Alaska: school, college and career rules
Alaska requires at least 21 units of credit (including a half unit of Alaska history), tests with AK STAR in grades 3 to 9 and the Alaska Science Assessment, gives resident tuition at the University of Alaska after 12 months' domicile, and funds the merit-based Alaska Performance Scholarship (up to $28,000) and the need-based Alaska Education Grant.
Linked from the State Population Totals 2020-2025 page (census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-total.html); population and rank copied from the POPESTIMATE2025 and NRANK_POPEST2025 columns.Census
High school diploma
4 AAC 06.075 (State Board of Education): each district's graduation plan must require at least 21 units of credit, including at least these subject units: cnsonline.alaska.gov answers 'Request Rejected' to India; read through a US-based fetch. Last amended 3/6/2015, Register 213.4 AAC
| Subject | State minimum |
|---|---|
| Language arts | 4 units |
| Social studies | 3 units, including ½ unit of Alaska history (or meeting the Alaska history performance standards) |
| Mathematics | 3 units (for graduates from 1 July 2017) |
| Science | 2 units |
| Health/physical education | 1 unit |
21 units of credit (districts set the rest).
State tests for the diploma
The state rule sets units of credit only; each district's plan adds its own requirements. A unit of credit is earned with a passing grade by meeting the course content standards set by the local school board. cnsonline.alaska.gov answers 'Request Rejected' to India; read through a US-based fetch. Last amended 3/6/2015, Register 213.4 AAC
Also good to know
- Transfer students who earned 13 units outside the district may be excused from district subject requirements, and the Alaska history rule does not apply to students who transfer in after their second year of high school or already passed another state's history course.
4 AAC
4 AAC 06.075, High school graduation requirements (filed regulation, Register 213)State of Alaska, Lieutenant Governor (filed regulations), Department of Education and Early Development- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
cnsonline.alaska.gov answers 'Request Rejected' to India; read through a US-based fetch. Last amended 3/6/2015, Register 213.
View source
State test: AK STAR and the Alaska Science Assessment
Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) and Alaska Science Assessment. The Department of Education and Early Development gives AK STAR, built with NWEA to connect interim and end-of-year testing, in English language arts and math for grades 3 to 9, and the Alaska Science Assessment, based on the 2019 K-12 Science Standards for Alaska, in grades 5, 8 and 10. Science grades from the Alaska Science Assessment page (education.alaska.gov/assessments/science).DEED
| Test | Subjects | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| AK STAR | English language arts and mathematics | Grades 3–9 |
| Alaska Science Assessment | Science | Grades 5, 8 and 10 |
| Alternate assessments | ELA, math and science | Students with significant cognitive disabilities |
Source: DEED
View source
What the scores are used for
- The Alaska Performance Scholarship needs a rigorous high school curriculum plus either a minimum GPA or a minimum standardized test score.
ACPE
Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS)Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
National tests (SAT, ACT, AP, NAEP) are on the Exams hub.
Public colleges and universities
The state's public university system(s) and community colleges, from their own pages.
- University of Alaska SystemUniversity system · Three universities (University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks and University of Alaska Southeast) with campuses across Alaska, offering short workforce courses through associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
- UAF Community and Technical CollegeCommunity colleges · The University of Alaska Fairbanks' community college: more than 40 career-focused occupational endorsements, certificates and associate degrees, transfer pathways and workforce training in Fairbanks, Tok and communities across Alaska, accredited by NWCCU.
Sources: University of Alaska
View sourceUAF CTC
View source
Every school in Alaska, public and private, with cost and completion: 10 colleges, community colleges and trade schools, with 1 city pages.
In-state tuition: the residency rule
Public colleges charge less to state residents. Who counts as a resident is set by state law or the college system, not by where you went to school alone.
- University of Alaska Regulation R05.10.050: a resident is a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen who is physically present with intent to remain indefinitely, has kept Alaska domicile for at least the 12 consecutive months before the end of add/drop, and claims no residency elsewhere.
UA Regents
Regents' Policy and University Regulation Chapter 05.10, Tuition and Student Fees (R05.10.050, Nonresident Tuition)University of Alaska Board of Regents- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- Proof of presence includes moving household goods, a lease or property, or permanent employment in Alaska for the past 12 months; receiving (or qualifying for) a Permanent Fund Dividend in the last 12 months creates a presumption of residency.
UA Regents
Regents' Policy and University Regulation Chapter 05.10, Tuition and Student Fees (R05.10.050, Nonresident Tuition)University of Alaska Board of Regents- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- Being away from Alaska for more than 90 days in total during the 12 months (other than for illness or school), voting or holding a driver's license in another state disqualifies the claim. Active-duty military, Guard, reservists and VA-benefit veterans (and their spouses and dependents) pay resident tuition.
UA Regents
Regents' Policy and University Regulation Chapter 05.10, Tuition and Student Fees (R05.10.050, Nonresident Tuition)University of Alaska Board of Regents- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
The college's residency office makes the final decision. More on costs: What college costs.
State financial aid
Run by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE). Federal aid (Pell Grants, loans) starts with the FAFSA: FAFSA, grants and loans.
Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS)
Alaska's merit scholarship, up to $28,000 in total, for Alaska high school students who complete a specific rigorous curriculum in grades 9–12 and meet a minimum GPA or test score (AS 14.43.810–849, AS 14.03.113, 4 AAC 43). ACPE
View source
Alaska Education Grant (AEG)
Need-based grant of $500 to $4,000 a year for Alaska students at qualifying Alaska institutions, based on the FAFSA's Student Aid Index; awards go first to prior recipients and by FAFSA filing date, so file early. ACPE
View source
Licensing boards
Lawyers, doctors, CPAs and nurses need a Alaska license from a state board, even after passing a national exam. These are the boards that grant it.
| License | Alaska board | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer How bar admission works | Alaska Bar Association, Law Examiners Committee | Uniform Bar Exam (MBE, MEE and MPT). MPRE required (passing score 80). NextGen UBE from July 2028. NCBEAlaska: bar admission informationNational Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)
Bar admission agency, the NCBE exams the jurisdiction requires, MPRE passing score and NextGen UBE plans. NCBE advises checking the agency itself for the latest rules. View source |
| Physician How a medical license works | Alaska State Medical Board | USMLE (M.D.) or COMLEX-USA (D.O.) FSMBContact a State Medical BoardFederation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Directory of every state's medical (and separate osteopathic) board. fsmb.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 14 Sep 2026; each board link was then opened on 22 Oct 2026, through the board's site or, where it blocks reads from India, its latest archive capture. View source |
| CPA How the CPA license works | Alaska Board of Public Accountancy | Uniform CPA Examination NASBAState Boards of AccountancyNational Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)
Directory of the 55 boards of accountancy. nasba.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 15 Oct 2026; board links that had moved were replaced with the board's current page, opened on 22 Oct 2026. View source |
| Registered nurse How the RN license works | Alaska Board of Nursing | NCLEX-RN · Not in the Nurse Licensure Compact NCSBNContact Alaska Board of NursingNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
NCSBN / NLCNLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF)National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact)
|
Engineering, teaching, real estate, cosmetology and the trades have their own boards: all professional licenses · trades and apprenticeships.
State and city government jobs
Federal jobs are on USAJOBS; state and city governments hire through their own systems.
Workplace Alaska
State of Alaska
- Search and apply for State of Alaska jobs on Workplace Alaska; students filter by Job Type = Intern and current classified employees check the state-employee listings.
- The Alaska Administrative Code limits most vacancy announcements to applicants domiciled or claiming residency in Alaska; people who do not meet the residency rules can apply only for jobs posted as All Applicant.
Source: workplace.alaska.gov itself answers 'Request Rejected' to India and refused a US-based connection.Workplace Alaska
Police, fire and other public-safety routes: Public Service & Safety hub.
Registered apprenticeship
Alaska has no State Apprenticeship Agency: the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship registers programs here. California is listed under both OA and SAA.Apprenticeship.gov
- Alaska Apprenticeship Office (U.S. Department of Labor)Alaska has no recognized State Apprenticeship Agency: the U.S. Department of Labor's Alaska Apprenticeship Office registers and oversees programs.
- Trades and apprenticeshipsElectrician, plumber, HVAC and other trade routes on this site
Source: Apprenticeship.gov
View source
Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- Annual Estimates of Resident Population Change for the United States, States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and State Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 (NST-EST2025-POPCHG2020-2025, CSV) · U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025) checked 2026-10-21
- Alaska: bar admission information · National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact a State Medical Board · Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) checked 2026-10-22
- State Boards of Accountancy · National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact Alaska Board of Nursing · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) checked 2026-10-22
- NLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF) · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact) checked 2026-10-07
- 4 AAC 06.075, High school graduation requirements (filed regulation, Register 213) · State of Alaska, Lieutenant Governor (filed regulations), Department of Education and Early Development checked 2026-10-22
- AK STAR: Alaska System of Academic Readiness · Alaska Department of Education and Early Development checked 2026-10-22
- Assessments · Alaska Department of Education and Early Development checked 2026-10-22
- Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) · Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education checked 2026-10-22
- UA System · University of Alaska System checked 2026-10-22
- UAF Community & Technical College · University of Alaska Fairbanks checked 2026-10-22
- Regents' Policy and University Regulation Chapter 05.10, Tuition and Student Fees (R05.10.050, Nonresident Tuition) · University of Alaska Board of Regents checked 2026-10-22
- Alaska Education Grant (AEG) · Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education checked 2026-10-22
- Workplace Alaska (State of Alaska job listings) · State of Alaska checked 2026-10-22
- State Offices: Office of Apprenticeship and State Apprenticeship Agency contacts by state · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21
- The Apprenticeship System: Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and recognized State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) states · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21