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How to become a certified teacher in Alaska. Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution required. Primary exam: Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators. Government fees: $600–$740. Substitute requirements: High school diploma for short-term (under 20 days); valid teaching certificate for long-term (20+ days). Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Teacher / Substitute Teacher · Alaska
Everything you need to become a certified teacher or substitute teacher in Alaska. Education, exams, fees, and application steps — verified against Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED).
Last verified: 2026-03-21
Most information on this page has been verified.
92% of data points are verified against official sources. 2 fields based on preliminary research. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
Degree Required
Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
Primary Exam
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators
Total Gov Fees
$600–$740
Initial Cert
2 years
| Minimum Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution |
| Teacher Prep Program | Required |
| Student Teaching | Required (500 hours) |
| Background Check | Required |
| Fingerprinting | Required |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S. |
basic skills
Passing score: Reading: 156, Writing: 162, Math: 150
Tests basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills. Required unless exempted by qualifying SAT or ACT scores.
content knowledge
Passing score: Varies by subject area
Subject-specific content knowledge test required for the certification area sought.
Issued to new teachers who have completed a teacher preparation program and are new to the profession (less than 2 years of experience). Valid for 2 years. Non-renewable; must advance to Professional Certificate.
Alaska's standard certificate for experienced teachers. Requires documentation of 2 years of teaching experience while holding a valid teacher certificate. Valid for 5 years and renewable.
Advanced certificate for teachers who hold National Board Certification. Valid for 5 years and renewable.
Minimum Education
High school diploma for short-term (under 20 days); valid teaching certificate for long-term (20+ days)
Certificate Required
No separate certificate
Background Check
Required
Validity
Determined by employing district
Alaska does not issue a state-level substitute teaching certificate. Individual school districts set their own requirements for substitute teachers. Short-term substitutes (under 20 days) generally need a high school diploma, though some districts require a bachelor's degree. Long-term substitutes (20+ consecutive days) must hold a valid Alaska teaching certificate.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application FeeApplication fee for initial certificate | $200 |
| Fingerprint FeeFingerprinting and background check fee | $100 |
| Exam Fees (Total)Varies by number of Praxis subtests required | $300–$440 |
| Initial CertificateIncluded in the application fee | $200 |
| Renewal FeeProfessional certificate renewal fee | $100 |
| Total Government FeesIncludes application, fingerprinting, and exam fees | $600–$740 |
Graduate from an approved teacher preparation program with at least a bachelor's degree. Must include supervised clinical practice of at least 500 hours over 15 weeks in a public school.
Take and pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills and Praxis Subject Assessment for your certification area.
Fee: $300–$440
Complete DEED-approved trainings in sexual abuse awareness, alcohol/drug-related disabilities, dating violence awareness, and suicide awareness and prevention.
Must be approved by DEED or an Alaska public school district.
Submit fingerprints for state and FBI background checks.
Fee: $100
Apply through the Educator Application & Certification Hub Alaska (TEACH-AK) online system.
Fee: $200
Once all requirements are verified, the Initial Teacher Certificate is issued for 2 years.
Must advance to Professional Certificate within the validity period.
Alaska offers several alternative pathways. The Limited Type M Certificate is issued for Alaska Native language/culture teachers, military science instructors, and career-technical teachers with 4 years of experience. District-sponsored certificates allow districts to hire individuals who do not meet standard certification requirements for hard-to-fill positions.
Available Programs:
CE Required
Yes
Renewal Cycle
5 years
Alaska requires 6 semester hours of coursework or equivalent professional development activities for renewal of the Professional Teacher Certificate every 5 years. Starting July 1, 2025, teachers working with grades K-3 must also obtain the Alaska Reads Act K-3 Endorsement (45 hours of DEED-approved professional development or passing designated reading instruction exams).
Reciprocity Type
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
Interstate Agreement
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
Alaska participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Out-of-state teachers with valid certificates from participating states may be eligible for Alaska certification.
Additional requirements: Out-of-state applicants must pass Alaska-required Praxis exams, complete a background check, and complete Alaska's mandatory trainings (sexual abuse awareness, alcohol/drug-related disabilities, dating violence awareness, suicide awareness and prevention).
Unique to Alaska: Alaska requires four mandatory trainings unique to the state (sexual abuse awareness, alcohol/drug-related disabilities, dating violence awareness, and suicide awareness) that must be completed before certification. The state's Initial Certificate is non-renewable with a hard 2-year limit. The Limited Type M Certificate pathway for Alaska Native language and culture teachers reflects the state's commitment to indigenous education.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Alaska.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#9 of 51
Cost
#49 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021)
Entry Level
$63,110
25th percentile
Median
$76,290
+22% vs. national avg ($62,340)Experienced
$93,450
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
3,380 employed in this state
Note: BLS category covers elementary school teachers only. Secondary, special education, and other teaching specializations have separate SOC codes with different wage data.
Source: BLS OEWS – Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
0%
Below AverageNew Jobs
-500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
103,200
per year (avg.)
1.4M currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 216–234 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Study guides for Praxis Core and subject-specific teacher exams.
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Alaska requires completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program to earn your teaching certificate. Explore approved programs and alternative certification routes.
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