Prompted by the national educational reform movement, a Kentucky committee, mandated by the general assembly, called in 1983 for changes in the preparation and certification of school administrators. This study presents a background of the mandates, details of the certification changes, the board of education's study of administrative preparation and certification, and an advisory committee's recommendations for program implementation. Investigative committees in Kentucky responded to the 1983 "Nation at Risk" report by requesting changes which featured completion of a 1-year internship for evaluation during the first year of administrative employment and a testing program to ensure acceptable levels of communication skills, general knowledge, and professional education concepts. Changes included a two-level post-master's program for principals, supervisors, and superintendents that contains one generic instructional leadership core for all three positions. This core is designed around those competencies that practitioners considered critical in their role. The paper presents an outline of curriculum standards for principals, supervisors, and superintendents, including conditions under which endorsements from one level to another are allowed as well as renewal requirements for certificates. A committee of educators, meeting in 1986, is preparing regulations to implement the testing/internship program, with a target completion date of July 1987. (CJH)