Alaska Teaching Certification
Alaska requires a bachelor’s degree, a state-approved teacher preparation program, and passing scores on a basic competency exam like Praxis I to earn an Initial Teacher Certificate. Candidates then complete Praxis II content exams, a criminal background check, and required Alaska Studies and multicultural coursework to advance to a Professional Teacher Certificate.
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Alaska sets its own path to a teaching license through the Department of Education and Early Development (EED), and that path looks different depending on where you’re starting from. Choose the description below that best matches your situation:
- Initial Teaching Certification…
- I’m a teacher from another state…
- Teacher Certification Renewal…
- Admin./Principal Certification…
- Alternative Teaching Certification…
- Substitute Teaching Permit…
Initial Alaska Teaching Certification
Teaching in Alaska comes with a different set of challenges than teaching in most other states. Education Northwest reports that 64 percent of school districts in Alaska qualify as “rural,” meaning they either have a population of 5,500 or less and aren’t connected by rail or road to Anchorage, or a population of 1,500 or less and are connected by rail or road to Anchorage. The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development actively recruits teachers for these rural, or bush, areas, which make up most of the state, and it may offer incentives to prospective teachers willing to relocate there. Alaska Teacher Placement, a statewide clearinghouse affiliated with the University of Alaska, also connects candidates directly with school districts that are hiring. Whether you teach in a rural or metropolitan district, you must satisfy the same certification requirements. Find schools offering teacher preparation programs in Alaska, or see what the job pays with Alaska teacher salaries and benefits.
Education Requirements
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) (907) 465-2800 requires all teachers to hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree before completing one of the approved teacher preparation programs in Alaska. Certifications offered are specific to the teacher preparation program you complete:
- Early Childhood Education (Pre-K-3)
- Elementary Education (K-6)
- Secondary Education (7-12)
- Specialty Areas
Some approved Alaska teacher preparation programs are offered at the bachelor’s level, but many sit at the post-bachelor’s, master’s, or post-master’s level and may lead to a bachelor’s degree, graduate certificate, or master’s degree.
If you don’t enroll in an approved Alaska teacher preparation program after finishing your bachelor’s degree, you may still qualify for an initial certificate by completing a program from an accredited college or university accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the body formed when NCATE merged with TEAC in 2013.
Teachers working with grades K-3 also need the Alaska Reads Act K-3 endorsement, effective July 1, 2025. You can satisfy it by completing 45 hours of DEED-approved professional development or by passing an approved reading exam, such as Praxis II Teaching Reading (5204, 5205, or 5206) or the Pearson Foundations of Reading test.
Types of Certificates Available
| Certificate Type | Validity | Core Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Two-Year or Three-Year Teacher Certificate | Two or three years, non-renewable | Bachelor’s degree, completed teacher preparation program, passing Basic Competency and content-area exam scores, criminal background check |
| Initial Five-Year Teacher Certificate | Five years, renewable | Held an Initial Two-Year or Three-Year Certificate without yet reaching two years of teaching experience; same exam and background-check requirements |
| Professional Teacher Certificate | Five years, renewable | Two years of teaching experience under an initial certificate, completed teacher preparation program, Alaska Studies and multicultural coursework, six semester hours of credit in the past five years |
| Master Teacher Certificate | Five years, renewable | Holds an Initial or Professional Teacher Certificate and current National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) |
The certificate tiers work together as a progression:
- An initial two-year or Three-Year Teacher Certificate is granted to first-time Alaska applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree and a teacher preparation program and met examination, background check, and application requirements. Neither version is renewable.
- If you reach the end of this certificate’s term without two years of teaching experience, you can apply for an Initial Five-Year Teacher Certificate instead of starting over.
- Once you have two years of teaching experience, you’re eligible to upgrade to a Professional Teacher Certificate.
- Professional teacher certification is granted after applicants meet experience and examination requirements and have:
- Completed a teacher preparation program
- Completed approved coursework in Alaska Studies
- Completed approved coursework in Multicultural/Cross-Cultural Communications
- Completed six semester hours of college credit within the past five years (with three hours at the graduate level)
- Master teacher certification doesn’t require additional coursework, but does require holding an Initial or Professional Teacher Certificate plus current National Board Certification from NBPTS.
Examinations
For an overview of Alaska examination requirements for prospective teachers, visit the Praxis website.
Basic skills testing:
All candidates for Initial Teacher Certification must receive passing scores on a Basic Competency examination. Scores from different exams can be combined to form a set of passing scores, and Alaska also accepts qualifying SAT, ACT, or GRE scores in place of a dedicated basic-skills test. Tests that may be taken and their corresponding passing scores include:
- Praxis I: an average score of 174 across Reading, Writing, and Math, with no individual score below 172 (PPST scores are also accepted)
- California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST): total score of 123 or higher, with no individual section score below 37
- Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic (WEST-B): Reading (score of 240), Writing (score of 240), Math (score of 240)
- Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE) General Knowledge test (not the CLAST): Reading (65 percent of questions correct), English Language Skills (73 percent of questions correct), Math (60 percent of questions correct), Essay (6 out of 12 points needed)
- Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE): score of 220 on reading, writing, and math sections
- Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS): Test #96 Basic Skills, or the TAP 400 test
- Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC): Reading (scaled score of 220), Writing (scaled score of 220), Math (scaled score of 220)
- New York State Teacher Certification Academic Literacy Skills Test: qualifying score of 520 (the older NYSTCE Liberal Arts and Sciences Test, qualifying score 220, is historic but still accepted if you already hold that score)
- Oklahoma General Education Test: total score of 240 or more, with passing scores on both the general studies and liberal arts and sciences sections
Content area assessment testing:
To become licensed in a specific content area, you must take the Praxis II exam. This isn’t required for an Initial Teacher Certificate, but it is required for a Professional Teacher Certificate. Prospective Elementary Developmental K-8 or Middle School 6-8 teachers take the tests corresponding to their specialization. Future Special Education or specialty subject area teachers, as well as those seeking a language certification, English endorsement, General Science endorsement, or Mathematics endorsement, must take the test specific to their requested certification. Specialty content areas in the Praxis II lead to Alaska teacher certification in the following subjects:
- Elementary Developmental K-8
- Middle School 6-8
- Middle School English Language Arts 6-8
- Middle School Mathematics 6-8
- Middle School Science 6-8
- Middle School Social Studies 6-8
- Secondary Education:
- Art
- Biology
- Business Education
- Chemistry
- Earth Science
- Economics
- English
- Family and Consumer Science
- General Science
- Geography
- Government and Political Science
- Health
- Health and Physical Education
- History
- Mathematics
- Music
- Physical Education
- Physical Science
- Physics
- Social Science
- Social Studies
- Speech Communication
- Technology Education
- Theatre
- Vocational Education
- French
- German
- Spanish
- English Endorsement
- General Science Endorsement
- Mathematics Endorsement
- French Endorsement
- German Endorsement
Experience Requirements
To qualify for an Initial Teacher Certificate, you don’t need teaching experience beyond your college teacher preparation program. If you attend an Alaska teacher preparation program, an internship or field placement averaging a year in duration is typically built into the program. You’ll likely complete this internship in an actual classroom setting under the mentorship of a supervising teacher.
During your internship, expect to prepare lesson plans, direct the class, observe your mentor teacher, and receive guidance along the way. The length of your internship varies based on your teacher preparation program.
Document and Application Requirements
After completing your educational and examination requirements and any practicum or field placements, you’re ready to apply for initial teacher certification in Alaska. Applications and supporting documents are submitted online through your TEACH-AK account. DEED does not accept documents by email or regular mail, with one exception: fingerprint cards, which must still be mailed to the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development, PO Box 110500, Juneau, AK 99811-0500. Applications are reviewed in the order received, with a current processing time of 3-4 weeks. Upload the following through TEACH-AK:
- Official transcript verifying your bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university
- Official transcripts verifying completion of 3 semester hours of approved Alaska Studies and 3 semester hours of approved Alaska Multicultural coursework
- One of the following:
- Institutional recommendation verifying completion of an approved Teacher Education Program from a regionally accredited college or university
- State recommendation verifying completion of a state-approved Teacher Education program
- Passing scores on an approved Basic Competency exam
- Application fees, payable online
- A fingerprint card, mailed separately to the Juneau address above (unless you’re already employed in a certified position with an Alaska public school district, in which case a current contract or employer letter can substitute)
If you hold a teacher certificate in another state or a foreign country, check the requirements for submitting an Initial Teacher Certificate application.
Criminal History Background Check
All applicants for Initial Teaching Certification in Alaska must undergo a criminal history background check through the Alaska Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Alaska doesn’t accept background checks completed by other states or entities. If you already held a student teacher position in an Alaska school and completed a background check, and your Alaska Student Teacher Authorization expired less than 60 days before submitting your Initial Teacher Certificate application, you may not need to reapply. Email the teacher certification office at [email protected] to check.
You must submit one fingerprint card, rolled or scanned by a trained technician, as part of the criminal history background check. If you need a card, email the teacher certification office to request one; they can also direct you to the nearest fingerprint location, including options for rural Alaska.
Contact Information
If you have questions about Alaska teacher education preparation programs, contact the university directly.
Further questions about the Alaska Initial Teacher Certification process may be directed to the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development Teacher Education & Certification at (907) 465-2800 or by visiting the EED website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need to teach in Alaska?
You need at least a bachelor’s degree along with completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program. Some programs sit at the post-bachelor’s or master’s level, so your path depends on which program you choose.
Do I need to take the Praxis exam to teach in Alaska?
Yes. Alaska requires a passing score on a basic competency exam like Praxis I for an Initial Teacher Certificate. Praxis II content exams come later, when you’re ready to add a subject-area endorsement or move up to a Professional Teacher Certificate.
How long does an Alaska Initial Teacher Certificate last?
An Initial Teacher Certificate is valid for either two or three years, depending on which you qualify for, and neither version is renewable. If you reach the end of that term without two years of teaching experience, you can apply for an Initial Five-Year Teacher Certificate rather than starting over. Once you have two years of experience, you’re eligible to upgrade to a Professional Teacher Certificate.
Can I transfer an out-of-state teaching certificate to Alaska?
In many cases, yes. Alaska’s certification process for out-of-state teachers works through reciprocity rather than starting over, though you’ll still need to meet Alaska’s basic competency exam requirement.
What is the Alaska Reads Act K-3 endorsement?
It’s an additional endorsement required, as of July 1, 2025, for teachers working with grades K-3. You can satisfy it with 45 hours of DEED-approved professional development or by passing an approved reading exam, such as Praxis II Teaching Reading or the Pearson Foundations of Reading test.
- Bachelor’s degree required — Every Alaska teaching certificate starts with a bachelor’s degree and a state-approved teacher preparation program.
- Initial certificates aren’t renewable — The Initial Two- or Three-Year Certificate leads to either a Professional Teacher Certificate (after two years of experience) or an Initial Five-Year Certificate if you need more time.
- Praxis exams at two stages — Praxis I (or an equivalent basic competency exam) for Initial Certification, Praxis II for subject-area endorsements and Professional Certification.
- K-3 teachers need the Reads Act endorsement — a requirement since July 2025, satisfied through professional development hours or a qualifying reading exam.
Select your state below to find accredited teacher certification programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
