Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Alaska

Alaska credentials Professional Counselors through the Board of Professional Counselors. Candidates may be licensed through credentials or examination.

To be licensed through credentials, candidates must:

• Submit a completed and notarized application.
• Pay the $200 application fee.
• Pay the $250 initial licensure fee.
• Submit a background check.
• Supply verification that they hold a valid counseling license in another state.
• Have at least 60 graduate semester hours in counseling.
• Submit proof of 40 continuing education credits, including three in ethics, completed in the past two years.

Candidates applying for licensure through examination must:

• Submit a completed and notarized application
• Pay the $200 application fee
• Pay the $250 initial licensure fee
• Submit a background check
• Provide official transcripts of a master’s or doctorate degree in counseling or related field from a regionally accredited institution. The program must be at least 60 semester hours.
• Provide a passing NCE score from within the past three years
• Complete (and supply proof of) 3,000 hours of supervised work experience, 1,000 of those hours must be direct counseling and 100 hours be face-to-face supervision.

Licensed counselors in Alaska are required to renew their licenses biennially. In order to renew they must:

• Pay a $250 renewal fee. If it is the first renewal, and licensure was held for 12 months or less, the fee is $125
• Submit 40 continuing education credits from approved providers, three of those hours must be in ethics. If it is the first renewal and licensure was held for 12 months or less only 20 hours are required, if licensure was held for between 12 to 18 months 30 hours are required.

School counselors in Alaska must earn a Type C Special Services Certificate. For initial certification, candidates must:

• Hold at least a bachelor’s degree
• Complete a program in a special services area such as counseling that includes a supervised clinical practice (the program must meet National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, National Association of School Psychologists, American Psychological Association, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, or National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education standards)
• Have a recommendation from the institution submitting the State-Approved Program Verification Form
• Submit a completed and notarized application
• Pay $200 application fee and $60 background check fee
• Pass a background check

The initial Type C certification issued in Alaska is valid for three years. During that time, school counselors must complete three semester hours of approved Alaska studies and three semester hours of multicultural education/cross-cultural communications.

Counselors may then apply for a regular Type C certification, which is valid for five years. To renew a regular certificate, counselors must:

• Submit an application
• Complete mandatory trainings in sexual abuse awareness and prevention, suicide awareness and prevention, alcohol or drug-related disabilities, dating violence awareness and prevention
• Complete six semester hours of renewal credits
• Pass a new background check
• Pay $200 application fee and $60 background check fee

Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification (ACBHC)

Alaska certifies Counselor Technicians, Chemical Dependency Counselors I, Chemical Dependency Counselors II, and Clinical Supervisors.

Counselor Technician certification requirements include:

• 20 training hours, which must include three hours of NAADAC ethics, three hours of NAADAC confidentiality, six hours of infection disease or HIV/AIDS, and eight hours of intro to addictive behaviors.
• Three references
• $180 fee
• Submit a completed application

If the candidate doesn’t have a degree, they must have a total of 84 hours of education, including the following: eight hours of documentation, eight hours of crisis intervention, 12 hours of client-centered counseling, eight hours of group counseling, twelve hours of working with diverse populations, eight hours of community resources use and case management, and eight hours of recovery, health, wellness and balance.

To earn a Chemical Dependency Counselor I certification, candidates must have:

• One year and 2,000 hours of work experience
• 100 supervised practicum hours, including 35 hours of client evaluation using DSM/ASM criteria, 35 hours of community readiness evaluation and prevention, and 30 hours of treatment planning and case management
• 20 training hours, including three hours of NAADAC ethics, three hours of NAADAC confidentiality, six hours of infection disease or HIV/AIDS, and eight hours of addictive behaviors
• Three references, one must be from a supervisor
• $195 fee
• A completed application

If the candidate doesn’t have a degree, they must have a total of 148 hours fo education, including the courses required for the technician certification, as well as 12 hours psycho-physiology, 16 hours motivational interviewing, 12 hours DSM practice, 12 hours ASAM practice, and 12 hours co-occurring disorders.

To earn a Chemical Dependency Counselor II certification, candidates must have:

• Three years and 6,000 hours of work experience
• 200 supervised practicum hours (100 must be the same hours as required for the level I counselor certification; the other 100 must comprise 60 hours of evaluation, treatment and case management, 20 hours of quality assurance, and 20 hours of clinical leadership)
• 48 training hours, including three hours of NAADAC ethics, three hours of NAADAC confidentiality, six hours of infection disease or HIV/AIDS, and eight hours in addictive behaviors, 16 hours in special issues in behavioral health services, and 12 hours in documentation quality assurance
• Pass the NAADAC exam level I, II, or MAC.
• Three references, one must be from a supervisor
• $210 fee
• Submit a completed application

If the candidate doesn’t have a degree, they must have a total of 176 hours of education. It must include courses required for the technician certification and level I, as well as 16 hours of special issues in behavioral health services and 12 hours of documentation and quality assurance.

To earn the Clinical Supervisors certification, candidates must have:

• Five years and 10,000 hours of work experience
• 300 supervised practicum hours (200 must be the same hours as required for the level I and II counselor certification; the last 100 must be 60 hours clinical team leadership, 20 hours of role modeling, and 20 hours of consulting)
• 78 training hours, including three hours of NAADAC ethics, three hours of NAADAC confidentiality, six hours of infection disease or HIV/AIDS, eight hours in addictive behaviors, 16 hours in special issues in behavioral health services, 12 hours in documentation quality assurance, and 30 hours of principles and practices in supervision
• Passing score on the NAADAC exam level I, II, or MAC
• Three references, one must be from a supervisor
• $230 fee
• A completed application

If the candidate doesn’t have a degree, they must have a total of 206 hours of education, including the courses required for the technician, level I, and level II certifications, as well as 30 hours of principles and practices of supervision.

Certifications in Alaska must be renewed every two years. Fees are the following: Counselor Technicians $165, Chemical Dependency Counselor I $180, Chemical Dependency Counselor II $195, and Clinical Supervisors $215.

No continuing education hours are required.

Board of Professional Counselors

Rehabilitation counselors in Alaska must be Licensed Professional Counselors through the Board of Professional Counselors. Candidates may be licensed through credentials or examination.

To be licensed through credentials, candidates must:

• Submit a completed and notarized application.
• Pay the $200 application fee.
• Pay the $250 initial licensure fee.
• Submit a background check.
• Supply verification that they hold a valid counseling license in another state.
• Have at least 60 graduate semester hours in counseling.
• Submit proof of 40 continuing education credits, including three in ethics, completed in the past two years.

Candidates applying for licensure through examination must:

• Submit a completed and notarized application
• Pay the $200 application fee
• Pay the $250 initial licensure fee
• Submit a background check
• Provide official transcripts of a master’s or doctorate degree in counseling or related field from a regionally accredited institution. The program must be at least 60 semester hours.
• Provide a passing NCE score from within the past three years
• Complete (and supply proof of) 3,000 hours of supervised work experience, 1,000 of those hours must be direct counseling and 100 hours be face-to-face supervision.

Rehabilitation counselors (licensed counselors) in Alaska are required to renew their licenses biennially. In order to renew they must:

• Pay a $250 renewal fee. If it is the first renewal, and licensure was held for 12 months or less, the fee is $125
• Submit 40 continuing education credits from approved providers, three of those hours must be in ethics. If it is the first renewal and licensure was held for 12 months or less only 20 hours are required, if licensure was held for between 12 to 18 months 30 hours are required.

Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing

ABA therapists in Alaska must obtain either a Behavior Analyst or Assistant Behavior Analyst license.

Candidates for an Assistant Behavior Analyst license must:

• Submit a completed and notarized application
• Pay $200 application fee, $60 fingerprint processing fee, and $150 licensure fee
• Complete a background check
• Hold BCaBA (Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst) certification
• Provide verification of supervision

Requirements for a Licensed Behavior Analyst credential are:

• Submit a completed and notarized application
• Pay $200 application fee, $60 fingerprint processing fee, and $150 licensure fee
• Complete a background check
• Hold BCBA certification

Both the Behavior Analyst and Assistant Behavior Analyst licenses in Alaska must be renewed biennially. The cost for an analyst to renew is $250 while the cost for an assistant is $150.

There are no continuing education requirements for Alaska; however, there are continuing education requirements to maintain a BCBA national certification.

The Alaska Board of Marital and Family Therapy licenses Marital and Family Therapy Associates and Marital and Family Therapists.

Marital and Family Therapy Associate license requirements are:

• Submit a completed application
• Pay $350 application fee and $600 initial license fee
• Have a master’s or doctorate in marital and family therapy (or allied mental health field) from a regionally accredited institution
• Complete a plan of supervision

The requirements for a Marital and Family Therapist license are:

• Submit a completed application
• Pay $350 application fee and $1,250 initial license fee
• Have a master’s or doctorate in marital and family therapy or allied mental health field from a regionally accredited institution
• Complete 1,700 hours of supervised clinical work experience; at least 1,500 hours must be direct client contact and 200 hours must be supervision
• Complete six hours of continuing education in domestic violence
• Pass the AMFTRB exam

Marital and Family Therapy Associate licenses in Alaska are valid for four years and may not be renewed.

Marital and Family Therapist licenses issued in Alaska expire on December 31st of odd-numbered years. The fee to renew is $1,250.

To renew, therapists must complete 45 hours of continuing education. The hours must include two hours in ethics, two hours in addictions, two hours in cross-cultural education, and two hours in domestic violence.

Child therapists in Alaska must be Licensed Professional Counselors through the Board of Professional Counselors. Candidates may be licensed through credentials or examination.

To be licensed through credentials, candidates must:

• Submit a completed and notarized application.
• Pay the $200 application fee.
• Pay the $250 initial licensure fee.
• Submit a background check.
• Supply verification that they hold a valid counseling license in another state.
• Have at least 60 graduate semester hours in counseling.
• Submit proof of 40 continuing education credits, including three in ethics, completed in the past two years.

Candidates applying for licensure through examination must:

• Submit a completed and notarized application
• Pay the $200 application fee
• Pay the $250 initial licensure fee
• Submit a background check
• Provide official transcripts of a master’s or doctorate degree in counseling or related field from a regionally accredited institution. The program must be at least 60 semester hours.
• Provide a passing NCE score from within the past three years
• Complete (and supply proof of) 3,000 hours of supervised work experience, 1,000 of those hours must be direct counseling and 100 hours be face-to-face supervision.

Child therapists (licensed counselors) in Alaska are required to renew their licenses biennially. In order to renew they must:

• Pay a $250 renewal fee. If it is the first renewal, and licensure was held for 12 months or less, the fee is $125
• Submit 40 continuing education credits from approved providers, three of those hours must be in ethics. If it is the first renewal and licensure was held for 12 months or less only 20 hours are required, if licensure was held for between 12 to 18 months 30 hours are required.