Alaska Initial School Counselor Certification
AKA: Provisional Special Services Certificate, Regular Special Services Certificate
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If you have never served as a school counselor in another state before, one of the following pathways to certification will likely be the ones you will take.
The regular special services (Type C) certification is the standard certification offered to those who have completed all the education and trainings required by the Alaska Department of Education. The provisional special services (Type C) certification is available to those who have completed all the same requirements as those for the regular special services certificate with the exception of not having completed three (3) semester hours of credit in Alaska studies and/or three (3) semester hours of credit in multicultural education or cross-cultural communications
Follow below to learn about each certification and the process to apply for each yourself.
The Provisional Special Services (Type C) certificate is valid for two years and cannot be renewed. When approaching the end of the two-year validity time, you must apply for the regular special services certificate.
The Regular Special Services (Type C) certificate is valid for five years and can be renewed for additional periods. Renewal requires completing six renewal credits and four mandatory training sessions. Credits can be earned through coursework, non-academic credits, or continuing education units.
If the certificate expires, individuals must apply for an Initial or Reemployment certificate. A 12-month reinstatement period is available after the expiration date.
The Department of Education issues special services certificates (Type C) for applicants who have completed a special services program for school counseling, have a master’s degree, and meet 4 AAC 12.355 requirements. These certificates do not qualify for regular classroom teaching. The provisional special services certificate is considered equivalent for employment purposes, and the department endorses special services certificates based on preparing institution recommendations.
To be eligible for a five-year Regular Special Services Type C Certificate, an applicant must complete the following requirements:
The two-year Provisional Special Services certificate is the same as above minus the three semester hours of an Alaska intercultural course.
To guarantee the safety and well-being of kids, a background check is required for teacher certification. It aids in the identification of any criminal background or other factors that may impact an applicant’s fitness for working with children.
The cost of a background check is $60.00. The Alaska Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are required to give the Teacher Certification Office with criminal history information.
The Teacher Certification Office in Alaska requires criminal history reports from the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for certification purposes. If an error is found in a report, the DPS can correct it by submitting a Request to Correct Criminal Justice Information form. If the information is believed to be inaccurate or incomplete, the DPS has 5 days to respond or forward it to the appropriate agency. Documentation on the criminal case may expedite the request.
The Teacher Certification application process in Alaska involves a standard application form, a Program Verification form from a state-approved special services program, four mandatory trainings within five years, official transcripts, and the application fee.
Completed paper documents should be mailed to the following address:
Department of Education & Early DevelopmentAssociated fees include a certification fee of $200.00 and a background check fee of $60.00 for a fingerprint card (collectively $260.00).