Raising the Standard
of Behavioral Health
in Alaska
For over four decades, the Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification has set the professional and ethical standards for counselors serving Alaskans across every community — urban and rural, coastal and interior.
To protect Alaskans by certifying qualified behavioral health professionals who serve with competence, ethics, and cultural integrity.
Led by Community.
Driven by Purpose.
Our commissioners are elected volunteers — practitioners, advocates, and community leaders who bring their expertise and lived commitment to every certification decision.
A History Built on
Purpose & Progress
From a pioneering certification board focused on addiction, to a statewide commission shaping the full landscape of behavioral health — our journey reflects Alaska's own evolving understanding of healing.
The Commission Is Born
Established by dedicated Alaskan advocates, the commission was founded to bring credentialing standards to addiction counselors across the state — ensuring those struggling with substance use disorders received care from qualified, ethical professionals.
First Renaming & Expanded Standards
Four years after founding, the commission underwent its first formal renaming, reflecting a broadened scope and strengthened certification requirements. New educational standards and supervised experience requirements were formalized, raising the professional bar for Alaska's counselors.
Statewide Reach & Recognition
Through the 1990s, the commission expanded its reach to counselors in rural and remote Alaska communities. Reciprocity agreements with national certification bodies brought Alaska's standards onto the national stage, and the certified counselor community grew significantly.
Renamed to ACBHC — A Broader Vision
In April 2005, the commission adopted its current name — the Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification — signaling a historic expansion beyond addiction into the full spectrum of behavioral health: mental health, domestic violence, corrections counseling, and peer support services.
Peer Support Track & Cultural Integration
Recognizing the profound power of lived experience, ACBHC developed a dedicated Peer Support Certification track. A Traditional Counselor pathway was also created to honor and formally recognize Alaska Native healing practices alongside western credentialing standards.
Leading Alaska's Behavioral Health Future
ACBHC continues to evolve — modernizing its application portal, embracing digital certification delivery, and expanding its training and ethics infrastructure. Our volunteer commissioners, elected from across the state, ensure Alaska's communities remain at the heart of every decision we make.
Community, Commitment
& Care in Action
A glimpse into the people, places, and purpose behind ACBHC's work — from the counselors we certify to the Alaskans whose lives they change.