Alaska’s psychology master’s programs span counseling, clinical, and school psychology across two Anchorage universities, Alaska Pacific University and the University of Alaska Anchorage. Most run two to three years and lead to state-level credentials such as the Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Psychological Associate, or Alaska school psychologist certificate. Requirements vary by program, so applicants should confirm current standards with the relevant state board.
Alaska has only two universities offering a psychology master’s degree, but three distinct program paths between them. The right fit depends less on the school and more on which state credential you’re working toward.
Choosing a Master’s Track: Counseling, Clinical, or School Psychology
A master’s in psychology in Alaska doesn’t lead to the title “licensed psychologist.” That credential requires a doctorate and the EPPP, covered separately in Alaska’s doctoral psychology programs. What a master’s degree opens up instead is a set of separate, master’s-level licenses, and which one you want should drive your choice of program.
If your goal is talk-based counseling in a community or private-practice setting, Alaska Pacific University’s counseling program is built around the coursework required for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential. If you want a broader clinical scope, the University of Alaska Anchorage’s clinical psychology program offers a Clinical track, whose 48 credits meet Alaska’s coursework requirement for the Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) credential, with 12 additional credits qualifying graduates for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential instead. The same degree also offers an ABAI-accredited Behavior Analysis track that prepares graduates for the national Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam, a prerequisite for Alaska’s separate Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) credential. A third option, also at UAA, trains school-based practitioners rather than clinicians: its new school psychology program leads to an Alaska Type C Special Services certificate for work in K-12 schools, not a clinical, counseling, or behavior-analyst license at all.
Alaska Psychology Master’s Programs at a Glance
Both universities are regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Program-specific accreditation and approval status is noted in each school section below.
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Pacific University | M.S. in Counseling Psychology | Clinical mental health counseling (LPC path) | Anchorage, AK |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | M.S. in Clinical Psychology | Clinical track (LPA, or LPC with added credits) or ABAI-accredited Behavior Analysis track (LBA path) | Anchorage, AK |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | M.S. in School Psychology, Specialist | K-12 school psychology (Type C certificate) | Anchorage, AK |
Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage
Counseling Psychology M.S. (MSCP)
Alaska Pacific University’s MSCP is Alaska’s only university-based program built around the full academic coursework for the Licensed Professional Counselor credential. It runs in a five-semester format designed around working adults, with intentionally small cohorts and hands-on training in counseling theory, skills, and practice.
Required coursework includes professional orientation and ethics, advanced human development, advanced abnormal psychology, assessment in counseling, group counseling, couples and family therapy, career and lifestyle counseling, a professional seminar, and a supervised counseling internship. Graduates go on to work as mental health clinicians, school-based and nationally certified counselors, and chemical dependency counselors, and some continue into APU’s psychology doctorate program.
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU, institutional)
Contact: Anchorage, AK
University of Alaska Anchorage
UAA’s Department of Psychology is the state’s largest center for behavioral science training, and it now offers two distinct master’s paths depending on whether you’re aiming for clinical practice or school-based work.
Clinical Psychology M.S.
UAA’s clinical psychology master’s is a 48-credit program designed to meet Alaska’s master’s-level licensing prerequisites. The Clinical track’s base of 48 credits qualifies graduates to pursue the Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) credential, and 12 additional credits qualify graduates for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential instead. The Behavior Analysis track, added in 2021 and accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), prepares graduates for the national Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam, a prerequisite for Alaska’s separate Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) credential. Both tracks require a research thesis or thesis-equivalent project presented to a faculty panel, plus supervised clinical training through a practicum and internship.
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU, institutional)
Contact: Anchorage, AK
School Psychology M.S., Specialist
UAA launched this program in fall 2025 as Alaska’s first in-state training path for school psychologists, addressing a shortage that had left most districts contracting with out-of-state practitioners. The 63-credit program combines coursework with a 300-hour practicum and a 1,200-hour internship in a school setting, and graduates become eligible for Alaska’s Provisional Type C Special Services certificate as well as the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential through NASP’s portfolio process.
The program received conditional approval from the Alaska State Board of Education in January 2026 and is pursuing full accreditation through the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), with 2029 as the earliest possible accreditation date. It is not yet NASP-accredited, so applicants planning to work outside Alaska should confirm how the state-approval pathway is recognized elsewhere. Readers weighing an established, accredited option can browse affordable school psychology programs nationwide or read more about the education a school psychologist needs.
Accreditation: State-approved by the Alaska State Board of Education. NASP accreditation pending.
Contact: Anchorage, AK
Three programs, two schools, and three different licenses at the end of them. Whichever path fits, Alaska’s small applicant pools mean early contact with a program’s admissions office is worth as much as the coursework itself.
What Master’s-Level Psychology Roles Pay in Alaska
Master’s-level psychology and counseling roles are classified separately from doctoral-level “psychologist” positions in BLS data. For the occupations these Alaska programs actually lead to, the BLS reports the following for Alaska as of May 2025:
| Occupation (Alaska) | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| School Psychologists | $94,460 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $80,770 |
Projections Central estimates 10.1% growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Alaska between 2022 and 2032, with about 90 average annual openings statewide. A comparable state-specific growth figure isn’t published separately for school psychologists.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many psychology master’s programs does Alaska have?
Alaska has three: a counseling psychology M.S. at Alaska Pacific University, and both a clinical psychology M.S. and a new school psychology M.S. at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Both universities are based in Anchorage.
What’s the difference between a master’s-level license and a licensed psychologist in Alaska?
A “licensed psychologist” in Alaska requires a doctoral degree and passing the EPPP. A master’s degree instead qualifies graduates for separate, master’s-level credentials, such as the Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Psychological Associate, or a school psychologist certificate, each overseen by its own board.
Are Alaska’s psychology master’s programs available online?
Coursework in these programs is mostly in-person or hybrid, with some synchronous online class sessions built in around evening and weekend schedules. None of the three programs is fully online. Contact the specific program for its current course delivery format.
Which board handles psychology and counseling licensure in Alaska?
Alaska’s state licensing requirements for psychologists are set by the Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners, licensed professional counselors are overseen by the Board of Professional Counselors, and licensed behavior analysts go through a separate state licensing program that requires BCBA certification first. Neither program enrollment nor NWCCU accreditation guarantees licensure on its own, so applicants should confirm current requirements directly with the relevant board.
Select your state below to find accredited psychology programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data and Projections Central 2022-2032 job growth forecasts for Psychologists (including Clinical & Counseling, Industrial-Organizational, and School Psychologists) and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2026.