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Special Services Certificates

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 or Type K Special Services certificate endorsed in the field of employment.

A Special Services certificate does not qualify the holder for assignment as a classroom teacher or school administrator.

The Alaska Teacher Certification office issues five types of special services certificates:

Provisional Special Services Certificate

PROVISIONAL SPECIAL SERVICES CERTIFICATE

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 Type C Special Services certificate, valid for two years.

Next Step: Apply for Regular Special Services certificate

Regular Special Services Certificate

REGULAR SPECIAL SERVICES CERTIFICATE

To qualify for a Regular Special Services certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

The regular Type C Special Services certificate is valid for five (5) years and is renewable.

Next Step: Renew the Regular Special Services certificate

Advanced Special Services Certificate

ADVANCED SPECIAL SERVICES CERTIFICATE

First Advanced Type K Special Services Certificate requirements:

    • Holds a current Regular (5-year) Type C Special Services certificate
    • Holds current National Certification: you must submit a copy of the certificate showing National certification.
    • Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
      • Applicants must provide at least one document of verification for the completed training.
    • Submission of a fingerprint card or employment verification
    • Complete application and fees

The endorsements and expiration date on the Advanced Type K Special Services certificate will be the same as the National certification’s endorsements and expiration date. Endorsements held under the Regular (5-year) Type C Special Service Certificate can be included on the Advanced Type K Special Services certificate.

There is no fee for the Advanced Special Services Certificate unless a fingerprint card is being submitted for the background check. The background check processing fee is $60.00.

Next Step: Renew the Advanced Special Services or return to Regular Special Services certificate by meeting renewal requirements.

Reemployment Special Services Certificate

REEMPLOYMENT SPECIAL SERVICES CERTIFICATE

Applicants who held a Type C certificate that has been expired for over 12 months may be eligible for the Reemployment Certificate. The Reemployment certificate is valid for one year and is not renewable. During the life of the Reemployment certificate, the applicant must complete all current requirements and apply for the regular five-year certificate.

To qualify for a Reemployment Special Services certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

Special Notes about the Reemployment Certificate

  1. 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 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.
  2. The endorsements on the Reemployment certificate will be the same as those on the applicant’s expired administrative or special services certificate.
  3. During the life of the Reemployment certificate no endorsements may be added or removed.

Next Step: Apply for a Regular Special Services certificate 

Type C Endorsement Information

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
  • Library science-media

School Psychology

  • Hold a master’s or higher degree in school psychology
  • Recommendation by an institution whose school psychology program has been approved by NCATE, the National Association of School Psychologists or the American Psychological Association
  • Verification of education or experience by one of the following:
    • Completion of a 1200-hour internship (with 600 of the hours in a school setting)
    • Certification by the National Association of School Psychologists

Speech, Language, or Hearing

  • Verification of education or experience by one of the following:
    • A master’s or higher degree with a major emphasis in speech-language pathology, audiology, or speech-language and hearing science
    • Certification of clinical competence from the American Speech Language-Hearing Association
  • Recommendation 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.