INITIAL TEACHER CERTIFICATION
To qualify for an Initial certificate, an applicant must meet the
following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher
- Completion of a teacher preparation program
OR
- Current enrollment in a teacher preparation program (Program
must be
completed within two (2) years of the issuance of the Initial certificate)
NOTE: Program enrollment cannot be used for individuals enrolled
in
special education programs. Those individuals
must
complete their program prior to applying for the Initial certificate.
- Passing on an approved basic competency exam
- Fingerprint cards submitted with application for background check
- Complete application and fees (All fees are non-refundable.)
A one-year teaching certificate may be issued for applicants
who have not yet met the testing requirement, but hold a current,
valid teaching certificate in another state. E-mail Teacher
Certification at for
details and further qualifications for this certificate.
The Initial Certificate is valid for three (3) years
and is NON-RENEWABLE. Although the Initial Certificate is valid
for a period of up to three years, you are required to:
- Under AS 14.20.020 (h) to complete the Alaska studies and Alaska multicultural requirement within two (2) years from the issuance of your Initial Certificate.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY TRANSCRIPTS BE SENT DIRECTLY TO TEACHER CERTIFICATION.
PROFESSIONAL TEACHER CERTIFICATION
To qualify for a Professional certificate, an applicant must meet
the following requirements:
- Held an Initial Tier I certificate
- Completion of a teacher preparation program
- Approved coursework
- Approved coursework
- Recency credit (six semester hours of credit in the previous
five years)
- Passing scores on a
- Verification of current employment in an Alaska public school district in a position requiring a certificate or fingerprint card submitted with application
- Complete application and fees (All fees are non-refundable.)
The Professional certificate is valid for five (5) years and is renewable. To renew a Professional certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
- Recency credit (six semester hours of credit taken during the life of the Professional certificate being renewed. A minimum of three semester hours must be upper division or graduate credit.)
- Verification of current employment in an Alaska public school district in a position requiring a certificate. If an applicant is not employed in this capacity at the time of renewal, fingerprint cards will be required.
- Complete application and fees
MASTER TEACHER CERTIFICATION
To qualify for a Master certificate, an applicant must meet the following
requirements:
- Meet all requirements for the certificate
- Hold a current Initial or Professional certificate
- Hold current National Board certification issued by NBPTS
- Complete application and fees
The Master certificate is valid for ten (10) years and is renewable. To renew a Master certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
- Current, renewed National Board certification
- Recency credit (Six semester hours of credit taken during the life of the Professional certificate being renewed. A minimum of three semester hours must be upper division or graduate credit.)
- Verification of employment in an Alaska public school district in a position requiring a certificate. If an applicant is not employed in this capacity at the time of renewal, fingerprint cards will be required.
- Complete application and fees (All fees are non-refundable.)
If the requirements to renew a Master certificate have not been met, an applicant must meet all current renewal requirements for the certificate.
Special Education
If you wish to teach special education to children with disabilities, you must, in addition to meeting other requirements for teacher certification, secure an endorsement based upon completion of an approved teacher training program in special education.
Preschool Handicapped
If you wish to teach preschool handicapped children and are not eligible for an endorsement in preschool handicapped education, you must have completed at least six (6) semester hours in early childhood special education in addition to a teaching certificate. (This does not constitute an endorsement.)
Gifted
If you wish to teach gifted children, you must, in addition to meeting requirements for teacher certification, have completed at least six (6) semester hours in gifted education. (This does not constitute an endorsement.)
Vocational Education
If you wish to teach vocational trades, you must have an endorsement in vocational education or a Type M Limited Certificate.
TYPE B ADMINISTRATIVE CERTIFICATE
What do I need to receive a five-year Type B Administrative Certificate?
- At least three (3) years experience as a certificated teacher
- Completion of an approved teacher education program in school administration
- Master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
- Recommendation of the preparing institution
- Six (6) semester hours or nine quarter hours of credit earned during the five-year period preceding the date of application (See below.)
- Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska studies and three semester hours of approved multicultural education/cross-cultural communications (See below.)
- Complete application packet, which includes a signed and notarized application, the institutional recommendation form, official transcripts, two sets of completed fingerprint cards, and all processing fees (All fees are non-refundable.)
Applicants meeting all other requirements for certification, but who lack six (6) semester hours of credit earned during the five-year period preceding the date of application, may apply for a non-renewable Temporary Certificate, valid for one year.
Applicants meeting all other requirements for certification, but who lack three (3) semester hours of credit in Alaska studies and/or three (3) semester hours of credit in multicultural education or cross-cultural communications, may apply for a non-renewable Provisional Certificate, valid for two years.
The list of approved courses which meet the Alaska Studies and Multicultural
Education/Cross-Cultural Communications requirements is available at
Superintendent
Superintendent endorsements require a completed Institutional Recommendation showing completion of an approved superintendency program from a regionally accredited university and verification of at least five years of employment as a classroom teacher or administrator. (At least three years must have been satisfactory employment as a teacher with a teaching certificate or comparable certificate issued by another state. At least one year must have been satisfactory employment as an administrator with a Type B certificate or comparable certificate from another state.)
Special Education Administrator
Special education administrator endorsements require a completed Institutional Recommendation showing completion of an approved special education administrative program from a regionally accredited university and verification of at least three years of employment as a certified special education teacher or school psychologist, with a teaching or special services certificate or comparable certificate issued by another state.
Please note: To be assigned as a classroom teacher in Alaska, you must have a valid teacher certificate. The Type B does not allow the holder to be a classroom teacher.
If you currently hold a valid Alaska teaching certificate and are applying for a Type B certificate, you are considered an initial applicant for the Type B.
TYPE C SPECIAL SERVICES CERTIFICATE
What do I need to receive a five-year Type C Special Services Certificate?
- Completion of a program in a special service area
- Bachelor’s or higher degree
- Recommendation of the preparing institution
- Six semester hours or nine (9) quarter hours of credit taken within the past five years
- Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska studies and three (3) semester hours of multicultural education/cross-cultural communications
- Complete application packet, which includes a signed and notarized application, an institutional recommendation form, official transcripts, two sets of completed fingerprint cards, and all fees. (All fees are non-refundable.)
Applicants who do not meet the requirements of six (6) semester hours of credit earned in the prior five years, but who meet other requirements, may be eligible to apply for a Temporary Certificate valid for one year.
Applicants meeting all other requirements for certification, but who lack three (3) semester hours of credit in Alaska studies and three (3) semester hours of credit in multicultural education or cross-cultural communications, may apply for a Provisional Certificate.
Endorsements under a Type C certificate include audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, school nursing, school psychology, school psychometry, school social work, speech pathology, school counselor, and library science-media.
School Psychology
For an endorsement in school psychology, you must also hold a master’s
or higher degree in school psychology; be recommended by an institution whose
school psychology program has been approved by NCATE, the National Association
of School Psychologists, or the American Psychological Association; and have
completed a 1200 hour internship (with 600 of the hours in a school setting);
or be certified under the certification system of the National Association
of School Psychologists.
Speech, Language, or Hearing
For endorsement in speech, language, or hearing, you must hold either a master’s or higher degree with a major emphasis in speech-language pathology, audiology, or speech-language and hearing science; or possess certification of clinical competence from the American Speech Language-Hearing Association. In addition, you must be recommended for endorsement by an institution with a program approved by NCATE or the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Other
If you wish to be employed to provide such services as speech or language pathology, school psychology, school counseling, orientation and mobility, psychometry, library and/or media services, or school nursing, you must have a Type C Special Services Certificate endorsed in the field of employment.
Please note: A Type C certificate does not qualify the holder for assignment as a classroom teacher or school administrator.
REEMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE - TYPE B
AND C
Applicants who held a certificate that has been expired for over 12 months may be eligible for the Reemployment Certificate. The Reemployment Certificate is valid for one year, effective the date the complete application packet is received in the office of Teacher Education and Certification and is not renewable. During this year, the applicant shall complete all current requirements for the Regular five-year certificate and submit an application. Click below to review the requirements for Regular certification.
Special Notes About the Reemployment Certificate:
- A Reemployment Certificate is non-renewable. After holding a Reemployment certificate, applicants are only eligible to apply for the Regular five-year certificate, and will not qualify for Temporary or Provisional certification. Before applying for the Regular five-year certificate, applicants must meet all current requirements for certification. It is the responsibility of the applicant to know what all current certification requirements are.
- The endorsements on the Reemployment certificate will be the same as those on my expired administrative or special services certificate.
- During the life of the Reemployment certificate no endorsements may be added or removed.
RETIRED (LIFETIME) CERTIFICATE
Do I qualify for a Retired certificate?
Anyone who retired from teaching while holding a valid Alaska teaching certificate will qualify to apply for the Retired certificate. You are not required to hold a current Alaska teaching certificate in order to be eligible for the Retired certificate. To verify the effective dates of your Alaska certificate, e-mail .
How many university credits do I need to have in order to apply
for the Retired Certificate?
None. You will not need to show completion of any course work in order to
apply for the Retired certificate.
How long is the certificate valid?
The Retired certificate is a lifetime certificate.
What forms do I need to apply for the Retired Certificate?
To apply for the Retired certificate, you will need the Retired Certification application. To download the correct application forms, visit the Teacher Certification website at
Will I need to be fingerprinted?
A background clearance is required of all Retired certification applicants who have not previously passed a criminal background check with EED for teacher certification. E-mail and a certification analyst will review your file to determine if fingerprint cards will need to be submitted with your application.
What do I need to submit to EED in my application packet?
All application packets for Retired certification must include the following items:
- Retired Certification application
- Certificate fee of $165 (All fees are non-refundable.)
- 2 fingerprint cards (if necessary)
- Fingerprint processing fee of $66 (if necessary)
What does the Retired Certificate allow me to do?
The Retired certificate will allow you to accept short-term substituting positions (any position up to 19 days in length) with an Alaska public school district. While holding the Retired certificate you are eligible to be paid at a certified rate.
Does the Retired Certificate pose any restrictions?
While holding a Retired certificate you may not be in a contracted position requiring a certificate in an Alaska public school district. You are specifically limited to short-term substituting positions and may not accept any long-term positions 20 days or greater in length.
TYPE E EARLY CHILDHOOD CERTIFICATE
What is an associate certificate in early childhood education?
The Early Childhood Education certificate is a renewable five-year certificate for those who help in preschools or as instructional aides in public school primary classes. It does not allow the holder to be a regular classroom teacher.
What do I need to receive a Type E associate certificate in early childhood education?
- For an Associate I, you'll need either a Childhood Development Associate (CDA) award or the completion of a 30-credit college program that includes at least 400 hours of supervised practice.
- For an Associate II, you'll need an Associate I plus an approved associate degree (AA) program in early childhood education.
TYPE M LIMITED CERTIFICATE
Who qualifies for a Limited Certificate?
If you can demonstrate subject matter expertise and teaching competency as verified by the local school district, but do not have a bachelor’s degree because such a program is not sufficiently available, you may be eligible for a Limited Certificate in one of these specialty areas:
- Alaska Native language or culture
- military science
- vocational or technical course.
The Limited Certificate must be requested by the local school board, through its chief school administrator. The request must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation verifying the applicant’s length of experience and competency in the specialty field.
Please note: A Limited Certificate is valid only in the requesting district. The holder of a Limited Certificate may teach only in the area(s) of endorsement, as indicated on the Limited Certificate.
Alaska Native Language or Culture
For a Limited Certificate in Alaska Native language or culture, you must submit a resume demonstrating competency in an Alaska Native language or a minimum of four year’s experience involving an Alaska Native culture, as determined by the school district.
Military Science
For a Limited Certificate in military science, you must meet the criteria of the United States Department of Defense to be a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor, as verified by the local school district. In addition, you must submit a resume demonstrating competency in the military science area.
Vocational/Technical
For a Limited Certificate in a vocational trade or technical specialty, you must have completed four (4) or more years of full-time work experience in a trade or vocational pursuit, no more than two (2) years of which is formal training in a trade school or technical institute.
LIMITED TYPE I CERTIFICATE FOR
INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES
What is the Limited Certificate for Instruction Aides (Type I)?
This certificate is designed to assist experienced instructional aides nominated by their school districts in completing the statutory requirements for full teacher certification. The certificate coordinates the efforts of the applicant, the nominating district, and an approved teacher preparation program toward the applicant's completion of a baccalaureate degree, an approved teacher preparation program, and passage of the Praxis I examination within a four-year time frame beginning with the 2004-2005 school year.
If your meet the following requirements, you are eligible for a Limited Type I certificate:
- nomination by your current employing school district;
- at least three (3) years of successful employment there as an instructional aide;
- expertise in the local Alaska Native culture;
- enrollment in a college or university program leading to a bachelor's degree, the completion of an approved teacher preparation program, and passing scores on the Praxis I teacher tests; and
- a contract among you, your district, and your college or university, outlining annual milestones for you and support from the district and institution.
A Type I certificate is valid for one school year and may be renewed up to three times. The department will base its renewal determination on its review of documentation establishing the parties’ full conformance with the contract terms.
An application packet for a Type I certificate requires:
- a completed application form signed by the superintendent of the nominating district;
- a contract detailing the education plan with annual milestones signed by you, the superintendent of your school district, and your approved teacher preparation program’s certifying official;
- Proof of Program Enrollment form signed by the college or university;
- Official transcripts;
- a resume verified by the school district and demonstrating at least four (4) years of experience involving the local Alaska Native culture and at least three (3) years as an instructional aide in the district;
- two letters of recommendation from member of the local Native community attesting to cultural expertise;
- two completed FBI fingerprint cards; and
- the fees for the certificate and required fingerprint processing.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks' Rural Educator Preparation Partnership (REPP) and Alaska Pacific University's Rural Alaska Native Adult (RANA) programs are currently working with school districts to help prepare local residents for teaching careers.
The addition of this certificate meets the board's desire to promote the development of more "home grown" teachers. It will benefit students by giving them teachers with a deep understanding of the cultural heritage of Alaska Native students. It will benefit schools and districts both with better stability in classrooms through local hire and with the new teachers' local knowledge to assist their less culturally experienced colleagues. It will benefit communities economically by allowing members to bootstrap themselves up the professional ladder and educationally by offering the most appropriate educational opportunities to children. And it will benefit individuals by allowing them the opportunity to pursue their professional goals without sacrificing their culture.