1. (a) The department will issue an advanced special services certificate (Advanced Type C) to an applicant who qualifies for a special services certificate (Type C) under 4 AAC 12.355, as applicable, and who

   1. (1) earns national certification;

   2. (2) submits to the department

      1. (A) a completed application form provided by the department for an advanced special services certificate;
      2. (B) a copy of the national certification for each area for which advanced special services certification is sought;

      3. (C) unless the applicant has successfully passed a criminal background check to obtain, reinstate, or renew a certificate in this state,

         1. (i) one completed fingerprint card, with fingerprinting performed by a law enforcement agency or a person who has been trained in recording fingerprints, for separate submittal to the Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the department will accept a name-based criminal history background check on an applicant from the agency performing the background check if the requirements of AS 14.20.020(j) are met; and
         2. (ii) the fee for the criminal history background check in the amount charged by the Department of Public Safety as set out in 13 AAC 68.900;
   3. (3) if required by (2)(C) of this subsection, successfully passes the criminal background check in the same manner as a teacher certified under AS 14.20.020 and 4 AAC 12.300; and
   4. (4) has met the requirements of 4 AAC 12.397(a).

2. (b) An advanced special services certificate is valid only for

   1. (1) each area of national certification that the applicant holds; and
   2. (2) the term of the applicable national certification.
3. (c) An advanced special services certificate may be renewed without paying a renewal fee by submitting to the department a copy of a new or renewed national certification for the area for which advanced special services certification is sought.
4. (d) An advanced special services certificate is not required to teach in this state.
5. (e) An advanced special services certificate may be held in lieu of a regular special services certificate.

6. (f) The holder of an advanced special services certificate whose regular special services certificate expires before the corresponding advanced special services certificate may reinstate the expired special services certificate upon submission of

   1. (1) a completed application for renewal under 4 AAC 12.405;
   2. (2) a transcript showing six semester hours of credit that meets the requirements of 4 AAC 12.405(a);
   3. (3) the fee required under 4 AAC 12.300(g)(1) for initial issuance of a regular certificate; and

   4. (4) proof of current employment that requires a teacher certificate in a public school of this state or, in lieu of that submission,

      1. (A) submission of

         1. (i) one completed fingerprint card, with fingerprinting performed by a law enforcement agency or a person who has been trained in recording fingerprints, for separate submittal to the Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the department will accept a name-based criminal history background check on a person from the agency performing the background check if the requirements of AS 14.20.020(j) are met; and
         2. (ii) the fee for the criminal background check in the amount charged by the Department of Public Safety as set out in 13 AAC 68.900; and
      2. (B) successful passage of a criminal background check in the same manner as a teacher certified under AS 14.20.020 and 4 AAC 12.300.
7. (g) In this section, "national certification" means certification in one or more areas that is earned by meeting the standards set out by a nationally recognized education governing body approved by the commissioner.

(Eff. 9/29/2005, Register 175; am 4/24/2016, Register 218)