He graduated from Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of City and Regional Planning in 1997. He completed his Regional Planning Master's Degree in 2000 and his Doctorate Program in 2009 in the same department. 

After his private sector experience, he worked as a research assistant at METU City and Regional Planning Department and took part in various courses including planning studio and design courses. After working as a City Planner at the Prime Ministry Undersecretariat of Residence, Dr. Özkan has worked as a career specialist in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism since 2003, including consultancy in different units, and carried out the EU screening process on behalf of the Ministry. 

Between 2006-2009 and 2013-2018, he served as Culture and Promotion Counselor at the Russian Federation Moscow Embassy twice; On behalf of the Ministry, he carried out the activities of our country in the Russian Federation and Belarus, especially in advertising, PR and cultural diplomacy. Dr. Alper Özkan, who served as the Head of Department at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Promotion between 2011 and 2013, has been serving as the Assistant General Manager of Fine Arts in charge of Visual Arts since 2019. His responsibilities include activities in the field of plastic arts, including Contemporary Art and Poster Design Competitions, which are the Young Art Competitions organized by the Ministry, national and international competitions and exhibitions such as Traditional Turkish Arts, Photography, State Painting and Sculpture.