%J Prosiding Seminar Nasional Pengurusan dan Kepimpinan Pendidikan Ke-16 2009 %D 2009 %P 161-169 %L iab_repo129 %K principalship, NPQH, National Professional Qualification for Headship %A Siew Hong Shirley Tan %X This article discusses a personal reflection of my own experiences in assuming the post of a secondary school principal. Reflecting on the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) programme, I evaluate how well-prepared I was for the post of school principal after going through the one-year training. This self reflection is based on the investigation data by Male (2001) who has conducted a national survey on the preparedness or readiness of new Principals after undergoing the NPQH programme in England. I also counter-check my work and actions with the Standards of Principalship Competencies of Malaysian Schools set by Institut Aminuddin Baki (IAB), Ministry of Education, Malaysia. While analysing my own situation, I attribute my readiness on taking up the post as a school principal to a combination of experience and training. Some suggestions are made to further enhance the training for new Principals. %I Institut Aminuddin Baki %T PRINCIPALSHIP - DOES NPQH MAKE A DIFFERENCE? A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND REFLECTION