Veterinarian License in Alaska

Alaska explicitly lists fees in the COS database: $200 application, $600 license, and $200 exam, totaling $1,000 for initial licensure. The Alaska Board of Veterinary Examiners, under the Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, regulates veterinary practice. Alaska's vast geography and sparse population create exceptional demand for large-animal veterinarians, particularly in rural and Alaska Native communities where livestock, sled dogs, and wildlife management are critical to local economies and subsistence lifestyles. The state has no accredited veterinary school, so all candidates must graduate from AVMA-COE accredited programs in the lower 48 or Canada and relocate, which contributes to persistent workforce shortages across the state. Cold-climate veterinary medicine, including work with marine mammals such as sea otters and Steller sea lions, Iditarod sled dog teams, and arctic wildlife like caribou and musk oxen, makes Alaska a unique practice environment unlike any other state. Military installations such as Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson also employ veterinary professionals for military working dog programs and food inspection services.