Teacher Certificates

INITIAL TWO YEAR OR THREE YEAR TEACHER CERTIFICATE

The Initial Two Year Teacher Certificate is for all applicants who have completed a teacher preparation program and are new to the teaching profession. If you have taught for less than two years, you are considered new to the profession in Alaska.

To qualify for an Initial Two Year Teacher Certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Official transcripts showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university. A credential evaluation report is required for college-level coursework that has been completed outside of the United States.
• Verification of passing scores on an approved basic competency exam
• Verification of passing scores on an approved content area exam
• Completion of a teacher preparation program as verified by State Approved Program Verification Form for Teachers or a credential evaluation report if the program was completed outside of the United States.
• The Alaska Reads Act K-3 Teacher endorsement is required for a teacher to teach grades K-3
• Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
  • Applicants must provide at least one document of verification for the completed training.
• Submission of a fingerprint card
• Complete application and fees
  • [TEACH-AK User Guide]

An Initial Two Year Teacher Certificate is valid for two (2) years and may be extended once (at no charge) for one (1) year, so long as the extension requirements are met prior to the expiration date of the Initial Two Year Teacher Certificate.

For the one year extension, the certificate holder must submit:

• Official transcripts showing completion of:
  • Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska studies coursework
  • Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska multicultural coursework
• Complete application
  • [TEACH-AK User Guide]

An applicant who has satisfied the requirements for Initial Two Year Teacher Certificate, as well as the Alaska studies and Alaska multicultural coursework requirements at the time of application, will be issued an Initial Three Year Teacher Certificate.

An Initial Two Year or Three Year Teacher Certificate is not renewable.

Next Step: Apply for a Professional Teacher Certificate or an Initial Five Year Teacher Certificate (only if you cannot meet the requirements for a Professional Teacher Certificate).

PROFESSIONAL TEACHER CERTIFICATE

A Professional Teacher Certificate is for applicants who have met all Alaska certification requirements under AS 14.20.020 and 4 AAC 12.305(b). The Professional Teacher Certificate is Alaska’s regular certificate, previously called a Type A.

To qualify for a Professional Teacher Certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Documentation of two years of teaching experience while holding a valid teacher certificate as evidenced by both:
  • Resume showing two years of teaching experience
  • Copy of most recent evaluation
• Passing scores on an approved basic competency exam (BCE)
• Passing scores on an approved content area exam
• Completion of a teacher preparation program as verified by a State Approved Program Verification Form for Teachers
• Submission of official transcripts showing:
  • Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska Studies coursework
  • Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska Multicultural coursework
  • Completion of 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours of credit from a regionally accredited college or university in the five years prior to the date of the application. (The approved Alaska Studies and Alaska multicultural coursework can satisfy this requirement if completed in the five years prior to the date of this application.)
• The Alaska Reads Act K-3 Teacher endorsement is required for teacher who teach grades K-3
• Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
  • Applicants must provide at least one document of verification for the completed trainings.  
• Submission of a fingerprint card
• Complete application and fees
  • [TEACH-AK User Guide]

A Professional Teacher Certificate is valid for five (5) years and is renewable.

Next Step: Renew a Professional Teacher Certificate or apply for a Master Teacher Certificate.

PROFESSIONAL OUT-OF-STATE TEACHER CERTIFICATE

The Professional Out-of-State Teacher Certificate is for applicants who have completed a state-approved teacher preparation program from a regionally accredited college or university.

The Professional Out-of-State Teacher Certificate is for educators currently certified in another state under a regular certificate and who wish to teach in Alaska. To qualify for this certificate, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Provide a current, valid, out-of-state, regular teacher certificate.
  • Out-of-country teacher certificates will not be accepted.
  • Applicants must have 2 years of teaching experience under the corresponding teacher certificate
• Submit official transcripts showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university.
• The Alaska Reads Act K-3 Teacher endorsement is required for a teacher to teach grades K-3
• Complete the four Mandatory Trainings and provide verification for at least one of the completed trainings.
• Complete application and fees

The Professional Out-of-State teacher certificate is valid for two (2) years and may be extended once (at no charge) for an additional three (3) years, so long as the extension requirements are met prior to the certificate's expiration date.  It is also renewable.

• For the three-year extension, official transcripts must be received by the Teacher Certification office before the expiration date of the Professional Out-of-State Teacher Certificate. These transcripts must show completion of:

  • Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska Studies coursework.
  • Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska Multicultural coursework.
• Complete application
  • [TEACH-AK User Guide]

Endorsements on a Professional Out-of-State Teacher Certificate will reflect those on the applicant’s out-of-state certificate. If the applicant holds more than one valid out-of-state certificate, they must choose which certificate to submit with the initial application.

Next Step: Renew a Professional Out-of-State Teacher Certificate or apply for a Master Teacher Certificate.

MASTER TEACHER CERTIFICATE

The Master Teacher Certificate is for teachers who hold national board certification.

To qualify for a Master Teacher Certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Holds a current Initial Teacher Certificate or Professional Teacher Certificate
• Meets all requirements for the Professional Teacher Certificate
• Holds current National Board certification issued by NBPTS
• Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
  • Applicants must provide at least one document of verification for the completed trainings.  
• Submission of a fingerprint card
• Complete application and fees
  • [TEACH-AK User Guide]

The Master Teacher Certificate is valid for five (5) years and is renewable.

Next Step: Renew a Master Teacher Certificate or apply for a Professional Teacher Certificate

If the requirements to renew a Master Teacher Certificate have not been met, an applicant must meet all current renewal requirements for the Professional Teacher Certificate.

REEMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE

For teachers whose Professional Teacher Certificate or Master Teacher Certificate expired more than one year ago.

To qualify for a Reemployment Teacher Certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Does not meet the qualifications for the Professional Teacher Certificate.
• Has held an Alaska Teacher Certificate that:
  • Was valid for at least 2 years.
  • Has been expired for over one year.
• Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
  • Applicants must provide at least one document of verification for the completed training.
• Submission of a fingerprint card
• Complete application and fees
  • [TEACH-AK User Guide]

Special Notes about the Reemployment Teacher Certificate

• A Reemployment Teacher Certificate is non-renewable. After holding a Reemployment Teacher Certificate, applicants must apply for either a Professional Teacher Certificate or a Second Initial Teacher Certificate if they do not meet the Professional Teacher Certificate Requirements. It is the responsibility of the applicant to know what all current certification requirements are.
• The endorsements on the Reemployment Teacher Certificate will be the same as those on the expired teacher certificate.
• During the life of the Reemployment Teacher Certificate, no endorsements may be added or removed.

Next Step: Apply for a Professional Teacher Certificate or apply for an Initial Five-Year Teacher Certificate (if you cannot meet the requirements for a Professional Teacher Certificate).

INITIAL FIVE YEAR TEACHER CERTIFICATE

The Initial Five Year Teacher Certificate is ONLY FOR applicants who have previously held an Initial Two Year or Three Year Teacher Certificate, but who have not satisfied the two years of teaching experience requirement for the Professional Teacher Certificate.

To qualify for an Initial Five Year Teacher Certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Hold an Initial Two Year or Three Year Teacher Certificate
• Verification of passing scores on an approved basic competency exam
• Verification of passing scores on an approved content area exam
• Completion of a teacher preparation program as verified by a State Approved Program Verification Form for Teachers
• The Alaska Reads Act K-3 Teacher endorsement is required for teacher who teach grades K-3
• Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
  • Applicants must provide at least one document of verification for the completed training.
• Submission of official transcripts showing:
  • Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska studies coursework
  • Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska multicultural coursework
  • Completion of 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours of credit from a regionally accredited college or university in the five years prior to the date of the application. (The approved Alaska Studies and Alaska multicultural coursework can satisfy this requirement if completed in the five years prior to the date of this application).
• Submission of a fingerprint card
• Complete application and fees
  • [TEACH-AK User Guide]

An Initial Five-Year Teacher Certificate is valid for five (5) years and is renewable.

Next Step: Apply for a Professional Teacher Certificate or apply for a Master Teacher Certificate or renew an Initial Five-Year Teacher Certificate (only if you cannot meet the requirements for a Professional or Master Teacher Certificate).