Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to become a police officer in Alaska
- Certifying body
- Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC)
- Certification
- APSC Basic Police Officer Certificate (intermediate and advanced certificates follow)
- Minimum age
- 21 at time of hire (13 AAC 85.010(a)(2)).
- Education
- High school diploma recognized by a state, a state- or district-recognized home-school diploma, or a passed GED (13 AAC 85.010(a)(4)).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen or U.S. national (13 AAC 85.010(a)(1)).
- Disqualifiers
- Any felony, or a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, at any time. Within the 10 years before hire: a crime of dishonesty or moral turpitude, a crime causing serious physical injury, or 2 or more DUIs. Prior denial, revocation or surrender of certification (unless rescinded), or a current suspension in another jurisdiction. Ever having manufactured, transported or sold controlled substances (exception: under age 21 and more than 10 years ago). Illegal use of Schedule IA-VA substances within 5 years, or of marijuana within 1 year (exceptions for use under age 21). Applicants must also have good moral character and pass a physician's medical exam and a psychiatrist's or psychologist's exam (13 AAC 85.010(a)-(b)).
- Basic academy
- Council-certified basic police officer academy: a minimum of 650 continuous hours covering 30 mandated topics (13 AAC 85.050). The DPS Alaska Law Enforcement Training (ALET) academy is in Sitka, and some municipal academies are certified. To graduate: at least 70% on each block and cumulatively, at least 75% on firearms, and excused absences no more than 10%.
- State exam
- None required
- Time to certify
- The academy must be completed within 13 months of hire (13 AAC 85.040(b)(4)). A department may not employ an uncertified officer for more than 13 consecutive months; the council may grant one extension of up to 6 months (13 AAC 85.020). Certification also requires a 12-consecutive-month probation with the employing department.
- Officers from other states
- Alaska never recognizes another state's certificate as reciprocal; it evaluates prior training instead (APSC User's Guide). Under 13 AAC 85.060 the council may waive part or all of the basic academy if the applicant has: an equivalent academy (at least 650 hours with the 13 AAC 85.050 topics; APSC may count in-service training and experience); a council-certified recertification academy of at least 80 hours (the annual roughly 2-week Recertification/Reciprocity Academy in Sitka); a department field training program; and 12 months of probation. No waiver is granted if a prior Alaska certificate lapsed more than 5 years earlier.
Alaska has no county sheriffs. The standards cover police officers of 'participating police departments', which include the Alaska Department of Public Safety (State Troopers) and municipal departments that have not opted out under AS 18.65.280(b) (13 AAC 85.900). Village police officers follow the separate 13 AAC 89 (13 AAC 85.005). Corrections, probation/parole and municipal corrections officers have their own standards in 13 AAC 85.200-.280. Police chiefs doing only administrative duties need not certify. 13 AAC 85.010 sets no driver-license requirement; agencies set their own. There is no state certification exam beyond the academy block exams. 13 AAC 85 sets no statewide fitness test: academies and agencies set their own, and the state requires only a physician's fitness certification (85.010(a)(5)). 13 AAC 85 has no recurring annual in-service hour requirement (in-service hours count toward intermediate and advanced certificates), though a certificate lapses after 12 consecutive months without police employment (13 AAC 85.120). The APSC User's Guide is dated June 1, 2021.
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in Alaska, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in Alaska, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | AK |
|---|---|
| Workers | 1,260 |
| 10th percentile | $60,670 |
| Median | $99,130 |
| 90th percentile | $137,340 |
| National median, government employers | $76,300 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pension in Alaska
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PERS Defined Contribution Retirement Plan (PERS Tier IV) - peace officers and firefighters PERS Tier IV (DCR Plan), peace officer/firefighter | — | account payable 60 days after termination at any age | 8% | Varies |
The statewide plan a new hire usually joins. Some cities and counties run their own plans; check with the employer. Each plan's formula, vesting, cost-of-living adjustment and retiree health are on the Alaska pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in Alaska
31 police departments in Alaska.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Alaska
Alaska Police Standards Council Peace Officer Certification ExamAlaska exam · free on Open Exam Prep- IPMA-HR / PSHRA Entry-Level Police Officer Test (PO-EL)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Law Enforcement Aptitude Battery (LEAB)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- National Criminal Justice Officer Selection Inventory (NCJOSI-3)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- National Police Officer Selection Test (POST)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NTN FrontLine National - Law Enforcement ExamPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Police Aptitude and Character Test (PACT)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Police Officer page.
Police Officer in other states
More government jobs in Alaska
Alaska government jobs · Alaska public pension plans · police officer standards in Alaska · exam practice in Alaska