curricular | Roles that support curriculum delivery and learner development alongside regular classes, through learner services, resources, and school systems | School Paper Coordinator; Guidance Teacher; ICT Coordinator; Librarian/Library Coordinator; Learning Resource Coordinator; Laboratory Custodian; LIS and EBEIS Coordinator; M&E/SMEA Coordinator; Grade Level Chairman/Coordinator; SBM Chairman/Coordinator/Member; DRRM Coordinator; Child Protection Officer |
| Extra-curricular | Programs beyond classroom instruction that build leadership, coordination, and stakeholder skills | SPG/SSG Adviser (SELG/SSLG); Sports Coach/Trainer; Scouting Coordinator/Adviser (GSP/BSP); YES-O Coordinator; Red Cross Youth Coordinator; National Drug Education Program (NDEP) Coordinator; GAD Coordinator; 4Ps Coordinator; District Program/Event Coordinator; Liaison and Special Events Coordinator; Canteen Manager; Clinic/Health Officer |
The abbreviations are the FAQs’ own. Phil-IRI is the Philippine Informal Reading Inventory, and RPMS is the Results-Based Performance Management System. SBM is school-based management, and DRRM is disaster risk reduction and management. GAD is gender and development, and 4Ps is the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
The certificate that proves relevant experience
You prove relevant experience with a Certification or Certificate of Experience signed by the Schools Division Superintendent or the school head. It must clearly state your involvement in learning area coordination, subject area supervision, school management and operations, or instructional supervision.
For coordinatorships, the FAQs add that the certificate should name the specific learning area of your coordination experience. Ask for one certificate per role, with the start and end dates, so the SDO can add the periods together.
Training: 32 hours within the last 5 years
You need 32 hours of training in Curriculum, Pedagogy, School Management and Operations, or Instructional Leadership. The hours may come from one area or from several areas added together.
Annex 1 states that certificates from LAC sessions and INSET count when the Schools Division Superintendent or the school head signs them. A school LAC session on assessment design, for example, counts toward Curriculum or Pedagogy if the certificate shows the hours. The post on DepEd Learning Action Cells explains how LAC sessions are run.
When the 5-year period starts
DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2025 sets no start date: the hours must be “acquired within the last 5 years”. The NASH Batch 2 FAQs (Q19) say the period “is counted from the date of your last promotion”, citing DepEd Order No. 007, s. 2023. But DO 007 (Encl. 3, Sec. 1.b), DO 024, s. 2025 and DO 034, s. 2025 (para. 15) apply “after the last promotion” only to training above the minimum, which earns points. Training within the last five years counts toward the 32 hours even if it came before your last promotion. Ask your SDO HRMO to confirm in writing which certificates they will accept.
Eligibility: RA 1080 (Teacher)
The eligibility requirement is Republic Act No. 1080, as amended (Teacher). RA 1080 declares the bar and board examinations to be civil service examinations. DO 019, s. 2025 uses one generic eligibility, “RA 1080, as amended (Teacher)”, for both elementary and secondary principals.
Annex 1 asks applicants to submit a valid and updated Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license or a Certificate of Eligibility or Rating.
Special cases in the official FAQs
FY 2021 NQESH Category B qualifiers who completed interventions
DepEd Memorandum No. 059, s. 2024 released the results of the FY 2021 NQESH Category B evaluation and certification. Qualifiers rated “Approximating”, “Closely Approximating”, or “Needing Intervention” are considered NQESH passers once they complete the required intervention and receive a certification signed by the Schools Division Superintendent. They do not need to take the NASH.
If one of them still wants to take the NASH, the FAQs say the qualifications and conditions of the Batch 2 memorandum apply.
FY 2023 NQESH Category C takers without a master’s degree
These takers could join Batch 2 without meeting the QS. For the education document, the FAQs allow them to upload the TOR or diploma of their highest educational attainment. Proof of current enrollment in a master’s program is also accepted.
SDO evaluators
SDO evaluators review NASH applications, so they may not take the NASH, to avoid a conflict of interest. An evaluator who wants to take it must formally waive the evaluator role before applying.
Central Office and Regional Office personnel
Personnel of the Central Office and Regional Offices must meet the QS. DM-OUHROD-2025-3318 directs them to coordinate with the SDO where they were previously assigned or rendered service. That SDO reviews the application and documents.
Teachers-in-Charge and Officers-in-Charge
A Teacher-in-Charge (TIC) is not in the Batch 2 exemption list, so a TIC had to meet the QS. Annex 1 also asks TICs, Officers-in-Charge, and Head Teachers acting as school heads for two extra documents, listed in the next section.
Documents that prove each requirement (Annex 1)
Annex 1 to DM-OUHROD-2025-3318 lists the documents for Batch 2. Each one was saved as a clear scanned PDF and uploaded to the NASH Online Application System (NASH-OAS). The FAQs set a limit of 10 MB per file.
| Requirement | Document | Notes from Annex 1 and the FAQs |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Approved Individual Performance Commitment and Rating Form (IPCRF) rated at least Very Satisfactory in the last two consecutive rating periods | Certified by authorized SDO personnel. For Batch 2: school years (SY) 2023-24 and SY 2024-25 for school-based staff, FY 2023 and FY 2024 for others. Only Part I, with the rating, is needed. |
| Service | Service Record | Certified by the Administrative Officer V of the SDO |
| Private school teaching | Certificate of Employment | States position, subjects taught, inclusive dates, and status; signed by the school head, with the official seal |
| Relevant experience | Certification(s) signed by the Schools Division Superintendent or school head | States experience in learning area coordination, subject area supervision, school management and operations, or instructional supervision |
| Education | TOR or diploma showing a relevant master’s degree | MAEd graduates without a CHED S.O. number submit a school certification of completion |
| Training | Certificate(s) of participation within the last 5 years | Curriculum, Pedagogy, School Management and Operations, or Instructional Leadership; signed LAC and INSET certificates count |
| Eligibility | Valid and updated PRC license, or Certificate of Eligibility or Rating | |
| Acting school heads only | Office Performance Commitment and Rating Form (OPCRF), and the designation or Special Order as school head, TIC, or Officer-in-Charge (OIC) | For TICs, OICs, and Head Teachers acting as school heads; signed by the Schools Division Superintendent |
Annex 1 also asks for scans at 300 dots per inch (DPI) or more, one PDF per document, and clear file names such as IPCRF_SY2023-2024.pdf. It warns that falsifying qualifications or submitting fake documents is Serious Dishonesty under CSC Resolution No. 2100079. The penalties include dismissal from the service and perpetual disqualification from public office.
The rating periods above were for Batch 2. The next memorandum will name its own periods. The app’s guide to how the NASH is taken online covers the assessment itself.
Self-check: do you meet the School Principal I QS now
Use this list to see where you stand before the next memorandum comes out. Answer each line with a document in hand, not from memory.
- Master’s degree. Do you hold a master’s degree in Education, or a master’s in a learning area with at least 9 Management units? Do you have the TOR, diploma, or school certification?
- Management units. If you took Route 2, does your TOR or a separate certification show at least 9 units of Management subjects?
- Teaching years. Does your service record, plus any private school Certificate of Employment, show at least 5 years of teaching?
- Relevant experience. Do you have certificates signed by the Schools Division Superintendent or school head showing at least 12 months in coordination, subject area supervision, school management and operations, or instructional supervision?
- Short roles. If you are adding short coordinatorships together, does each certificate show its start and end dates?
- Training hours. Do your certificates within the 5-year period add up to 32 hours or more in the four training areas? Does each certificate show the hours and the signature?
- Recency. Are your 32 hours dated within the last five years? (Hours after your last promotion matter only for points.)
- Eligibility. Is your PRC license valid and updated?
- Performance. Do your two latest IPCRFs show at least Very Satisfactory?
- Exemption. Are you a Head Teacher, an Assistant School Principal, or an earlier NQESH taker in a category the next memorandum exempts? If so, check whether you still need the QS for the appointment you want.
If a line is missing, plan for it now. Training hours and coordination certificates take the longest to collect.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Head Teacher take the NASH without meeting the qualification standards?
Yes, for FY 2025 Batch 2, Head Teachers and Assistant School Principals could take the NASH whether or not they met the School Principal I QS. DM-OUHROD-2025-3318 and the official FAQs state this. Appointment as School Principal I is a separate step that follows DO 019, s. 2025 and the transition rules for Head Teachers.
Does a master’s degree in Biology count for School Principal I?
Yes, a master’s degree in a relevant learning area such as Biology counts if you also have at least 9 units in Management. The units may be part of the degree or taken separately, with a TOR or certification as proof.
Does coordinator experience count as relevant experience for the NASH?
Yes, coordinatorship experience obtained before DepEd Order No. 005, s. 2024 counts toward the 1 year of relevant experience in learning area coordination. Several roles of less than one year each may be added together. You need a certificate signed by the Schools Division Superintendent or school head.
Do LAC and INSET certificates count for the 32 training hours?
Yes, Annex 1 accepts LAC and INSET certificates signed by the Schools Division Superintendent or school head. The training must be in Curriculum, Pedagogy, School Management and Operations, or Instructional Leadership and fall within the 5-year recency period.
Is the NASH required for School Principal I?
Yes, the NASH is required for a first appointment as School Principal I, whether by natural vacancy or reclassification. DepEd Order No. 021, s. 2024 requires passing the DepEd school head assessment. Passers of the NQESH and the Principal’s Test are also eligible.
Sources
- DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2025, Amended Qualification Standards for Teacher I-III, Master Teacher I-IV, and School Principal I-IV Positions (adopting CSC Resolution No. 2500471, May 28, 2025)
- DepEd Memorandum No. 069, s. 2025, Administration of the National Assessment for School Heads for Fiscal Year 2025
- DM-OUHROD-2025-3318, Updates and Instructions on the Administration of the FY 2025 National Assessment for School Heads (NASH) - Batch 2, 17 November 2025, and its Annex 1, Preparatory and Documentary Requirements
- Frequently Asked Questions (NASH Application), FY 2025 NASH Batch 2
- DepEd Memorandum No. 097, s. 2025, Results of the NASH for Fiscal Year 2025 - Batch 1
- DepEd Memorandum No. 059, s. 2024, Results of the FY 2023 NQESH and FY 2021 NQESH Category B Evaluation and Certification
- DepEd Order No. 021, s. 2024, Amendments to DepEd Order No. 007, s. 2023
- DepEd Order No. 007, s. 2023, Guidelines on Recruitment, Selection, and Appointment in the Department of Education
- DepEd Order No. 034, s. 2025, Amendments and Clarifications to DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2025, para. 15
- DepEd Order No. 005, s. 2024, Rationalization of Teachers’ Workload in Public Schools and Payment of Teaching Overload
- Executive Order No. 174, s. 2022, Establishing the Expanded Career Progression System for Public School Teachers, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations
- DepEd-DBM Joint Circular No. 01, s. 2025, Modified Position Classification and Compensation Scheme and System of Career Progression of Teachers and School Heads in the Public Basic Education System
- Republic Act No. 1080, An Act Declaring the Bar and Board Examinations as Civil Service Examinations
Written by Mark Anthony Llego for NASH Reviewer. Sources: DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2025; DepEd Memorandum No. 069, s. 2025; DM-OUHROD-2025-3318 and Annex 1; the FY 2025 NASH Batch 2 application FAQs. NASH Reviewer is not affiliated with DepEd, BHROD, or NEAP.