StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Alaska

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$500
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Alaska Board of Nursing, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No Alaska statute or Board instruction reviewed (AS 08.68, 12 AAC 44) states a minimum age for LPN licensure, so left null. A fingerprint-based FBI and Alaska Department of Public Safety criminal background check (AS 12.62.400) is required of all initial applicants, submitted on an FD-258 card. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Alaska requires completion of a practical nursing program approved by the Board, accredited by ACEN (formerly NLNAC), or determined comparable by the Board (12 AAC 44). The official Initial Application for LPN License by Examination instructions do not state a specific clock-hour or credit-hour minimum, so left null rather than guessed. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). Computerized adaptive test (CAT) delivered at Pearson VUE test centers; candidate registers with PearsonVUE Professional Testing and the Board issues eligibility for an Authorization to Test (ATT). National exam-registration fee paid directly to Pearson VUE, separate from the Alaska Board of Nursing's own application, license, and fingerprint fees. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

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

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Alaska Board of Nursing, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Alaska.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $100
License fee [1] $200
Renewal fee [1] $200
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Fingerprint processing fee [1] $75
NCLEX-PN registration (Pearson VUE, national) [1] $200

Per the official LPN-by-examination instructions: $100 nonrefundable application fee + $200 license fee + $75 fingerprint processing fee = $375 total for initial licensure. (Alaska's codified fee regulation, 12 AAC 02.280, labels these the same two amounts in reverse — a $200 'application fee' and $100 'license fee' — but the total for initial licensure is identical either way.) Biennial renewal fee is $200 per 12 AAC 02.280(3).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 30 continuing education hours required per cycle.

LPN licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years. Before renewal, licensees must complete two of three continued-competency methods: 30 contact hours of continuing education (12 AAC 44.610), OR 30 hours of uncompensated professional activities (12 AAC 44.620), OR 320 hours of employment as an RN/LPN (12 AAC 44.630). CPR/BLS courses do not count toward the CE hours. First-time renewers who received their original license on/after October 1 of an odd-numbered year are exempt from proving continuing competency at that first renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Alaska has NOT enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact — it is shown as a non-NLC state ('Currently No Action') on the compact commission's official NLC_Map.pdf. Alaska does offer single-state licensure by endorsement for LPNs holding an active out-of-state license.

Cost calculator

  • $100
  • $200
  • $200
Total$500

Frequently asked questions

What license does Alaska issue to practical nurses?

Alaska issues the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license through the Alaska Board of Nursing, part of the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.

Is Alaska part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

No. Alaska has not enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an out-of-state multistate compact license does not authorize practice in Alaska — LPNs must obtain a single-state Alaska license.

How much does an initial Alaska LPN license by examination cost?

$375 total: a $100 nonrefundable application fee, $200 license fee, and $75 fingerprint processing fee, plus the separate $200 national NCLEX-PN registration fee paid to Pearson VUE.

When do Alaska LPN licenses expire and what is required to renew?

LPN licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years. Before renewal, licensees must complete two of three continued-competency methods: 30 hours of continuing education, 30 hours of uncompensated professional activity, or 320 hours of employment as a nurse. The renewal fee is $200.

Does Alaska require a background check for LPN licensure?

Yes. All initial applicants must submit fingerprints on an FD-258 card for an FBI and Alaska Department of Public Safety criminal history check.

Sources

  1. [1] commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/LPNbyExamInstructions.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofNursing/RenewalInformation — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] nursecompact.com — accessed 2026-07-10