District-Sponsored-Certificates

The Alaska Teacher Certification office issues seven types of district-sponsored certificates:

Program Enrollment Teacher

PROGRAM ENROLLMENT TEACHER CERTIFICATE

The Initial Program Enrollment certificate is for applicants who are enrolled in a state-approved teacher preparation program and sponsored by an Alaska school district.

To qualify for a Program Enrollment teacher certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

Official transcripts showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university
Verification of current enrollment in an approved teacher preparation program as verified by the Program Enrollment for and submission of official transcripts
- Proof of Program Enrollment form
Verification of passing scores on an approved basic competency exam
Verification of passing scores on an approved content area exam
- Not required for Special Education enrollees, instead Special Education enrollees require 9.0 semester hours of Special Education coursework
Resume supporting five years of experience in the subject matter that you will be teaching
Submission of a District Assurance Form showing an offering of a certified teaching position by an Alaska public school district.
- District Request and Assurance Form
Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
- Applicants must provide at least one document of verification for the completed training.
Submission of a fingerprint card
Complete application and fees
- [TEACH-AK User Guide]

Endorsements placed on an Initial/Program Enrollment teacher certificate will reflect the teacher preparation program described on the Proof of Program Enrollment form.

A Program Enrollment certificate will be valid for one year, but may be extended twice for a total of two (2) one-year extensions.

For the first one-year extension, the certificate holder must apply for an extension and submit the following items before the expiration date of the Program Enrollment certificate:

Updated official transcripts showing progress in the program
Updated Proof of Program Enrollment form or State Approved Program Verification form if program has been completed
Complete extension application

For the second one-year extension, the certificate holder must apply for an extension and submit the following items before the expiration date of the Program Enrollment certificate:

Updated official transcripts showing progress in the approved program
Updated Proof of Program Enrollment form or State Approved Program Verification Form for Teachers if program has been completed
Official transcripts showing completion of:
- Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska studies coursework
- Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska multicultural coursework
Complete extension application

An Initial/Program Enrollment teacher certificate is not renewable.

Next step: Apply for a Professional, Master, or Initial Five-year Certificate

Emergency Teacher

EMERGENCY TEACHER CERTIFICATE

For applicants who are unable to satisfy one or more of the following requirements of an Initial Teaching Certificate:

→ Official transcripts showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university
→ Verification of passing scores on an approved basic competency exam
→ Verification of passing scores on an approved content area exam
→ Completion of a teacher preparation program as verified by State Approved Program Verification Form for Teachers

All applicants for a district-sponsored certificate must submit the following:

Official transcripts showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university
Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
- Applicants must provide at least one document of verification for the completed trainings.
District Request and Assurance Form
Emergency Certificate Waiver Form
Submission of a fingerprint card
Complete application and fees
- [TEACH-AK User Guide]

An emergency certificate is only valid during the school year that it was issued. Emergency certification requires sponsorship by a Public Alaska School District or Educational Agency that is hiring you for the upcoming school year. Emergency certificates will expire on June 30th. The requirements for a regular certificate may be waived for the current school year, with the agreement that the applicant will take the necessary steps to meeting certification requirements for the upcoming year and will apply for the next appropriate certificate. If the requirements are not met, you will not be eligible for Alaska certification and will not be eligible to hold a position in an Alaska public school. Note: You cannot hold an Emergency Certificate with a Special Education endorsement.

Next Step: Apply for the Initial 2-year or Initial Program Enrollment Teacher Certificates. A district may request an additional emergency certificate if the applicant has made progress but not completed the necessary requirements.

Limited Type B: Superintendent

LIMITED TYPE B: SUPERINTENDENT TEACHER CERTIFICATE

A Type B certificate with a superintendent endorsement requires the completion of a state-approved superintendency program from a regionally or nationally accredited university and verification of at least five (5) years of employment as a classroom teacher or administrator.

At least three of the five years must have been satisfactory employment as a teacher with a teaching certificate or comparable certificate issued by another state. At least one of the five years must have been satisfactory employment as an administrator with a Type B certificate or comparable certificate from another state.

If an applicant does not meet, these requirements they may be able to apply for the Limited Type B: Superintendent certificate. The applicant must be sponsored by an Alaska school district to gain a Limited Type B Superintendent certification. In addition, to be eligible for a Limited Type B Superintendent certificate, all applicants must submit the following:

Official transcripts confirming a master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited university;
Resume showing at least five years of employment in an administrative position
Two professional recommendations verifying length of experience and expertise;
District Request and Assurance Form completed by school board president
- District Request and Assurance Form
Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
Submission of a fingerprint card
Complete application and fees
- [TEACH-AK User Guide]

IMPORTANT NOTES

A Limited Type B Superintendent certificate is valid only in the sponsoring school district.
Meeting the requirements above will qualify the applicant for a one-year certificate that can be extended for a total of five years. To extend a Limited Type B Superintendent certificate beyond one year, the documents described below must arrive at the Teacher Certificate Office on or before the certificate’s expiration date.

To extend the one-year certificate for an additional year, the applicant must:

Enroll in an approved superintendent endorsement program and submit a Proof-of-Program Enrollment form
Submit official transcripts showing completion of an educator evaluation course in your program

To extend a two-year certificate for an additional year, the applicant must:

Submit an updated official transcript showing progress toward the completion of an approved superintendent endorsement program;
Complete three semester hours of an approved Alaska Studies course; and
Complete three semester hours of an approved Alaska Multicultural course.

To extend a three-year certificate for an additional two years, the applicant must:

Submit a Teacher State Approved Program Verification Form verifying completion of the approved superintendent endorsement program.
Submit official transcripts showing completion of an educator evaluation course in your program.

Next Step: Renew the Limited Type B: Superintendent certificate

Program Enrollment Special Services

PROGRAM ENROLLMENT SPECIAL SERVICES CERTIFICATE

To qualify for a Type C: Program Enrollment certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university;
Current enrollment in an approved special services preparation program as verified by a Proof of Program Enrollment form and official transcripts (Program must be completed within three (3) years of the issuance of the Initial certificate).
Completion of at least 9 semester hours of coursework
Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
Offered a certified special services position by an Alaska public school district as verified by a District Request & Assurance Form
Submission of a fingerprint card
Complete application and fees
- [TEACH-AK User Guide]

A Program Enrollment certificate will be valid for one year, but may be extended twice for a total of two (2) one-year extensions.

For the first one-year extension, the certificate holder must apply for an extension and submit the following items before the expiration date of the Program Enrollment certificate:

Updated official transcripts showing progress in the program
Updated Proof of Program Enrollment form or Teacher State Approved Program Verification form if program has been completed

For the second one-year extension, the certificate holder must apply for an extension and submit the following items before the expiration date of the Program Enrollment certificate:

Updated official transcripts showing progress in the approved program
Updated Proof of Program Enrollment form or State Approved Program Verification form if program has been completed
Official transcripts showing completion of:
- Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska studies coursework
- Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska multicultural coursework

Endorsements placed on a Type C: Program Enrollment teacher certificate will reflect the teacher preparation program described on the Proof of Program Enrollment form.

Next Step: Apply for a Regular Special Services certificate.

Emergency Administrator

EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATOR TEACHER CERTIFICATE

For applicants who are unable to satisfy one or more of the following requirements of an Initial Type B Administrative Certificate (Provisional):

→ Resume showing three (3) years’ experience as a certificated teacher or special service provider
→ Completion of an approved educator preparation program in school administration
→ Official transcripts showing Master’s degree or higher from a regionally or nationally accredited institution