Preemployment Screening and Testing: Alaska

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Gloria Ju

Summary

• Employers may access conviction records, but not arrest records. See Arrest and Conviction Records.
• Alaska requires criminal background checks of applicants for certain positions. See Mandatory Background Checks.
• The Alaska Supreme Court recognizes that an employer can be held liable for negligent hiring. See Negligent Hiring.
• Employers can access motor vehicle records with an individual's written release. See Driving Records.
• Compliance with Alaska's law on applicant drug testing is voluntary for most employers. See Drug Testing.
• Alaska is one of the few states to have legalized marijuana use for recreational purposes. See Recreational Marijuana.
• Alaska law prohibits collecting and testing a DNA sample without an individual's informed written consent. See Genetic Testing.
• Polygraph testing of applicants is prohibited, except in one profession. See Polygraph/Lie Detector Tests.