Congratulations! You have completed your program and are ready to apply for your professional license.  The Office of Clinical Services and Certification is here to assist you in meeting this last step of the university process and the first step to your new career. The information provided to you in this section will provide you with the answers to your questions and directions for completing your application for licensure and institutional recommendation. 

Please select from the following options for more information:
FAQ’s
Types of Licensure by UAA program
Required Testing
Tiered Certification
Steps to Professional Licensure
Institutional Recommendation

BAEE and Elementary Post Baccalaureate Certificate
State Certification and Endorsements:  Successful completion of the BAEE and the Elementary Education Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program leads to the Alaska Initial Certification with an endorsement in Elementary K-6.   Successful completion of the Special Education Emphasis leads to an endorsement in Special Education K-6.

BAEC/Early Childhood Post Baccalaureate Certificate
Successful completion of the BAEC and the Early Childhood Post-Baccalaureate Certificate leads to the Alaska Initial Certification with an endorsement in Early Childhood Pre-K-3rd grade.

M. Ed. Early Childhood, Special Education
Successful completion of the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Special Education who
currently hold a current State of Alaska teaching certificate will receive a
recommendation for an endorsement in birth to five early childhood special
education.

Students who do not currently hold a State of Alaska Teaching Certificate
may be eligible for a recommendation for a State of Alaska Initial
Certificate with an endorsement in birth to five Early Childhood Special
Education upon successful completion of the program as well as 3 credits of
Alaska Studies, 3 credits of multicultural education, documentation of
experience in public schools and passing scores on the Praxis I exam.

M. Ed. Special Education
The M.Ed. in Special Education with the Special Education Endorsement option leads to an added endorsement on the existing Alaska Certificate.  The endorsement will be at the same developmental level listed on the certificate.

M.Ed. Counseling
Successful completion of the M.Ed. in Counselor Education with a school counseling option leads to the Alaska Type C certificate.  Candidates seeking the certificate will need appropriate courses in multi-cultural education/cross-cultural communications and Alaska Studies.

M.Ed. Educational Leadership/Educational Leadership Certificate (principal and superintendent)
Successful completion of the M. Ed. in Educational Leadership or the Educational Leadership Certificate: Principal may lead to an Alaska Type B Certificate with a principal endorsement.  Candidates must be eligible for a teaching certificate and have 3 years of contract teaching experience to receive the Type B. 

Successful completion of the Educational Leadership Certificate: superintendent leads to a Superintendent endorsement on an existing Alaska Type B certificate.  Candidates must have 5 years of contract experience, with a minimum of three years teaching and one year in administration.

Teacher Certification in Alaska

The Alaska Board of Education and Early Development has approved a new tiered certification system for Alaska teachers.  Effective September 2005, all teachers new to the Alaska teaching system will be placed in Tier I, Initial Certification.  Initial Certification requires the following:

• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Passing scores on the Praxis I, CBEST or other approved test
• Satisfactory background check
• Completion of (or enrollment in) an approved teacher preparation program

Initial Certification is valid for three years and is not renewable.  To remain certified to teach in Alaska beyond three years, teachers placed in Tier I must meet the requirements for Tier II, Professional Certification.  Professional Certification requires the following:

• Completion of Alaska Studies – 3 approved credits
• Completion of Multicultural Education – 3 approved credits
• Passing scores on a content area exam
• Demonstration of performance standards through two assessments (effective September 1, 2006)

Professional Certification is valid for five years and is renewable with six credits, three of which may be determined by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (EED).

With the exception of the two performance assessments for Tier II, the above requirements for Tiers I and II are met through successful completion of UAA’s Master of Arts in Teaching program, the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education, the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Elementary Education and the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Early Childhood Pre-K-3rd Grade.

Tier III, Master Certification requires the following:

• Meet requirements for Professional Certification
• Achieve one of the following:

national board certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching
        Standards, OR

master certification from a recognized national certification program as approved
        by the department; OR

reviewed twice on the Alaska Teacher Performance Review and received on
        each review a specified score (this option effective September 1, 2006)

The Master Certification is valid for ten years and is renewable with continuation of above.

Information about tiered certification may be found at EED’s web site.

Application for professional licensure is obtained from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.  The application provides directions for you.  One of the requirements is an Institutional recommendation (IR) from the University verifying you have met the requirements of an approved program.  A request for an Institutional Recommendation can be made by filling out the COE IR request form and submitting it to Drema Bagneschi in the Student Services Office, PSB 209. Sample provided.

Student Directions for requesting an Institutional Recommendation and Transcript for Professional Licensure.

Certification Procedures Instructions