Teaching Certificates

INITIAL TWO- OR THREE-YEAR TEACHER CERTIFICATE

The Initial Two-Year 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
• 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
• 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 will be valid for two years and may be extended once at no charge for one-year so long as the extension requirements have been met before 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 certification 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 Three-Year teacher certificate is not renewable.

Next step: Apply for a Professional or Initial Five-Year certificate.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE

A Professional teaching certificate is for applicants who have met all Alaska certification requirements under AS 14.20.020 and 4 AAC 12.305 (b). The Professional 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.)
• 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 teaching certificate will be valid for five years.

Next step: Renew the Professional certificate or apply for a Master Teacher Certificate.

PROFESSIONAL OUT-OF-STATE TEACHER CERTIFICATE

The Out-of-State Professional 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 certificates will not be accepted.
• Submit a resume showing 2 years of teaching experience with the corresponding certificate.
• Submit official transcripts showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university.
• Complete the four Mandatory Trainings and provide verification for at least one of the completed trainings.

The Professional Out-of-State teacher certificate will be valid for two years and may be extended once, at no charge, for an additional three years, provided the extension requirements are met before the certificate's expiration date.

• 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 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 and fees
  • [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 the Out-of-State Professional certificate or apply for a Master Teacher Certificate.

INITIAL FIVE-YEAR TEACHER CERTIFICATE

A Five-Year Initial teaching certificate is for applicants who have previously held an Initial teaching certificate but who have not satisfied the two years of teaching experience requirement for the Professional teaching certificate.

To qualify for an Initial Five-Year teacher certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Hold an Initial Teaching 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
• 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 will be valid for five (5) years and is renewable.

Next step: Renew the five-year Initial certificate or apply for a Professional or Master Teacher Certificate

MASTER TEACHING CERTIFICATE

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

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

• Holds a current Initial or Professional certificate
• Meets all requirements for the Professional 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 certificate is valid for five (5) years and is renewable.

Next step: Renew the five-year Initial certificate or apply for a Professional or Master Teacher Certificate

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

REEMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE

For teachers whose professional or master 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 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 Certificate

• A Reemployment Certificate is non-renewable. After holding a Reemployment certificate, applicants must apply for either a Professional Teacher Certificate or a Second Initial 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 certificate will be the same as those on the expired teacher certificate.
• During the life of the Reemployment certificate, no endorsements may be added or removed.

Next Step: Apply for either a Professional Teacher Certificate or an Initial Five-Year Certificate.