Alaska Administration/Principal Certification
Alaska school administrators need a Type B Administrative Certificate from the Department of Education & Early Development. Candidates need a master’s degree, three years of certificated teaching experience, and completion of an approved school administration program. Depending on the assignment, they also need the Alaska Reads Act K-3 Administrator endorsement and the four Mandatory Trainings. Applications go through the online TEACH-AK system rather than by mail.
Sponsored School(s)
Alaska issues three standard Type B Administrative certificate types: Provisional, Regular, and Reemployment. Each one qualifies you to serve as a principal, assistant principal, or superintendent in the state’s public schools, and each carries its own set of requirements from the Department of Education & Early Development (EED).
Use the links below to jump to Alaska’s certificate options, education requirements, endorsement rules, and application steps.
- Alaska’s Type B certificate options
- Education and experience requirements
- Alaska Reads Act K-3 endorsement
- Mandatory Trainings requirement
- Superintendent endorsement
- Examination requirements
- How to apply for certification
- Criminal history background check
- Contact information
Alaska’s Type B Administrative Certificate Options
The Alaska Teacher Certification office issues three standard Type B certificate types that apply to principals and other administrators. Which one you need depends on your current status.
Provisional Administrative Certificate (2-Year)
This is the entry point for most first-time applicants. To qualify, you need:
- A resume showing three years of experience as a certificated teacher or special services provider
- Completion of an approved educator preparation program in school administration, verified through the Administrative State Approved Program Verification Form
- Official transcripts showing a master’s degree or higher from a regionally or nationally accredited institution
- The Alaska Reads Act K-3 Administrator endorsement, if you’ll administer a school with K-3 students.
- Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings, with at least one document of verification submitted
- A fingerprint card and the completed application and fees, submitted through TEACH-AK
Regular Administrative Certificate (5-Year)
The next step after the Provisional certificate carries the same core requirements, plus recency coursework:
- Three years of certificated teaching or special services experience
- Completion of an approved school administration program, with a credential evaluation report required if the coursework was completed outside the United States
- A master’s degree or higher, verified by official transcripts
- Three semester hours of approved Alaska Studies coursework
- Three semester hours of approved Alaska Multicultural coursework
- The Alaska Reads Act K-3 Administrator endorsement, if applicable
- Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
- A fingerprint card and completed TEACH-AK application with fees
The Regular certificate is valid for five years and renewable.
Reemployment Administrative Certificate (1-Year)
If your Type B certificate has expired for more than 12 months, you may qualify for a Reemployment certificate instead of starting over. It’s valid for one year and can’t be renewed. While you hold it, you need to complete all current Regular certificate requirements and submit that application. A Reemployment certificate carries the same endorsements as your expired certificate, and none can be added or removed while it’s active. Once it expires, you can only apply for the Regular five-year certificate, not the Provisional.
Education and Experience Requirements
Across all three certificate types, EED looks for the same foundation: a master’s degree or higher from a regionally or nationally accredited institution, a signed institutional recommendation from your program’s dean, and three years of certificated teaching or special services experience. If you haven’t completed that step yet, start with Alaska’s teaching certification requirements before pursuing an administrative credential. If you’re pursuing the Regular certificate, you’ll also need six semester hours of recency credit, split evenly between Alaska Studies and Alaska Multicultural coursework, completed within five years of your application.
Alaska Reads Act K-3 Administrator Endorsement
Alaska law now requires an additional endorsement for administrators overseeing a school that serves K-3 students. If your assignment includes those grades, you’ll need the Alaska Reads Act K-3 Administrator endorsement alongside your Type B certificate. Details on qualifying coursework and the application process are available through EED’s endorsements page.
Mandatory Trainings Requirement
Every Type B applicant, Provisional and Regular alike, has to complete four Mandatory Trainings set by EED and provide at least one document verifying that completion. The training list and access instructions are posted on EED’s Mandatory Trainings page.
Superintendent Endorsement
If you’re applying for the Superintendent endorsement on top of your Type B certificate, you’ll need to complete a state-approved superintendency program from a regionally or nationally accredited university, along with a signed institutional recommendation. You also need verification of at least five years of employment as a classroom teacher or administrator. At least three of those years must be satisfactory teaching experience under a certificate issued by Alaska or another state, and at least one year must be satisfactory administrative experience under a Type B certificate or its equivalent from another state. If your teaching experience was earned elsewhere, check Alaska’s teacher reciprocity agreements to see how that credential is recognized.
Examination Requirements
EED does not currently require a separate administrator examination for the Type B Administrative Certificate. Applicants typically qualify based on educator certification, education, and experience requirements rather than an additional administrator licensing exam.
How to Apply for Alaska Administrative Certification
Applications for every Type B certificate now go through the TEACH-AK online certification portal, replacing the former paper application process. To apply, you’ll register for a TEACH-AK account and submit:
- The completed online application and applicable fees
- Your fingerprint card
- Official transcripts
- Verification of teaching or special services experience
- Your institutional recommendation
- Verification of your completed Mandatory Trainings
If you need to send physical documents rather than upload them, EED’s mailing address is Department of Education & Early Development, Teacher Education and Certification, PO Box 110500, Juneau, AK 99811-0500.
Criminal History Background Check
All Alaska school administrators go through a criminal history background check as part of certification. Submit one FBI fingerprint card with your Type B application. If you need a card mailed to you, contact Teacher Certification at [email protected].
Contact Information
Questions about approved administrator or superintendent preparation programs go directly to the college or university housing the program. For questions about the Type B Administrative Certificate process itself, reach Alaska Teacher Certification at (907) 465-2831, or the main EED line at (907) 465-2800. You can also visit EED’s Teacher Certification page for forms and current instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Type B Administrative Certificate?
It’s the credential Alaska requires to work as a principal, assistant principal, or superintendent in a public school. EED issues three standard types: Provisional, Regular, and Reemployment, each with its own eligibility rules.
How long does it take to get a principal certification in Alaska?
Most candidates already hold three years of teaching experience and a master’s degree before applying, so the certification itself moves as fast as your application processes through TEACH-AK. Completing an approved school administration program and the required coursework typically takes one to two years for candidates starting from scratch.
Do I need the Alaska Reads Act K-3 endorsement to become a principal?
Only if your role includes administering a school that serves K-3 students; if your assignment doesn’t include those grades, the endorsement isn’t required for your Type B certificate.
Can I apply for Alaska administrator certification online?
Yes. EED processes Type B applications through the TEACH-AK online certification portal, replacing the former paper application process.
What happens if my Type B certificate expires?
If it’s been expired for more than 12 months, you may qualify for a one-year, non-renewable Reemployment certificate while you complete the requirements for a new Regular five-year certificate. After the Reemployment certificate expires, you can only apply for the Regular certificate, not the Provisional.
- Alaska issues three standard Type B certificate types. Provisional (2-year), Regular (5-year), and Reemployment (1-year, non-renewable) each carry their own eligibility requirements.
- The Alaska Reads Act added a new endorsement. Administrators of schools serving K-3 students now need the Alaska Reads Act K-3 Administrator endorsement alongside their Type B certificate.
- Four Mandatory Trainings are required for every applicant. Completion must be verified with documentation submitted alongside the application.
- Applications move through TEACH-AK. The online certification portal has replaced the former paper application process.
- No separate administrator exam is required. Applicants qualify based on educator certification, education, and experience requirements rather than an additional administrator licensing exam.
Find accredited educational administration programs in Alaska, including coursework that satisfies the Type B certificate’s Alaska Studies and Multicultural requirements.
