Program Leaders: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of program leaders about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for program leaders to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of program leaders expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for program leaders.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Program Leaders?
Do program leaders need a degree? What kind of experience do program leaders typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for program leaders to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Program Leaders
Jobs Postings for Program Leaders By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 1,179 (40%)
- Master's degree: 680 (23%)
- No Education Listed: 630 (22%)
- High School or GED: 326 (11%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 103 (4%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of program leaders. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 40% of positions. In 23% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 22% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Program Leaders
Jobs Postings for Program Leaders By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 293 (22%)
- 2-3 Years: 603 (45%)
- 4-6 Years: 407 (30%)
- 7-9 Years: 23 (2%)
- 10+ Years: 27 (2%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for program leaders. In 45% of job postings for Program Leaders, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 30% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 22% of job postings for program leaders.
What Kind of Degree Do Program Leaders Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for program leaders, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 21 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective program leaders, and in 2021 a total of 137,654 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective program leaders.
Top Degree Programs for Program Leaders
Top 5 Degree Programs for Program Leaders (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology. | 32,735 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration, General. | 32,685 |
| Sport and Fitness Administration/Management. | 16,842 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General. | 13,892 |
| Educational/Instructional Technology. | 8,686 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology. | 32,735 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration, General. | 32,685 |
| Sport and Fitness Administration/Management. | 16,842 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General. | 13,892 |
| Educational/Instructional Technology. | 8,686 |
| Health and Wellness, General. | 6,105 |
| Nutrition Sciences. | 5,302 |
| Higher Education/Higher Education Administration. | 4,693 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General. | 3,121 |
| Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling. | 2,516 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision, Other. | 2,246 |
| Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision. | 1,727 |
| Physical Fitness Technician. | 1,429 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other. | 1,240 |
| Human Nutrition. | 1,197 |
| Superintendency and Educational System Administration. | 1,107 |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education. | 737 |
| Urban Education and Leadership. | 736 |
| Adult and Continuing Education Administration. | 462 |
| Administration of Special Education. | 186 |
| International School Administration/Leadership. | 10 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Program Leaders
Master the learning theories and models used in PK-12 education settings as a foundation for a variety of education-related careers.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Become a more relevant and responsive leader with a 100% online Ed.D. in PK-12 Leadership from Franklin. This 3-year program will help you become a visionary leader ready to solve the learning, technology and cultural challenges facing PK-12 districts and schools.
- Years To Complete: 3
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
Make a difference for children and families with an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a focus in K-12 Building-Level Leadership. The streamlined, online program, aligned with National Education Leadership Preparation Program standards, can be completed in 12 months.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Satisfy the requirements to sit for Ohio’s principal licensure exam and earn your M.Ed. with Franklin’s 12-month online principal licensure program.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Design, develop and implement effective solutions to develop knowledge and improve performance for learners in a variety of settings.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Program Leaders Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by program leaders to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for program leaders, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Program Leaders
Based on 2,381 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Program Leaders
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 343 | 14% |
| Project Management | 339 | 14% |
| Learning Management Systems | 290 | 12% |
| Data Analysis | 243 | 10% |
| Marketing | 198 | 8% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Program Leaders
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 1,271 | 53% |
| Leadership | 823 | 35% |
| Teaching | 756 | 32% |
| Writing | 667 | 28% |
| Planning | 638 | 27% |
Based on 2,381 job postings related to program leaders, curriculum development was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 14% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, learning management systems, data analysis, marketing and adult education were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for program leaders, followed by leadership, teaching, writing, planning and management.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 343 | 14% |
| Project Management | 339 | 14% |
| Learning Management Systems | 290 | 12% |
| Data Analysis | 243 | 10% |
| Marketing | 198 | 8% |
| Adult Education | 196 | 8% |
| Instructional Design | 169 | 7% |
| Student Services | 159 | 7% |
| Administrative Support | 151 | 6% |
| Data Entry | 141 | 6% |
| Special Education | 129 | 5% |
| Pedagogy | 124 | 5% |
| Distance Learning | 111 | 5% |
| Invoicing | 109 | 5% |
| Instructional Strategies | 105 | 4% |
| Office Equipment | 100 | 4% |
| Course Evaluations | 92 | 4% |
| Google Workspace | 90 | 4% |
| Data Collection | 88 | 4% |
| Zoom (Video Conferencing Tool) | 88 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 1,271 | 53% |
| Leadership | 823 | 35% |
| Teaching | 756 | 32% |
| Writing | 667 | 28% |
| Planning | 638 | 27% |
| Management | 587 | 25% |
| Coordinating | 547 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 526 | 22% |
| Detail Oriented | 509 | 21% |
| Research | 458 | 19% |
| Microsoft Excel | 405 | 17% |
| Operations | 394 | 17% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 383 | 16% |
| Customer Service | 361 | 15% |
| Organizational Skills | 355 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 347 | 15% |
| Coaching | 311 | 13% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 309 | 13% |
| Presentations | 291 | 12% |
| Scheduling | 290 | 12% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about program leaders? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for program leaders.
What do program leaders do?
How much do program leaders make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.