Renewal of Teaching Certification

Initial Teaching Licenses can not be renewed after their 3-year duration. During those 3 years, you have to meet the qualifications to obtain a Professional or Master License, as follows:

• Professional Teacher License conditions:
  • Possess an Initial Teacher License
  • Possess two years of teaching experience
  • Finalize all educational conditions for an Initial Teacher License (including degree, teacher preparation program, Alaska Studies, Multicultural Studies)
  • Finalize recency credits
  • Pass the Praxis I and II
  • Be employed in an Alaska public school district
  • Have a finished fingerprint/criminal background check on file
  • Submit a finished Professional Teacher Certification application form, verification of the above through supporting docs, and fees to Department of Education & Early Development, Teacher Education and Certification, 801 West 10th Street, Suite 200, PO Box 110500, Juneau, AK 99811-0500
  • Your professional Teacher License is good for 5 years. Renewal requires:
    • Finalized recency credits
    • Employment in an Alaska public school district
    • Finalized/updated fingerprint/criminal background check
    • Finalized Renewal Application and fees
    • Submit all of the documents to the Alaska EDD at the above address
• Master Teacher License conditions:
  • Possess a current Initial License or Professional License
  • Meet all of the conditions for a Professional License
  • Possess current National Board Certification issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
    • This requires 3 years of experience, a bachelor’s degree, passing the National Board Assessment, and paying application fees to NBPTS. For more info, call NBPTS at 1-800-22TEACH.
  • Submit finished Master Teacher Application, fees, and supporting documents to EDD at the address above
  • The Master Teacher License is good for ten years. Renewal requires:
    • Renewed National Board Certification
    • Recency credits
    • Confirmation of employment in Alaska public school
    • The finished renewal application and fees
    • Submit the above documents to the Alaska EDD at the address above 

Teaching Certification Reinstatement

If you possess a Professional or Master Alaska Teacher License that has been lapsed for over 12 months, you can apply for a Reemployment License. It is good for one year only and is not renewable.

• Finalize the Renewal or Reinstatement Application and mail to EDD at the address above with fees, official transcripts, verification of employment in an Alaska public school district, finished fingerprint card.
• If your teacher license has been lapsed for more than 12 months, you have to reapply for Initial Teacher Certification.
• I the year that your Reemployment License is in effect, you have to complete all conditions to obtain a Professional or Master Teacher License.