Education graduate programs include obtaining an education masters degree, an education doctorate degree, a post undergraduate education certification, a post-masters education certification, or a post-doctorate education certification. The certification programs generally take less time to complete then a master's degree or a doctorate degree. For those with a bachelor's degree already, many utilize a post bachelor education certification to obtain their teaching license, so they can teach public school. For those seeking to obtain an education post-masters certification, the most common reasons are to become school administrators in elementary schools, middle and high schools, and post secondary educational institutions like vocal training centers, colleges, and universities.

When it comes to obtaining an education masters degree, many school teachers do this to increase their skill base and their yearly salaries. A master's degree will generally take at least 2 years to obtain or longer. For those seeking to become a school principal or counselor, a master's degree in education is generally required. Many education masters programs also allow students to specialize in a particular area of education like reading, bilingual education, school administration, distance education, curriculum and instruction, technology education, and many others.

Some school principals and those involved with administration at colleges and universities often seek to also get their doctorate degree in education. Most college professors that teach in an education program will have their doctorate degree in education or a similar field. A doctorate degree is usually obtained after a master's degree and can require at least 2 years of full-time study plus a doctoral dissertation or research project, very time intensive activities.

Earning Potential with Education Graduate Programs

Individuals greatly increase their earning power by graduating from an education graduate program. For example, teachers who obtain a masters degree on average make over $51,000 annually, rather than $44,000 for those who don't have a master's degree, according to Top Education Degrees. Another common profession for those with education graduate degrees is to become a school principal. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2008, school principals had average salaries of around $85,000 for elementary school principals, $91,000 annually for middle school principals, and $97,000 annually for high school principals.