Providing for the protection, education, and welfare of Alaskans
The purpose of Institutional Authorization (IA) is “to provide for the protection, education, and welfare of the citizens of the state, its postsecondary educational institutions, and its students” (AS 14.48.010). In other words, IA serves an educational consumer protection function. The statutes and regulations governing postsecondary education in Alaska specifically address:
It is important to note that Institutional Authorization does not automatically provide approval to participate in ACPE funding programs, such as the Alaska Performance Scholarship, Alaska Education Grant, or Educational Loans. Additionally, it does not automatically provide approval to participate in funding sources provided through other state or federal agencies.
Authorization to operate a postsecondary educational institution in Alaska, or simply “Authorization,” is granted by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) to individuals and postsecondary educational institutions that apply for Authorization and demonstrate meeting the minimum standards of operation set forth in law.
ACPE awards Exemption from Authorization to individuals and institutions that qualify under the law or regulations for Exemption from some or all of the requirements of Institutional Authorization. Exemptions are not automatic and must be awarded by ACPE, unless otherwise noted. An individual or institution should never assume they are Exempt. If they cannot qualify for Exemption, the institution must be Authorized.
Authorization or Exemption status is required for any individual or institution wishing to offer credits, degrees, certificates, or other credentials within the State of Alaska under AS 14.48. It is illegal to operate a postsecondary educational institution, advertise or deliver postsecondary education, or recruit postsecondary students, without either Authorization or Exemption from ACPE.
Institutions applying for an Initial Authorization to operate in Alaska must meet minimum standards, as established in Alaska Statute (AS) 14.48 and Section 20 of the Alaska Administrative Code (AAC) Chapter 17. The minimum standards are outlined in the Initial Application for Authorization to Operate a Postsecondary Institution.
The completed application and all supporting documentation outlined in the packet, in one submission, should be emailed to EED.ACPE-IA@alaska.gov or sent via Alaska ZendTo. The non-refundable application fee must be mailed P.O. Box 110505 Juneau, AK 99811-0505. All Initial Authorization applications require Commission approval and must be submitted at least 90 days before the Commission meeting at which the application is to be considered. Meetings are scheduled in January, April, July, and October.
The Initial Authorization application process is follows:
Once an individual or institution is Authorized, any amendments or changes to the materials submitted with the application for Authorization must be submitted to ACPE for approval before implementation, including but not limited to policies, procedures, published documents, physical plant, faculty or staff. See Changes to Authorization tab for more details.
The completed Renewal of Authorization application and all supporting documentation outlined in the packet, in one submission, should be emailed to EED.ACPE-IA@alaska.gov or sent via Alaska ZendTo. All Renewal of Authorization applications require Commission approval and must be submitted at least 90 days before the date on which the institution’s current Authorization it scheduled to expire.
There are no fees for Renewal of Authorization as institutions participate in Annual Reporting.
The application process is as follows:
Once an individual or institution has received a Renewal of Authorization, any amendments or changes to the materials submitted with the Renewal application must be submitted to ACPE for approval before implementation, including but not limited to policies, procedures, published documents, physical plant, faculty or staff. See Changes to Authorization tab for more details.
All Authorized institutions must submit Annual Reporting information, which is a separate process from Renewal of Authorization.
Authorized institutions must file an Annual Report which documents an institution’s compliance with life and safety requirements, fiscal responsibility, and student outcome reporting metrics. The Annual Reporting application is found under Applications>Authorization>Annual Reporting.
The completed application and all supporting documentation outlined in the packet, in one submission, should be emailed to EED.ACPE-IA@alaska.gov or sent via Alaska ZendTo. The Annual Reporting fee must be mailed separately to P.O. Box 110505 Juneau, AK 99811-0505.
Both the Annual Reporting Form and Fee must be submitted before the December 1st deadline. Staff may assess a late fee if an institution fails to provide the information on or before the December 1st deadline.
Amendments to Authorization, Administrative Approval, Change of Ownership
Status changes that depart from the information specified in the institution's most recent Renewal of Authorization application must be approved by the Commission before implementation, regardless of it requiring or not requiring Commission action. Amendments to Authorization or a Change of Owner require Commission Action, and some changes to an institution's Authorization may be change via Administrative Approval.
Institutions may submit amendments (or changes) to the Institution's Authorization status, including Programs, Locations, and Mission.
The Amendment Application, fee, and all supporting materials must be submitted to ACPE at least 90 days before the quarterly Commission meeting at which the application will be considered.
An Authorized insitution shall notify the Commission before entering into contracts or negotiations related to sale of the institution. At least 30 days before the effective date of a Change of Ownership of an institution, the new owner shall submit an Application for Initial Authorization and application fee. The completed application must include the required fee a description of any changes to be made at the institution as a result of the Change in Ownership, the effective date of the change, and a statement of the assets and obligations that will be transferred. Upon determination that the application is complete, the Commission staff shall place the application on the agenda for the next Commission meeting. An institution that administers financial aid on behalf of the Commission must have a Change in Ownership approved in order to be eligible to continue to administer that aid. Upon approval by the Commission, the Commission will award Authorization status to the institution under new ownership.
Not all items require Commission action and may be Administratively Approved if they are not substantive. Changes that may follow the Administrative Approval process include:
ACPE awards Exemptions to those individuals or institutions that qualify under the law or regulations for exemption from some or all of the requirements of Institutional Authorization. Exemptions are not automatic and must be awarded by ACPE, unless otherwise noted. An individual and institution should never assume it is exempt. If an individual or institution cannot qualify for an Exemption, they will need to be Authorized.
There are two types of Exemptions: Statutory and Regulatory. Here are the statutorily exempt programs in which the Commission does not have any purview or authority over:
(1) instruction provided at a level from preschool through grade 12, including preparation for general equivalency diploma examinations;
(2) a program operated by the United States; (Example: Program offered by the Federal Bureau of Land Management or FEMA. If the program is offered by a non-federal entity(person or institution), but leads to a federal educational credential, the entity, and does not meet any other Statutory Exemption, the entity must obtain Authorization or an Exemption from Institutional Authorization).
(3) a program that does not offer educational credentials and is provided only to prepare individuals to take graduate examinations; (Example: A program that prepares someone to take the Alaska Bar Association’s Bar Exam)
(4) a program that does not offer educational credentials and is only avocational or recreational in nature; (Example: Bird watching or pottery class)
(5) a program that is in a field that (A) does not require a professional or occupational license under AS 08; (B) provides training primarily for recreational purposes; and (C) at the advanced training level, prepares program graduates to teach or instruct in that field. (Example: Yoga or Physical Fitness Instructor)
Disclaimer: If an individual or institution provides any programs that do not meet one of the above requirements (including programs that are vocational in nature), then they will be required to obtain Authorization or Regulatory Exemption from Institutional Authorization from the Commission for those specific programs.
If you feel your entity is Statutorily Exempt, please contact ACPE prior to submitting an application.
Relevant Definitions:
For individuals and institutions that do not qualify for a Statutory Exemption, they may qualify for one of the following Regulatory Exemptions:
Regulatory Exemption Application Process:
The completed Exemption from Authorization application and all supporting documentation outlined in the packet should be submitted together, in one email, to EED.ACPE-IA@alaska.gov or sent via Alaska ZendTo. The $250 non-refundable application fee must be mailed P.O. Box 110505 Juneau, AK 99811-0505. All Exempt applications are reviewed and approved by Commission staff, and can be approved for up to five years. Should a change occur in the organization or program from what has been approved, it will be necessary to notify the Commission, at which time the Exempt status may be reevaluated.
Exemption status is required for any individual or institution wishing to offer credits, degrees, certificates, or other credentials within the State of Alaska, as individuals or institutions must be either authorized or exempted from authorization under AS 14.48. It is illegal to operate a postsecondary educational institution, advertise or deliver postsecondary education, or recruit postsecondary students, without either Authorization or Exemption from ACPE.
If an individual or institution is unable to obtain Exemption status, they must be Authorized. See Initial Authorization.
ACPE awards Exemptions to those institutions that qualify under the law or regulations for exemption from some or all of the requirements of Institutional Authorization for the purposes of online or distance education. An application must be submitted for this Exemption, and this Exemption must be awarded to advertise programs to those residing in Alaska.
For institutions participating in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), or for more information, please see the tab titled "SARA".
For out-of-state institutions that do not participate in SARA, institutions may qualify for the following Regulatory Exemption from institutional authorization:
Physical presence is defined as the presence within the state of paid staff or faculty, or a facility or address; in this paragraph, "faculty" and "staff" does not include site supervisors or mentors for local internships or practica, or adjunct personnel; staff or faculty residing within the state but working from a location other than the facility of a postsecondary educational institution does not constitute a physical presence.
A distance education or online program Exempt from Authorization requirements must include a conspicuous statement on the institution’s marketing in the state indicating that the program is Exempt from Authorization under AS 14.48 and 20 AAC 17.015 because the program is online or distance-delivered and does not have a physical presence in the state.
Institutions whose name includes the words “University” or “College” must be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Online/Distance Education Exemption for Institutional Authorization Process The completed application and all supporting documentation outlined in the packet should be submitted together in one email to EED.ACPE-IA@alaska.gov or sent via Alaska ZendTo. The $250 non-refundable application fee must be mailed P.O. Box 110505 Juneau, AK 99811-0505. Online/Distance Education Exempt applications are reviewed and approved by Commission staff, and can be approved for up to two years. Should a change occur in the organization or program from what has been approved for Exemption it will be necessary to notify the Commission, at which time the Institution's Exempt status may be re-evaluated.
In May 2014, Alaska was approved by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) to become a member of the WICHE State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (W-SARA). The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) has been designated as the state portal, or lead, agency for all SARA-related matters.
What is SARA?
SARA is a voluntary agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable nationwide standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. SARA does not supersede state laws governing institutions with a physical presence in the state.
Prior to SARA, accredited postsecondary institutions were required to obtain approval to deliver distance education in every state in which online degree or certificate programs were offered. Under SARA, colleges or universities in a SARA state only need authorization from the state where the main/central campus or central administrative unit resides – known as the "home state" – to offer distance education to residents of any other SARA member state.
The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) oversees SARA agreements. Four regional higher education interstate compacts are responsible for implementing the agreements in their member states. Alaska is a member of the WICHE compact.
Each SARA member state is required to designate a portal agency responsible for overseeing SARA-related activities in that state. As Alaska's designated portal agency, ACPE is responsible for:
Accredited, degree-granting institutions in Alaska that offer distance education courses can seek approval from ACPE to participate in SARA. If approved, these institutions will be able to deliver distance education to students in any other SARA member state without needing to seek independent authorization from those states.
Accredited postsecondary Alaska institutions may apply for SARA participation by completing the Application and Approval Form for Institution Participation in SARA & the Addendum to Institutional Participation in SARA Form.
The following Alaska institutions have been approved to participate in SARA:
A list of SARA-participating institutions in other SARA member states can be found on the NC-SARA website.
Because SARA is voluntary, institutions that elect not to participate are still required to go through the authorization process in state where they wish to offer distance-delivered postsecondary education.
The standardized process requires that a student enrolled in a distance education program at a SARA-participating institution must first seek resolution of a complaint through the institution's published grievance or complaints process. Unresolved complaints may be brought to ACPE for review. If a person bringing a complaint is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process for handling complaints, the complaint (except for complaints about grades or student conduct violations) may be appealed, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to the SARA Portal Entity in the home state of the institution against which the complaint has been lodged. For more information, see Student Complaints.
The statutes or laws for the Regulation of Postsecondary Education Institutions is under Title 14, Chapter 48.
Regulations for the Regulation of Postsecondary Educational Institutions/
The regulations that interpret the laws for the Regulation of Postsecondary Education is under Title 20, Chapter 17 of the Alaska Administrative Code.
For Example, the statute states that a catalog may be required. The regulation details the specific requirements that must be found in a catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Statutes and Regulations/
A Postsecondary Education Institution means academic, vocational, technical, home study, business, professional, or other school, college, or university offering education primarily to persons who have completed or terminated their secondary education, or who are beyond the age of compulsory high school attendance, for attainment of educational, professional, or vocational objectives.
“To operate a postsecondary institution” means to establish or maintain a facility or location where education is provided or postsecondary educational credentials are granted to persons in the state and includes contracting with any person, group, or entity to operate such an educational institution.
An Educational Credential means degrees, diplomas, certificates, transcripts, reports, documents, or letters of designation, marks, appellations, series of letters, numbers, or words which signify, purport, or are generally taken to signify enrollment, attendance, progress, or satisfactory completion of the requirements or prerequisites for education at a postsecondary educational institution.
All individuals and institutions must apply for Authorization or Exemption from Institutional Authorization with the Commission, and follow all applicable statutes (laws) and the regulations that define them, including the following statutes:
They are in violation of Alaska law. ACPE is requesting voluntary compliance when an Institution is contacted. However, failure to comply may result in civil penalties and criminal violations, as outlined in AS 14.48.190 and AS 14.48.200.
Commission staff work with individuals and institutions to obtain voluntary compliance and may not require immediate instruction stoppage, discontinuation of enrollments, or websites to be taken down. However, if an institution has been provided a deadline to submit a good faith application, and the deadline passes, further correspondence is required, including but not limited to, the civil penalties and criminal violations above.
Individuals and institutions must still apply and receive a valid Authorization or Exemption from Institutional Authorization from ACPE to operate in the State of Alaska. Each agency has its statutory authority, and ACPEs and others complement each other.
ACPE only accepts Checks or ACH Transactions as a form of payment. Checks should be submitted with the application materials. If you or your Institution is interested in completing an ACH Transaction as a form of payment, please contact Commission Staff for details.
Exemptions from Institutional Authorization are valid for five years, at which time the individual or Institution will need to submit a new application.
Individuals and institutions applying for Initial Authorization are heard at the Commission’s quarterly meetings and may receive authorization for up to 18 months. At which time, the Authorized Institution would be subject to Renewals of Authorization, which are granted up to five years, based on Commission decision.
View Institutions
Please note that this is not a complete list of Exempt Institutions, as only schools located in Alaska are included. Exempt, out-of-state institutions offering distance education to Alaska residents are not listed.
The deadline for submitting Initial, Renewal, or Amendment of Authorization applications is October 17, 2025 to be heard at the January 15, 2026 Commission Meeting.
ACPE can only accept Checks or ACH Transactions as a form of payment. Checks should be submitted with the application materials. If your Institution is interested in completing an ACH Transaction as a form of payment, please reach out to Commission Staff for details. ACPE does not submit or fill out institutional supplier information forms or requests for institutional payment methods. A W-9 form is available for providers needing the State of Alaska’s taxpayer identification number to issue the application fee.
Email: Eed.acpe-ia@alaska.gov Tel: (907) 465-6741
What is the Immunization of Postsecondary Students or AS 14.48.165?
The Alaska Postsecondary Student Immunization Act (HB185) was signed into law, effective May 18, 2005. The requirements vary depending if a student is residing in campus housing (AS 14.48.165(a)) or if the student is physically present on the campus of the postsecondary educational institution (AS 14.48.165(b)). For students who are physically present, but not residing, the student must sign a document provided by the institution indicating that the student has received:
The individual or institution that receives an Exemption from Institutional Authorization must retain this documentation for a period of at least one year after the student’s last date of attendance. For more details about this statute, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.
ACPE maintains academic records for closed postsecondary institutions in Alaska, including Sheldon Jackson College and Alaska Junior College. Former students and graduates of closed postsecondary schools may request transcripts and/or diplomas using the transcript request form.
For more information about Alaska School Records, including information on how to find secondary school records, visit the State of Alaska archives.
A student is encouraged to pursue the complaint process at their institution prior to contacting ACPE. This process is outlined in the institution’s catalog.
For more information about the Student Complaint process or to request a Student Complaint form, click the link below.
Click here
The purpose of IA is “to provide for the protection, education, and welfare of the citizens of the state, its postsecondary educational institutions, and its students” (AS 14.48.010).
For more information about educational Consumer Protection, click the link below.