How to Become a Teacher in Alaska
How to become a teacher in Alaska starts with a bachelor's degree, a state-approved teacher preparation program, and a passing score on one of several DEED-approved basic competency exams, including Praxis Core or CBEST, before the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) will issue a certificate. Out-of-state teachers may qualify through a separate Professional Out-of-State Teacher Certificate, and alternative routes exist for people who already hold a degree in another field.
Alaska has a persistent teacher shortage: the state fills only about a third of its annual openings from in-state university programs, which means out-of-state candidates have a real shot at a job here. Knowing how to become a teacher in Alaska specifically matters, because DEED's certification process has a few Alaska-specific steps that trip up applicants who assume it follows the state-by-state certification path most states use.
Choose What You Want to Teach
Start by deciding on a grade band or subject. Elementary, middle, high school, and special education each lead to a different endorsement, and if you're aiming for middle or secondary, you'll also need to pick a content area. That choice determines which Praxis Subject exam you'll eventually take, so it's worth settling early.
Earn a Bachelor's Degree Through a State-Approved Preparation Program
Most Alaska teaching certificates require a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, paired with a state-approved teacher preparation program. Some career and technical education (CTE) endorsements and alternative routes don't require a full education degree if you already have relevant work experience, so check your specific endorsement area with DEED before assuming the standard path applies to you.
Complete a Teacher Preparation Program
Look for a program accredited by CAEP (the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) or an equivalent state-recognized accreditor, since Alaska's program-approval standards vary by pathway rather than requiring CAEP status across the board. Programs combine coursework in teaching methods, differentiated instruction, and technology integration with fieldwork: observations, a practicum, and student teaching.
Alaska also requires three semester hours of approved Alaska Studies coursework and three semester hours of approved Alaska Multicultural Education (or Cross-Cultural Communication) coursework, six hours total. Candidates who haven't completed both requirements yet can still receive an Initial Two-Year Teacher Certificate, then finish the coursework during a one-year extension. Candidates who've already completed both three-hour requirements qualify for an Initial Three-Year Teacher Certificate instead.
If you already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, an alternative or post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program can lead to the same certificate. You'll teach sooner, usually under a mentor, while finishing coursework and exams on a different schedule than the traditional route. Ask an advisor whether your university offers a joint pathway into a master's alongside it.
Complete Your Student Teaching or Clinical Practice
Whichever preparation route you take, DEED requires supervised clinical practice at the grade level and subject area you're seeking certification in. Confirm the current hour and week requirements with your program, since these have been adjusted in recent years and your preparation program will have the version that applies to your cohort.
Alternative Teacher Certification in Alaska
Several alternative routes lead to Alaska certification, usually starting with a temporary certificate that converts to a professional one once you finish the remaining requirements.
Teaching Certificate From Another State
Alaska offers a Professional Out-of-State Teacher Certificate for candidates who already hold a comparable certificate from another state. To qualify, you'll need a current out-of-state certificate, at least two years of teaching experience, a bachelor's degree, and a completed teacher preparation program. This pathway is available even if you haven't yet met Alaska's basic competency exam requirement, since it doesn't depend on BCE scores the way the standard route does.
Green to Teach and District-Sponsored Pathways
DEED's current alternative-route options include Green to Teach, a state-approved post-baccalaureate pathway built specifically for active-duty military members, veterans, and military spouses moving into teaching. Alaska also has district-sponsored and apprenticeship pathways, where a school district partners directly with a candidate already working in its schools toward certification. Check DEED's current alternative-route listings for the program that matches your background, since eligibility and requirements vary by pathway.
Pass Alaska's Certification Exams
Alaska's testing requirements are pathway-specific rather than universal, so what you need to take depends on your route into the classroom.
Basic Competency Exam (BCE)
Most candidates satisfy Alaska's basic competency requirement with one of several approved exams, including the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, CBEST, or an equivalent basic skills test accepted from another state. Alaska accepts qualifying exams from a number of other states as substitutes, so check with DEED or your prep program before assuming you need to sit for a new one.
Content-Area Exams
Content-area competency is assessed through the DEED-approved content-area examination for your endorsement. Depending on your certification area, this may be a Praxis Subject exam administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) or a Pearson/NES assessment. Confirm the exact required exam with your advisor or DEED before registering.
Apply for Your Alaska Teacher Certification
Application Requirements
When you apply, DEED's Teacher Education and Certification Office will ask for these documents:
- Completed initial application form
- Non-refundable application fee (confirm the current amount with DEED, since these are adjusted periodically)
- Official exam scores
- Official college transcripts
- Copies of any out-of-state teaching certificates, if applicable
Contact Information
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, Teacher Education and Certification Office
333 Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor, Juneau, AK 99801
Mailing address: PO Box 110500, Juneau, AK 99811-0500
Teacher Certification phone: 907-465-2831
Find a Teaching Job in Alaska
Once you're certified, the job search itself tends to move fast in Alaska, given how much of the state's demand goes unfilled by in-state programs each year.
Alaska Teacher Placement
Alaska Teacher Placement (ATP), affiliated with the University of Alaska, connects both Alaska residents and out-of-state candidates with teaching openings across the state, including rural and remote districts.
NEA-Alaska
NEA-Alaska represents thousands of the state's teachers, with local branches in Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks. Founded in 1922, it advocates for teacher pay, working conditions, and professional standards statewide.
Teaching at Private Schools in Alaska
Alaska has more than 70 private schools, most of them religious, serving several thousand students statewide with smaller class sizes than the public system typically offers.
Alaska Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
Alaska teachers participate in the Alaska Teachers' Retirement System (TRS). Given the state's remote geography and winter conditions, TRS is one of the tools districts use to retain teachers long-term, offering benefits designed around financial security in retirement.
Continue Your Education and Professional Development
Ongoing professional development matters for renewal, not just for teaching quality. Alaska's system is built to keep evaluation tied to actual classroom practice.
Professional Development in Alaska
The Alaska Staff Development Network coordinates professional development across the state, including webinars and regional programs. Several statewide partnerships support specific areas of practice, including coaching for administrators, rural principal preparation, and programs focused on outcomes for Alaska Native students.
If you're looking for development tied to your specific role, start with your school administration, district office, or the state board of education to confirm what counts toward your certificate renewal.
Alaska Teacher Salaries and Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Alaska elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $79,260 as of May 2025, among the roughly 3,500 elementary teachers employed statewide. Middle school teachers earned a median of $78,940, and secondary (high school) teachers earned a median of $79,650.
BLS does not publish a separate Alaska figure for kindergarten teachers, likely due to the state's small employment count in that specific role. Nationally, kindergarten teachers earned a median of $62,680 as of May 2025.
Special education teachers in Alaska earned median salaries ranging from about $80,230 (kindergarten and elementary) to $81,000 (middle school) and $80,580 (secondary school), according to the same BLS data.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (AK) | Job Growth (2024-2034) |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $62,680 (national) | -5.3% |
| Elementary School Teachers | $79,260 | -5.2% |
| Middle School Teachers | $78,940 | -5.7% |
| Secondary (High) School Teachers | $79,650 | -5.3% |
| Special Education Teachers, K-Elementary | $80,230 | -5.8% |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $81,000 | -4.7% |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $80,580 | -5.5% |
Employment for most K-12 classroom teaching roles in Alaska is projected to decline modestly between 2024 and 2034, according to Alaska's Department of Labor projections, even as districts report high turnover. Projections Central estimates around 130 elementary teaching openings a year in Alaska, 30 for middle school, and 90 for secondary, driven mostly by retirement and turnover rather than new positions. A shrinking projected headcount and a steady stream of annual openings aren't a contradiction: Alaska's persistent recruiting gap is largely about replacing teachers who leave, not adding new classrooms.
The Case for a Master's in Teaching or Education
Alaska does not require a master's degree for any standard certification tier. The Master Teacher certificate specifically requires current National Board certification (NBPTS) on top of the Professional Teacher Certificate requirements, not a master's degree. But the state's renewal requirements make an advanced degree worth considering anyway: renewable Alaska teaching certificates are generally five-year credentials, and a five-year certificate requires six renewal credits, tied to your endorsement or current employment, plus any other applicable renewal requirements DEED sets for your certificate type.
There's no statewide salary schedule for Alaska teachers. Each district negotiates its own pay scale, so check your target district's current schedule directly for how it treats degree level and years of experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a master's degree to teach in Alaska?
No. Alaska doesn't require a master's degree for any standard teaching certificate. The Master Teacher certificate instead requires current National Board certification (NBPTS) plus the Professional Teacher Certificate requirements. A master's can still help toward your renewal credit hours.
Can I transfer my teaching certificate from another state to Alaska?
Often, yes, through Alaska's Professional Out-of-State Teacher Certificate. You'll need a current comparable out-of-state certificate, at least two years of teaching experience, a bachelor's degree, and a completed teacher preparation program. This pathway doesn't require you to have already met Alaska's basic competency exam requirement.
Do I have to take the Praxis Core exam to teach in Alaska?
Not necessarily. Praxis Core is one of several approved options for satisfying Alaska's basic competency exam requirement, alongside CBEST and equivalent tests accepted from other states. Which one applies to you depends on your background and pathway.
How long does Alaska certification take if I already hold an out-of-state license?
It depends on your background. If you qualify for Alaska's Professional Out-of-State Teacher Certificate, a current out-of-state certificate, two years of experience, and a completed prep program can qualify you without first meeting the standard basic competency exam requirement. Confirm your specific path with DEED's Teacher Education and Certification Office.
Where do most Alaska teaching jobs open up?
Alaska Teacher Placement (ATP) lists openings statewide, including in rural and remote districts that often have the hardest time filling positions. Southeast, Interior, Southcentral, Western, and Southwest Alaska have all reported general shortages across PreK-12 and special education in recent years.
- Bachelor's plus state-approved prep - Most Alaska certification paths require a bachelor's degree and a state-approved teacher preparation program, though CTE and alternative routes can differ.
- Six hours of Alaska-specific coursework - three semester hours of Alaska Studies plus three semester hours of Alaska Multicultural Education or Cross-Cultural Communication. Complete both for an Initial Three-Year Certificate, or finish them during a one-year extension on a Two-Year Certificate.
- Praxis Core isn't mandatory - it's one option among several DEED-approved basic competency exams, not a universal requirement.
- Professional Out-of-State pathway - a current comparable certificate, two years of experience, a bachelor's degree, and a completed prep program can qualify you without first meeting Alaska's basic competency exam requirement.
- No master's requirement - but the Master Teacher certificate requires National Board certification (NBPTS), and renewal credits give an advanced degree real value anyway.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, and Special Education Teachers. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2026.
Certification is only the first half of the plan: the other half is finding a preparation program built around Alaska's specific coursework requirements. The sponsored programs listed here include options for candidates who already hold a degree in another field and need an alternative route into the classroom.