Best Counseling Programs in Alaska (2026)
Top CACREP-accredited counseling programs in Alaska for 2026, with tuition, LPC licensure, NCE or NCMHCE flexibility, no state income tax + Permanent Fund Dividend, 229 federally recognized tribes, IHS Loan Repayment up to $50,000, and the 3,000 supervised hours pathway.
Key Takeaways
- Alaska has only one CACREP-accredited counseling program: University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. UAF is delivered 100% online statewide, designed for Bush Alaska students who stay in their village. UAA and Alaska Pacific University are NOT CACREP-accredited.
- Alaska uses the LPC title. A new Licensed Associate Counselor tier was introduced via HB 126 / SB 116 (33rd Legislature) to formalize pre-licensure status.
- Becoming an LPC in Alaska requires a 60-credit master's, 3,000 supervised hours over a minimum of 2 years with 1,000 hours of direct client contact, 100 hours of face-to-face supervision by a Board-approved supervisor, fingerprint-based background check (Alaska DOJ + FBI), and passing the NCE or NCMHCE (Alaska accepts either).
- Alaska is NOT a Counseling Compact member state as of May 2026. AK is not listed among the 40+ enacted states. Practical effect: AK LPCs cannot use Compact privileges to practice in other Compact states, and out-of-state Compact licensees cannot practice into AK via the privilege.
- Alaska counselor salaries are among the highest in the country. BLS Alaska OEWS estimates place the median around $71,400/year, well above the national median of $59,190. Combined with no state income tax and the annual Permanent Fund Dividend (~$1,312 in 2024), real take-home is materially higher than any Lower-48 market.
- Alaska has 229 federally recognized tribes (more than any other state) and ~200+ Alaska Native villages. The state's suicide rate of 28.5 per 100,000 (213 suicides in 2023) is roughly 2x the national rate, with Alaska Native/American Indian Alaskans carrying the highest risk. Alaska also has one of the highest US opioid overdose rates (~37/100K in 2024, 2nd nationally after DC).
- The Alaska SHARP (Support for Healthcare Providers Program) offers LPCs up to $35,000/year (SHARP-1 Tier 1) for 2-year service in federally designated HPSA sites. SHARP-3 offers broader practitioner range over 3 years. IHS LRP offers up to $50,000 for tribal facility commitments.
Alaska is one of the most distinctive LPC markets in the country because of four factors that don't exist anywhere else combined: only one in-state CACREP program (UAF's 100% online M.Ed.), 229 federally recognized tribes (more than any other state), no state income tax plus Permanent Fund Dividend (~$1,312/year payment to every eligible resident), and extreme Bush Alaska workforce shortages (many villages have zero licensed behavioral health clinicians on-site; care is delivered by Behavioral Health Aides and telehealth).
The AK licensing path: complete a 60-credit master's in counseling or closely related field, apply for LPC with the Alaska Board of Professional Counselors under the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (DCBPL), accumulate 3,000 supervised hours over at least 2 years with 1,000 hours of direct client contact, receive 100 hours of face-to-face supervision by a Board-approved supervisor (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, psychologist, psychiatrist, psychological associate, or psych-mental health ANP per 12 AAC 62.200), pass the fingerprint background check, and pass the NCE or NCMHCE. Total time from master's to LPC: typically 2 to 3 years.
What makes Alaska distinct: the Behavioral Health Aide (BHA) program and the tribal behavioral health workforce. Alaska's BHA program (founded by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in 2009) is a unique paraprofessional pipeline with four certification tiers. The BHA-Practitioner is the supervisory tier. IHS funds the program at ~$4.6M/year through ANTHC. Many Alaska LPCs serve as BHA supervisors, which is a distinct career track from typical Lower-48 CMHC roles. Combined with stackable SHARP + NHSC + IHS LRP that can effectively retire student debt in 2-4 years for AK-licensed LPCs working rural, Alaska offers one of the most distinctive workforce stories in the country.
CACREP-Accredited Counseling Programs in Alaska
All 2 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) | ~$11,340/year (~$22,680 total over 2 years; resident graduate rate) | Fully online statewide | |
| 2 | Alaska Pacific University (NOT CACREP) | ~$725/credit (private, flat rate, ~$43,500 total at 60 credits) | Hybrid |
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
In-State
~$11,340/year (~$22,680 total over 2 years; resident graduate rate)
Out-of-State
~$22,140/year (non-resident)
Length
~3 years part-time typical (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (practicum + internship; placed in student's local community)
Concentrations
- <strong>The only CACREP-accredited counseling master's in Alaska</strong>
- Meets LPC education requirement out of the gate
- 100% online delivery built for rural Alaska: Bush students stay in their village
- <strong>Resident tuition is among the lowest CACREP-accredited tuitions in the US</strong>
- Faculty embedded in Alaska Native and rural behavioral health systems; placement supported across IHS, tribal health orgs, and the BHA pipeline
Alaska Pacific University (NOT CACREP)
In-State
~$725/credit (private, flat rate, ~$43,500 total at 60 credits)
Out-of-State
~$725/credit (private, flat rate)
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits, 600 practicum hours)
Field Hours
600+ practicum
Concentrations
- <strong>NOT CACREP-accredited.</strong> MS in Counseling Psychology designed to meet Alaska LPC requirements
- In-state Anchorage option for students preferring some on-campus experience
- Hybrid format: synchronous online evening classes + on-campus intensives every 6 weeks
- <strong>Critical caveat:</strong> non-CACREP affects portability outside AK and some federal loan repayment program eligibility (NHSC requires CACREP-aligned standards in many states)
- Listed for transparency; UAF's CACREP program is the safer pathway
LPC Licensure Requirements in Alaska
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
Alaska Board of Professional Counselors (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing)
(907) 269-8160
Alaska regulates LPCs through the Alaska Board of Professional Counselors, under the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (DCBPL) within the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.
Alaska uses the LPC title (Licensed Professional Counselor). A new Licensed Associate Counselor tier was introduced via HB 126 / SB 116 (33rd Legislature) to formalize pre-licensure status. Continuing education is 40 contact hours per 2-year renewal cycle. Reciprocity/endorsement is available case-by-case based on substantial equivalence review.
Licensed Associate Counselor (new tier per HB 126 / SB 116)
Supervised pre-licensure practice while accruing hours toward LPC
Hours
N/A
Duration
Associate
Exam: No exam at Associate; NCE or NCMHCE required for LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Independent clinical practice, mental health diagnosis and treatment, private practice, third-party billing
Hours
3,000
Duration
2 years minimum (supervisor: LPC, LCSW, LMFT, psychologist, psychiatrist, psychological associate, or psych-mental health ANP per 12 AAC 62.200)
Exam: NCE or NCMHCE
Alaska offers endorsement case-by-case based on substantial equivalence review. Alaska is NOT a Counseling Compact member state as of May 2026. AK is not listed among the 40+ enacted states. Practical effect: AK LPCs cannot use Compact privileges to practice in other Compact states, and out-of-state Compact licensees cannot practice into AK via the privilege to practice. This insulates AK's local LPC workforce from compact pressure but also constrains telehealth supply. Active legislative discussions are ongoing.
Counselor Salary in Alaska
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
Alaska counselor salaries are among the highest in the country. The BLS Alaska OEWS estimates place the median around $71,400/year, well above the national median of $59,190. Combined with no state income tax and the annual Permanent Fund Dividend (~$1,312 in 2024), real take-home pay is materially higher than any Lower-48 market.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
National median: $59,190
Top metro: $74,820 (Anchorage)
Mental Health Counselors (excluding substance abuse)
National median: $59,610
Top metro: $73,420 (Anchorage)
Marriage and Family Therapists
National median: $63,780
Top metro: $76,920 (Anchorage)
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors (School Counselors)
National median: $64,210
Top metro: $82,940 (Anchorage)
Alaska Counseling Job Market and Workforce
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
Alaska's counselor workforce is anchored by three urban centers (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau) with severe shortages across all rural/frontier census areas. The vast majority of Alaska's land area and population falls within a Mental Health HPSA, particularly all areas outside the Anchorage Municipality, Mat-Su, Fairbanks, and Juneau cores. Frontier "Bush" census areas (Bethel, Nome, Northwest Arctic, Yukon-Koyukuk, Aleutians East/West, Kusilvak, Dillingham) carry very high HPSA scores (18-25 of 25).
Major employers include Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) (Anchorage, the statewide tribal health organization serving 229 federally recognized tribes), Southcentral Foundation (Anchorage, Alaska Native Medical Center co-manager), Providence Alaska Medical Center (Anchorage flagship), Bartlett Regional Hospital (Juneau), Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) (state psychiatric facility in Anchorage), regional tribal health corporations (Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Maniilaq Association, Norton Sound Health Corporation, etc.), the VA Alaska Healthcare System, and the Alaska Department of Health Division of Behavioral Health.
Three workforce dynamics shape practice in AK:
Behavioral Health Aide (BHA) program: Alaska's BHA program (founded by ANTHC in 2009) is a unique paraprofessional pipeline with four certification tiers. Many AK LPCs serve as BHA supervisors. This is a distinctive career track not found in the Lower 48.
Suicide and opioid crisis: 213 suicides in 2023 with a rate of 28.5 per 100,000 (roughly 2x the national rate); Alaska Native/AI/AN populations carry the highest risk. One of the highest US opioid overdose rates (~37/100K in 2024, 2nd nationally after DC).
229 federally recognized tribes: More than any other state. IHS, ANTHC, and regional tribal health corporations are major LPC employers with strong loan repayment leverage.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
Alaska SHARP (Support for Healthcare Providers Program): SHARP-1 offers up to $35,000/year (Tier 1) or $20,000/year (Tier 2) in education loan repayment for licensed clinicians (including LPCs, LCSWs, LMFTs) serving in federally designated HPSA outpatient primary-care clinics. 2-year service obligation. SHARP-3 offers broader practitioner range, sites, and locales (3-year service obligation).
NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Federal program. LPCs are eligible. Up to $50,000 for 2-year full-time service at NHSC-approved sites in AK. HPSA scores in AK are high enough that AK applicants are unusually competitive.
Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program: Up to $50,000 for 2-year service for behavioral health providers (including LPCs) serving IHS, tribal, or urban Indian sites. With 229 federally recognized tribes in Alaska, IHS LRP eligibility is unusually broad.
NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce LRP: Up to $75,000 over 3 years for LPCs at SUD-focused NHSC sites. Strong fit for AK's opioid crisis response.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): LPCs employed at AK state agencies, VA Alaska, ANTHC, Southcentral Foundation, regional tribal health corporations, and qualifying nonprofit health systems all qualify for federal PSLF after 10 years of qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan.
How to Choose a Counseling Program in Alaska
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
Choosing a counseling program in Alaska is unusually focused: UAF is the only in-state CACREP option, delivered 100% online statewide. Alaska Pacific University is the in-state non-CACREP alternative. Many AK residents also pursue national online CACREP programs.
If you want CACREP accreditation: UAF is the only choice. 100% online delivery makes it accessible from anywhere in Alaska, including Bush villages. Resident tuition is among the lowest CACREP tuitions in the US.
If you live in Bush Alaska or need to stay in your village: UAF's online program is purpose-built for rural and tribal students. Field placements coordinated in student's local community.
If you want some on-campus experience in Anchorage: Alaska Pacific University offers a hybrid format (synchronous online evening + on-campus intensives every 6 weeks). Critical caveat: APU is NOT CACREP-accredited, which affects portability outside Alaska and some federal loan repayment eligibility.
If you want tribal behavioral health placement: UAF faculty are embedded in Alaska Native and rural behavioral health systems. Placement supported across IHS, tribal health organizations (ANTHC, Southcentral Foundation, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, etc.), and the BHA pipeline.
If you want maximum loan repayment leverage: SHARP + NHSC + IHS LRP can stack significantly. An AK-licensed LPC working rural can realistically retire student debt in 2-4 years. Working at an IHS or tribal site adds an additional layer of LRP eligibility.
If you want SUD specialization: Alaska's opioid crisis and high SUD prevalence create strong demand. NHSC SUD Workforce LRP adds up to $75,000 over 3 years. UAF has faculty research in substance use treatment.
If you want the BHA supervisor career path: The Alaska Behavioral Health Aide program is unique nationally. Many AK LPCs serve as BHA supervisors, which is a distinct career track from typical Lower-48 CMHC roles. UAF prepares graduates for this pipeline.
If you plan to leave Alaska: UAF's CACREP accreditation provides the safest portability. APU's non-CACREP status will complicate licensure in most other states. Counseling Compact is not yet available for AK, so endorsement-by-state remains the only out-of-state pathway.
Related Pages
Best Online Counseling Programs
National ranking of the top CACREP-accredited online counseling programs
Best Online Master's in Psychology
If you're still weighing psychology vs counseling at the master's level
Counselor Career Guide
What LPCs, LMHCs, and LPCCs actually do day-to-day
MSW Programs in Alaska
If you're weighing the social work pathway instead
Counseling Programs by State
Compare counseling programs across all 50 states
Sources
- CACREP, Directory of Accredited Programs
- Alaska Board of Professional Counselors
- Alaska License Verification
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Alaska Estimates
- NBCC, National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
- Alaska SHARP (Support for Healthcare Providers)
- Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program
- Counseling Compact, Member States