Navigating Alaska's Education Job Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

Alaska offers unique opportunities for educators seeking rewarding careers in diverse settings, from urban centers to remote villages. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the requirements for various education jobs in Alaska, including certification, endorsements, and other essential qualifications.

Understanding Alaska Teacher Certification

To teach in Alaska's public schools, you must obtain a teaching certificate issued by the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (EED). The certification process ensures that educators meet the state's standards for knowledge, skills, and professional conduct.

Types of Teacher Certificates

Alaska offers several types of teaching certificates, each with specific requirements:

Initial Teacher Certificate: This certificate is designed for applicants new to the teaching profession in Alaska. There are several types of initial certificates.
- Initial Two-Year Teacher Certificate: This certificate is for applicants who have completed a teacher preparation program and are new to the teaching profession. All applicants who have less than two years of teaching experience must apply for this certificate. This credential is nonrenewable.
  
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- Initial Five-Year Teacher Certificate: This 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.
- Initial/Out-of-State Certificate: This certificate is granted to certification applicants who hold a current, valid teaching certificate from another state but have never held an Alaska teaching certificate. Endorsements placed on this certificate reflect the endorsements earned in the teacher’s home state. The certificate is valid for one year but may be extended twice, for two one-year extensions. With the Initial/Out-of-State certificate, a teacher has one year to complete coursework requirements for three semester hours in Alaska studies and three semester hours in Alaska multicultural education. Before applying for a Professional Teacher certificate, out-of-state teachers also must complete the four mandatory training modules. Teachers also must have two years of employment and have completed at least six semester hours of college credit within the five years preceding the application for a Professional Teacher certificate.
- Initial/Program Enrollment certificate: The Initial/Program Enrollment certificate is offered to candidates who are enrolled in a teacher preparation program and are within two years of graduation.
- Initial/Reemployment certificate: The Initial/Reemployment certificate is for candidates who had a previous Alaska teaching certificate that expired. 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. A Reemployment Teacher Certificate is non-renewable.
Professional Teacher Certificate: This is a five-year, renewable certificate for applicants who have met all Alaska certification requirements under AS 14.20.020 and 4 AAC 12.305(b). To advance from the Initial to the Professional Certificate, you must teach for at least two years, complete a teacher preparation program, and take required courses.

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Professional Out-of-State Teacher Certificate: This certificate is for educators currently certified in another state under a regular certificate and who wish to teach in Alaska. A regular teacher certificate is a renewable teaching license, issued by another state or jurisdiction, that requires at least a bachelor’s degree and the completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program, including a student teaching or clinical experience. A regular teacher certificate does not include a restricted, limited, probationary, provisional, emergency, substitute, student teaching, or temporary certificate. 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. Endorsements on a Professional Out-of-State Teacher Certificate will reflect those on the applicant’s out-of-state certificate.
Type M Limited Certificate: The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development offers a Type M Limited Certificate to those who do not have a bachelor’s degree, but who can demonstrate subject matter expertise and teaching competency as verified by the local school district. This limited certificate applies to the specialty areas of Alaska Native language or culture, military science, and vocational or technical.
Limited Type 1 Certificate for Instructional Aides: This certificate helps experienced instructional aides complete the requirements necessary for teacher certification. Qualifications include nomination by a school district, at least three years of successful employment there as an instructional aide, local Alaska native culture expertise, enrollment in a teacher preparation program and passing scores on the Praxis I tests.
Type E Early Childhood Education certificate: A Type E Early Childhood Education certificate is a renewable five-year certificate for individuals who are not teachers, but assist in preschools or as instructional aides in public school primary classrooms. Requirements include a Child Development Associate award or the completion of a 30-credit college program that includes at least 400 hours of supervised practice.
Type B Administrative certificate: You can qualify for a renewable, five-year Type B Administrative certificate with a minimum of three years’ experience as a certified teacher or special service provider. In addition, your credentials must include completion of an approved teacher education program in school administration, a master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution, and a recommendation from that institution. With appropriate qualifications, you can add one or more of the following endorsements to a Type B Administrative certificate: Administrator/Principal, Superintendent Endorsement, Special Educator Administrator Endorsement or Director of Special Education Endorsement.

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General Requirements for Teacher Certification

To qualify for any teaching certificate in Alaska, you must generally meet the following requirements:

Bachelor's Degree: Hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association or approved by the education commissioner.
Teacher Preparation Program: Complete a teacher preparation program approved by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (EED). Some teacher preparation programs are offered as part of a bachelor’s degree. Teacher education programs generally consist of two elements-curricula and fieldwork. Curricula generally include instruction on teaching fundamental skills, pedagogy (the science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design, and implement learning experiences in their field of study. Fieldwork often includes field observations, internships, student teaching, or a combination of all three. All candidates for an Initial certificate must complete an educational preparation program and a clinical experience. In many cases, the clinical experience is coordinated as part of the educational preparation program.
Basic Competency Exams: Pass an approved basic competency exam in reading, writing, and mathematics. To apply for certification, you also must meet established minimum scores in at least one of the approved basic competency exams in reading, writing and mathematics. An important requirement for teacher certification is passing the Alaska certification exams. All candidates for an Initial teacher certificate must pass a Praxis core competency exam. Alaska accepts a wide range of exams to fulfill this requirement, including Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CASE), SATs or ACTs. It is likely that you will have to complete at least one of these tests prior to enrollment in a teacher preparation program.
Content Area Exams: After completion of your educational requirements, you will have to pass content level exams administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) for every endorsement or specialty area in which you apply for certification. For a Professional Certificate, you must also pass a Praxis II Content Area Exam or a content exam from another state.
Mandatory Training Modules: Complete mandatory training modules in four key areas within five years prior to your application. These areas of study include: sexual abuse awareness and prevention; alcohol or drug-related disabilities; dating violence awareness and prevention; and suicide awareness and prevention.
Alaska Studies and Multicultural Coursework: Candidates for teacher certification also are required to complete three semester hours in Alaska studies coursework and three semester hours of approved Alaska multicultural coursework. However, the requirements for Alaska studies and multicultural coursework can be completed after earning an Initial teacher certificate, as long as they are finished within two years of the certificate’s award.
Student Teaching Authorization: Before you begin a student teaching position in Alaska, you will have to secure a Student Teaching Authorization from the Department of Education and Early Development. To qualify for this authorization, you must be enrolled in a state-approved program. Even though you may be participating in a clinical experience as a requirement of your educator preparation program, you will need this authorization. In addition, you must have passed an approved basic competency exam. It’s important to know that you must make your application no earlier than 12 months preceding your clinical experience.
Completion of 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours of credit: 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.

Application Process

To apply for teacher certification in Alaska, you must submit the following:

Official transcripts from the colleges and universities where you earned degrees and/or completed educator preparation programs. If any college-level coursework has been completed outside of the United States, a completed, original foreign evaluation must be submitted with the application.
Official scores demonstrating that you passed an approved basic competency exam and a content exam for any endorsements you are requesting.
A state-approved program verification form, including a seal or stamp of the institution, indicating your completion of an educator preparation program.
A notarized application as proof of your signature.
A nonrefundable application fee.
A fingerprint card.

Teacher Certification by Endorsement

With completion of the required criteria, you can apply to earn specialty certifications in one or more of several concentrations. In some cases, subject endorsements can be added with a doctoral, master’s or bachelor’s degree consisting of at least 18 semester hours in the endorsement area requested. Or, individuals who have at least two years of teaching experience in a subject matter and passing scores on the related content area exam may add endorsements if their specialty matches an existing official endorsement area.

Specific Endorsements

Secondary Education (Grades 9-12): Individuals seeking certification as a secondary school teacher in Alaska should pursue a grade level endorsement for grades 9-12. There is no endorsement called Secondary Education. To earn the grade 9-12 endorsement, you must complete an approved teacher preparation or Secondary School program and pass a related Secondary School Praxis II exam.
Physical Education: Teachers in Alaska can earn one or more of several endorsements in physical education. They include: Coaching, Health, Health Education, Kinesiology and Physical Education. Or, a Physical Education endorsement can be added if you have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher, with a minimum of 18 semester hours in Physical Education.
Special Education: Alaska offers 12 different endorsements in special education. To earn this endorsement, you must finish an approved teacher preparation program in special education. If your goal is to teach preschool children, you must have completed at least six semester hours in early childhood special education and hold a teaching certificate with a special education endorsement.
English as a Second Language (ESL): English as a Second Language (ESL) certification is awarded as an endorsement to a Teacher certificate. Candidates must be graduates of an approved teacher preparation program and pass the Praxis II content exam in this area. This endorsement also can be requested by candidates who have a bachelor’s level degree or above, which included at least 18 semester hours in ESL studies.

Substitute Teaching

There is no specific certification for substitute teachers in Alaska. A substitute teacher employed for a long-term position that will last more than 20 days needs a valid Alaska teaching certificate at the time of hire. For teaching assignments lasting fewer than 20 days, school districts can hire substitute teachers who do not possess a teaching certificate if they give notification to the Alaska EED by August 31 of the school year.

Interstate Reciprocity

Teachers applying for certification in Alaska who possess a valid teacher certification from another state may benefit from teaching reciprocity agreements. Alaska does not grant full reciprocity, but has a special certification for candidates with valid out-of-state credentials. An Initial/Out-of-State certificate is granted to certification applicants who hold a current, valid teaching certificate from another state but have never held an Alaska teaching certificate. Endorsements placed on this certificate reflect the endorsements earned in the teacher’s home state. The certificate is valid for one year, but may be extended twice, for two one-year extensions. With the Initial/Out-of-State certificate, a teacher has one year to complete coursework requirements for three semester hours in Alaska studies and three semester hours in Alaska multicultural education. Before applying for a Professional Teacher certificate, out-of-state teachers also must complete the four mandatory training modules. Teachers also must have two years of employment and have completed at least six semester hours of college credit within the five years preceding the application for a Professional Teacher certificate.

Opportunities for International Teachers

Alaska school districts actively recruit international teachers-especially in high‑need areas. The H‑1B visa is a work visa for specialty occupations, teaching included. Once a district offers you a position, AERRC works with immigration attorneys to submit your petition to USCIS. You’ll travel once your H‑1B petition is approved and your visa is granted. Typically, the H‑1B visa is issued for three years, renewable up to a total of six years.

Important Considerations for International Teachers:

Praxis Exams: If you’ve already passed the required Basic Competency Exam and the necessary Content Area Exam in your subject area before arriving, you’re considered more employable.
Social Security Number: Use 999‑99‑9999 as a placeholder TIN on TEACH‑AK so your application proceeds smoothly if you don't have Social Security Number yet.
Housing: You will not receive housing directly from AERRC.
Family: Your family are eligible for H‑4 dependent visas.

Additional Resources and Support

Alaska Teacher Placement: Alaska Teacher Placement serves as a liaison between school districts and teachers to offer a statewide clearinghouse for jobs in education. The organization offers many services to people seeking a teaching or administrative position in Alaska’s schools.
Online Forum: An online forum supported by Alaska teachers and administrators can answer many common questions about teaching in this state.
Certification Specialists: Certification specialists in the Department of Education and Early Development also can help you determine what you will need to do to become a certified teacher.
Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN): Professional development in Alaska is handled by the Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN), which offers a comprehensive development program executed primarily through online webinars, but also through on-site school workshops and summer programs.
Loan Forgiveness Programs: You may be eligible for partial or complete student loan forgiveness if you become a teacher in Alaska. By teaching in schools that have a high number of low income families, you may benefit from loan forgiveness offered by the Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation Program, Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program or the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. In the 2016-2017 school year, 383 Alaskan schools qualified as low income for these programs.
Housing Subsidies: You also may qualify for housing subsidies available as a result of The Teacher, Health Professional, and Public Safety Housing Grant Program of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. This program awards grants to help school districts attract and retain teaching and other professionals in rural areas where housing options are often limited and substandard.

Compensation and Benefits

Certified teachers in Alaska earn a wide range of salaries. Your income will depend on the location of your school district, your experience and educational specialty. Teachers in Alaska receive full health benefits, including full dental plans, long-term health insurance, and long-term disability aid.

Addressing Workforce Shortages

Alaskans will no longer need a four-year college degree to apply for most state jobs under a new executive order issued by Gov. Dunleavy ordered the change to address the state's ongoing public workforce shortage. In 2014, the Alaska state government employed 27,300 people, according to state labor data.

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