StateLicensed

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Alaska

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
140 hrs
Upfront cost
$260
Exam
Written (or Oral) Examination, Skills Evaluation
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Alaska Board of Nursing — Nurse Aide Registry (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No Alaska-published minimum age was found in the Board's application instructions, so left null rather than guessed. A criminal background check is required: applicants must submit an original FD-258 fingerprint card, which the Alaska Board of Nursing forwards to the Department of Public Safety for a State and FBI criminal history check (AS 12.62.400, 28 CFR 50.12(b)). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 140 hours of training (including 80 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. 140 total hours: at least 60 hours of classroom instruction plus 80 hours of clinical/skills training, completed no earlier than 2 years before application, at a state-approved certified nurse aide training program. Exceeds the federal OBRA/42 CFR 483.152 floor of 75 hours by 65 hours. Applicants may alternatively qualify via an unencumbered out-of-state/Canadian nursing license, 1+ year of nursing-fundamentals education, military corpsman/medic training, or a foreign nursing program. [1]

  3. 3

    Written (or Oral) Examination

    Pass the Written (or Oral) Examination (fee: $30). Multiple-choice; an oral version is available at the same $30 fee. Candidates do not need to take the Skills Evaluation and Written/Oral Examination on the same day or in any particular order. [2]

  4. 4

    Skills Evaluation

    Pass the Skills Evaluation (fee: $30). Hands-on demonstration of nurse aide skills. Candidates on light/restricted duty are not permitted to take the Skills Evaluation (no exceptions), though they may still take the Written Examination. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Alaska Board of Nursing — Nurse Aide Registry (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) with the $100 application fee. [1]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Alaska Board of Nursing — Nurse Aide Registry (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) issues your Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) for Alaska.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $100
License fee [1] $100
Renewal fee [1] $100
Written (or Oral) Examination [2] $30
Skills Evaluation [2] $30
Nonrefundable fingerprint processing fee (Alaska Board of Nursing) [1] $75
Written Examination (Credentia) [1] $30
Skills Evaluation (Credentia) [1] $30

The state-side cost to become certified by examination is $275 total ($100 nonrefundable application fee + $100 certification fee + $75 nonrefundable fingerprint processing fee), paid to 'State of Alaska' — separate from Credentia's own exam fees ($30 written + $30 skills = $60). Renewal fee is $100 per the biennial renewal cycle.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Certificates expire March 31 of even-numbered years, regardless of issuance date, and must be renewed biennially. Renewal requires 24 contact hours of continuing education during the concluding certification period (12 AAC 44.825) — reduced to 12 hours if certified less than a year, and waived entirely for a first renewal less than 12 months after initial certification — plus at least 160 hours of paid nurse aide work during the concluding certification period (12 AAC 44.815); nurse aides who worked fewer than 160 hours must instead pass a new competency evaluation to renew. Renewal fee is $100.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers CNAs/nurse aides. Alaska offers Certified Nurse Aide by Endorsement for applicants holding an unencumbered, current nurse aide certification/registration from another U.S. state/territory or a Canadian province/territory (or who completed a CNA program within the last 2 years without a current certificate, who may instead be eligible by exam), plus successful completion of a competency evaluation. Same $275 state fee structure as the by-examination route ($100 application + $100 certification + $75 fingerprint processing), plus fingerprint-based background check and, for graduates of non-English foreign nursing programs, proof of English proficiency.

Cost calculator

  • $100
  • $100
  • $30
  • $30
Total$260

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Alaska require for CNA certification?

140 total hours: at least 60 hours of classroom instruction plus 80 hours of clinical/skills training, at a state-approved training program completed within the last 2 years.

Who administers the Alaska Nurse Aide exam, and what does it cost?

Credentia, under contract with the Alaska Board of Nursing. The Written (or Oral) Examination and the Skills Evaluation each cost $30 ($60 total), separate from the Board's own $275 application/certification/fingerprint fees.

How often do I renew my Alaska CNA certification?

Every 2 years, with certificates expiring March 31 of even-numbered years. Renewal ($100 fee) requires 24 hours of continuing education and at least 160 hours of paid nurse aide work during the certification period, or passing a new competency evaluation if the work-hour requirement isn't met.

Does Alaska require a background check for CNAs?

Yes. Applicants must submit fingerprint cards for a State and FBI criminal background check through the Department of Public Safety before certification.

Sources

  1. [1] commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/nua4069.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] credentia.com/storage/handbooks/ak-handbook_2024.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/nua4070.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10