- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Special Services Certificates
If you wish to be employed to provide such services as speech or language pathology, school psychology, school counseling, orientation and mobility, psychometry, library and/or media services, or school nursing, you must have a Type C or Type K Special Services certificate endorsed in the field of employment.
A Special Services certificate does not qualify the holder for assignment as a classroom teacher or school administrator.
The Alaska Teacher Certification office issues five types of special services certificates:
- Type C: Provisional (2-year)
- Type C: Reemployment
- Type C: Regular (5-year)
- Type C: Program Enrollment
- Type K: Advanced Special Services
Endorsement Information
Type C: Provisional (2-year)
Applicants meeting all other requirements for certification, but who lack three (3) semester hours of credit in Alaska studies and/or three (3) semester hours of credit in multicultural education or cross-cultural communications, may apply for a non-renewable Provisional Type C Special Services certificate, valid for two years.
In order to avoid a lapse in certification, the Provisional Type C Special Services certificate holder must submit official transcripts to the Teacher Certification office showing the completion of 3 semester hours of approved Alaska studies coursework and the completion of 3 semester hours of approved Alaska multicultural coursework prior to the expiration date of the Provisional certificate. In addition, prior to the expiration date of their certificate, the Provisional certificate holders must apply for the five-year regular Type C Special Services certificate.
Next Step: Apply for a Type C: Regular (5-year).
Type C: Reemployment
Applicants who held a Type C certificate that has been expired for over 12 months may be eligible for the Reemployment Certificate. The Reemployment certificate is valid for one year and is not renewable. During the life of the Reemployment certificate, the applicant must complete all current requirements and apply for the regular five-year certificate.
- A Reemployment Certificate is non-renewable. After holding a Reemployment certificate, applicants are only eligible to apply for the Regular five-year certificate, and will not qualify for Provisional certification. Before applying for the regular five-year certificate, applicants must meet all current requirements for certification. It is the responsibility of the applicant to know what all current certification requirements are.
- The endorsements on the Reemployment certificate will be the same as those on the applicant’s expired administrative or special services certificate.
- During the life of the Reemployment certificate no endorsements may be added or removed.
Next Step: Apply for a Type C: Regular (5-year).
Type C: Regular (5-year)
To qualify for a regular Type C Special Services certificate, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
- Completion of a program in a special service area
- Bachelor’s or higher degree
- Recommendation of the preparing institution
- Six semester hours or nine (9) quarter hours of credit taken within the past five years
- Three (3) semester hours of approved Alaska studies and three (3) semester hours of multicultural education/cross-cultural communications
- Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
- Submission of a fingerprint card
- Complete application and fees
The regular Type C Special Services certificate is valid for five (5) years and is renewable.
Next Step: Certificate Renewal
Type C: Program Enrollment
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 Program Enrollment form (docx) 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
A Type C: Program Enrollment teacher certificate will be valid for one year, but may be reissued twice for a total of two (2) one-year extensions.
For the first one-year extension, the certificate holder must submit the following items to the Teacher Certification office before the expiration date of the Type C: Program Enrollment certificate:
- Updated official transcripts showing progress in the program
- Updated Program Enrollment form (docx) or State Approved Program Verification form (docx) if program has been completed
For the second one-year extension, the certificate holder must submit all of the following items to the Teacher Certification office prior to expiration of the Initial certificate:
- Updated official transcripts showing progress in the approved program
- Updated Program Enrollment form (docx) or State Approved Program Verification form (docx) if program has been completed
- Official transcripts showing completion of:
- 3 semester hours of approved Alaska studies coursework
- 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 Type C: Regular (5-year).
Type K: Advanced Special Services
First Advanced Type K Special Services Certificate requirements:
- Holds a current Regular (5-year) Type C Special Services certificate
- Holds current National Certification: you must submit a copy of the certificate showing National certification.
- Completion of the four Mandatory Trainings
- Submission of a fingerprint card
- Complete application and fees
The endorsements and expiration date on the Advanced Type K Special Services certificate will be the same as the National certification’s endorsements and expiration date. Endorsements held under the Regular (5-year) Type C Special Service Certificate can be included on the Advanced Type K Special Services certificate.
There is no fee for the Advanced Special Services Certificate unless a fingerprint card is being submitted for the background check. The background check processing fee is $60.00.
Next Step: Renew Type K: Advanced Special Services or return to Regular (5-year) Type C Special Services certificate by meeting renewal requirements.
Type C Endorsement Information
Endorsements under a Type C certificate include audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, school nursing, school psychology, school psychometry, school social work, speech pathology, school counselor, and library science-media.
School Psychology
For an endorsement in school psychology, you must also hold a master’s or higher degree in school psychology; be recommended by an institution whose school psychology program has been approved by NCATE, the National Association of School Psychologists, or the American Psychological Association; and have completed a 1200 hour internship (with 600 of the hours in a school setting); or be certified under the certification system of the National Association of School Psychologists.
Speech, Language, or Hearing
For endorsement in speech, language, or hearing, you must hold either a master’s or higher degree with a major emphasis in speech-language pathology, audiology, or speech-language and hearing science; or possess certification of clinical competence from the American Speech Language-Hearing Association. In addition, you must be recommended for endorsement by an institution with a program approved by NCATE or the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Other
If you wish to be employed to provide such services as speech or language pathology, school psychology, school counseling, orientation and mobility, psychometry, library and/or media services, or school nursing, you must have a Type C Special Services Certificate endorsed in the field of employment.