From my experience each state has their own way of operating educational programs that lead to certification. I live in HI and it's downright confusing. I'm trying to navigate through it though.

I am  looking into online programs for teaching. I live in NY and I would like to become a NYC elementary school principal. I have my Bachelor's degree and I'm currently searching for the right masters or certificate to get me into Education Administration however it is very confusing. It is not clear on whether I need to become a certified teacher first and teach for some time before I get a masters in education administration. I am very confused and would appreciate any information anyone can provide me with. Thank you!

Hi Jojo!  Thanks for contributing. There are a few things to consider in your case.  Firstly, the New York State Education Department has a "Search Certification Requirements" feature that allows you to select your area of interest, grade level, desired title, etc.  (You may have already tried this.)  When I entered your criteria, based on the info you posted, the screen produced 2 possible pathways: Approved Teacher Prep Program and Certificate Progression.  From there, I agree, things got confusing.  I wasn't sure about some of the terminology, but both pathways required a master's degree.  The other criteria - including 2 years of paid, full-time experience as a school administrator - appear to be items you would tackle after finishing your master's program (because you can't get hired, even provisionally, as a school administrator without a relevant degree).  So for now, the real questions are: how do you find an acceptable Master's program, and how do you get accepted?  In doing some initial research, it looks likes most master's programs of this kind are geared towards seasoned teachers.  Some programs explicitly require teaching experience, and others "give preference to" teachers who've been teaching for x amount of years.  You may want to isolate your ideal program first (for instance, are you planning to study online?), then work towards meeting the admissions requirements.  If you find a program that's willing to accept you, you should also make sure the program is approved for teacher licensure in the state where it is based.  If it's based outside of NY, I would call the NYSED just to be sure they will recognize the degree when you apply for your initial license. They can be reached at (518) 474-3901.  It may turn out that need to get certified as a teacher first, so you can earn some teaching experience, then get accepted into a School Administration/Leadership master's program.  Does this help?  Does anyone else have insight to add?