AK POST study guide
AK POST · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Alaska Police Standards and Training Council (APSTC) sets the training and certification standards for peace officers in Alaska, and its exam is the knowledge component that candidates encounter during academy training or certification. It is written for recruits, lateral hires from other states, and officers seeking Alaska certification, not for the general public. The AK POST study guide has 10 sections and about 2,894 words.
01Alaska Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure
Alaska criminal law is codified in AS Title 11, with procedure largely in Title 12 and the Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure. Candidates must know the classification scheme: felonies (unclassified, class A, B, C) versus misdemeanors (class A, B) versus violations, and how classification drives sentencing ranges and arrest authority.
310 words, about 2 min02Alaska Statutes and Constitution
Alaska's constitution is short but powerful. Article I, Section 14 (search and seizure) and Section 7 (due process) are frequently tested because the Alaska Supreme Court interprets them independently of the U.S.
309 words, about 2 min03Traffic Law and Enforcement
Alaska traffic law lives in AS Title 28 (Motor Vehicles), not Title 13 as commonly misremembered. Candidates must know licensing requirements, vehicle registration, equipment standards, rules of the road, and the DUI framework under AS 28.35.030.
309 words, about 2 min04Patrol Operations and Officer Safety
Patrol is where law, tactics, and judgment converge. Candidates must understand routine patrol fundamentals: vehicle checks, high-visibility patrol, directed patrol, and the use of MDCs and dispatch.
285 words, about 1 min05Investigations and Evidence
Investigations require both legal and practical competence. Candidates must know the chain of custody, evidence collection and packaging, crime scene security, and the rules governing identification procedures (show-ups, photo arrays, and lineups) with attention to suggestibility.
290 words, about 1 min06Use of Force and Defensive Tactics
Alaska use-of-force law is governed by AS 11.81.370 (use of force by public officers) and the constitutional standard from Graham v. Connor : objective reasonableness judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, considering the severity of the crime, the immediate threat, and active resistance or flight.
308 words, about 2 min07Community Relations and Cultural Awareness
Alaska's demographics make cultural competence a core policing skill. Candidates must understand the state's diverse populations - Alaska Native communities, rural villages, urban Anchorage and Fairbanks, military installations, and immigrant communities - and the historical context of mistrust between law enforcement and Native communities.
283 words, about 1 min08Ethics and Professional Conduct
Ethics in Alaska law enforcement rests on the Alaska Police Standards Council's standards, department policy, and the state's criminal code provisions on official misconduct (AS 11.56). Candidates must understand the core ethical duties: truthfulness, integrity of evidence, avoidance of conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and the duty to report misconduct.
264 words, about 1 min09Report Writing and Documentation
Reports are the official record that will be read by prosecutors, defense counsel, judges, and juries. Candidates must understand the elements of a complete report: who, what, when, where, why, and how, plus the specific elements of the offense charged.
284 words, about 1 min10Emergency Response and First Aid
Emergency response requires scene safety first, then assessment, then action. Candidates must understand the incident command system, triage principles (START and JumpSTART), and the phases of emergency response: dispatch, en route, arrival, scene size-up, and stabilization.
252 words, about 1 min