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Renewal and Reinstatement Information

Alaska certificates that are at least 5 years in duration are renewable certificates. A renewable certificate may be renewed one year prior to its expiration date. A renewable certificate that has been expired for less than one year may be reinstated.

  • Professional Teacher
  • Professional Out-of-State Teacher
  • Master Teacher
  • Administrative Type-B Regular
  • Special Service Providers Type-C Regular
  • Limited Type M: Language & Culture
  • Limited Type M: Military Science
  • Limited Type M: Career Technical
  • Limited Type W: Immersion World Language
Renewal Information

Renewal Requirements

To renew a five-year certificate, applicants must meet the following requirements prior to the expiration date of their certificate:

If required, the fingerprint card to the Teacher Certification office. When mailing items to the Teacher Certification office, we encourage applicants to use a shipping method that will provide them with tracking information.

Renewal Credit

Six renewal credits are required to renew or reinstate a regular five-year certificate. Each of the following equals one renewal credit:

  • One semester hour of credit earned from a regionally or nationally accredited university or college
  • One and a half quarter hours of credit earned from a regionally or nationally accredited university or college
  • One continuing education unit, with a minimum of 15 contact hours, from an approved provider, and
  • 15 hours of non-academic credit (Requires a pre-approval form)

Renewal credits must be:

  • Related to your employment at the time of renewal (if that employment requires a certificate issued by our office).
  • Related to at least one of your endorsement areas, or
  • A required element of a program that will lead to an endorsement that you are actively pursuing.

Renewal Credit Specifications for School Psychologists and Limited Certificates

School Psychologists

As required by 4 AAC 12.405(g), School Psychologists holding a Type C Special Services certificate must accrue 90 contact hours during the life of the certificate they are renewing. In place of the renewal credits, certified School Psychologists must show verification of a minimum of 90 contact hours in assessment, evaluation, intervention, program planning, program development, or staff or program administration through any of the following:

  • Regionally accredited college or university coursework
  • Workshops, seminars, or institutes
  • School district or university-sponsored in-service training programs
  • College training
  • Workshop or seminar teaching

Limited Type M: Language & Culture

In place of the renewal credits, Limited Type M: Language & Culture certificate holders must complete 3 semester hours of credit verified by an official transcript(s) or additional training or work experience beyond district employment

Limited Type M: Military Science

In place of the renewal credits, Limited Type M: Military Science certificate holders must complete 3 semester hours of credit verified by an official transcript(s) or additional training or work experience beyond district employment.

Limited Type M: Career-Technical

In place of the renewal credits, Limited Type M: Career-Technical certificate holders must complete 3 semester hours of credit verified by an official transcript(s) and 135 hours of training or work experience beyond district employment.

Limited Type W: Immersion World Language

In place of the renewal credits, Limited Type W: Immersion World Language certificate holders must submit an updated District Request and Assurance Form showing the educator demonstrated skills in classroom instruction and student assessment.

    Reinstatement Information

    Reinstatement Requirements

    If the expiration date on your five-year certificate has passed, you have entered a 12-month reinstatement period, and you are no longer certified. You may not work in a position requiring a certificate until you have reinstated your certificate. You have exactly 12 months beyond the expiration date on your certificate to submit your application for reinstatement, without having to complete any additional requirements. If your certificate has expired more than 12 months ago, you are no longer in a reinstatement period and are considered an initial application for certification.

    When Teacher Certification receives your completed reinstatement application and all supporting materials, you are certified. Your certificate effective date becomes the date your complete reinstatement application was submitted in TEACH-AK.

    To reinstate a five-year certificate, applicants must meet the following requirements prior to the expiration date of their certificate:

    General Information

    General Information

    Pre-Approval Forms 

    If you believe a college course, continuing education unit or a professional learning opportunity will qualify for non-academic credit, meets one of the requirements listed above, but may not be clear upon submission to the Teacher Certification office, please complete the appropriate form below and email to tcwebmail@alaska.gov for pre-approval. Once approved, you will upload the document to your TEACH-AK application during renewal. 

     

    Pre-Approval Steps: 

    1. Complete the pre-approval form 
    2. Upload the completed form to your TEACH-AK dashboard  
    3. Complete this Pre-Approval Google Form to inform Teacher Certification Office that it is ready for review. 
    4. You will be notified of approval or denial via email and the updated document will be uploaded to your dashboard.
    5. When you are ready to apply for a renewal, you must upload it to the "renewal credit" portion of your application, along with supporting documentation (written component, transcripts, certificate, etc.) 
    6. If you are receiving non-academic credit, please pay through the Online Payment Center prior to submitting your renewal application.

    More information concerning pre-approved non-academic credit and continuing education units is located here. 

     

    Employment Verification 

    If you currently hold Alaska certification and are employed in a certified position in an Alaska Public School District, instead of a fingerprint card, you may submit a photocopy of your contract for the current school year or a letter from the employing school district office to verify your certified employment. 

     

    For renewal or reinstatement during the school year  

    • Submit employment verification for the current school year. 

     

    For renewal or reinstatement during the summer months 

    • Applications submitted prior to July 1st must include employment verification from the previous school year. 
    • Applications submitted after July 1st must include employment verification for the following school year. 

     

    We do not email a copy of your renewed certificate to your school districts. It is the responsibility of the educator to provide the district with a copy of his/her certificate. 

    Renewal requirements are located in 4 AAC 12.405 and 4 AAC 12.410.