How to become a CNA in Alaska.
Alaska requires 140 hours of nurse aide training, including 80 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Credentia and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
- 140
- Training hours
- 80
- Clinical hours
- $60
- Exam fee
- 32
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Alaska certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
FD-258 fingerprint card submitted to the Board; state (DPS) and FBI criminal background check ($75 fee). Board may deny permission to test for conduct that is grounds for denial under 12 AAC 44.818. Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
Alaska requires 140 training hours, including 80 hours of supervised clinical work. Only programs approved by the state qualify you for the exam.
See all 32 approved programs in Alaska - 3
Pass the state competency exam
The exam has a written or oral knowledge test and a hands on skills test, run by Credentia. The exam fee is $60. Training must have been completed not earlier than two years before the completed application (E1 route); Credentia handbook says exams must be passed within the time frame of the eligibility route. 3 attempts at each portion (written and skills); after three failed attempts a Board-required remedial training course must be completed before retesting.
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry (Alaska Board of Nursing). Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the AK registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Biennial; all certificates expire March 31 of even-numbered years. Renewal requires 160 hours of paid CNA work during the period and 24 contact hours of CE (12 hours for first renewal if certified at least one year; none if under one year). Lapsed under 12 months may renew; 2 to 5 years lapsed requires CE, work hours and a new competency evaluation; 5+ years lapsed must reapply as new.
Moving from another state
Certification by endorsement: completion of a federally compliant state approved program, an unencumbered current CNA certification from another US state/territory or Canadian province, and a passed competency evaluation. Fees $275 (application, certification, fingerprints) plus fingerprint background check.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Alaska.
CNA funding in Alaska →Alaska CNA requirements
- Credential
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Training hours
- 140 hours
- Clinical hours
- 80 hours
- Exam provider
- Credentia
- Exam fee
- $60 ($30 knowledge, $30 skills)
- Fee details
- Credentia Alaska online handbook: Skills Evaluation $30, Written $30, Oral $30. Separately, the state charges $275 at application: $100 application + $100 certification + $75 fingerprint processing. All-in candidate cost is about $335.
- Deadline to test
- Training must have been completed not earlier than two years before the completed application (E1 route); Credentia handbook says exams must be passed within the time frame of the eligibility route.
- Retakes
- 3 attempts at each portion (written and skills); after three failed attempts a Board-required remedial training course must be completed before retesting.
- Background check
- FD-258 fingerprint card submitted to the Board; state (DPS) and FBI criminal background check ($75 fee). Board may deny permission to test for conduct that is grounds for denial under 12 AAC 44.818.
- Regulator
- Alaska Board of Nursing
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: law.cornell.edu, commerce.alaska.gov. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Alaska, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Alaska?
Alaska requires 140 hours of nurse aide training, including 80 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Credentia and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
Who gives the CNA exam in Alaska?
Credentia runs the Alaska nurse aide competency exam. The exam fee is $60.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in Alaska?
Certification by endorsement: completion of a federally compliant state approved program, an unencumbered current CNA certification from another US state/territory or Canadian province, and a passed competency evaluation. Fees $275 (application, certification, fingerprints) plus fingerprint background check.
How do you renew a CNA certification in Alaska?
Biennial; all certificates expire March 31 of even-numbered years. Renewal requires 160 hours of paid CNA work during the period and 24 contact hours of CE (12 hours for first renewal if certified at least one year; none if under one year). Lapsed under 12 months may renew; 2 to 5 years lapsed requires CE, work hours and a new competency evaluation; 5+ years lapsed must reapply as new.
How do I pay for CNA training in Alaska?
Workforce vouchers, employer sponsorship, state grants, and scholarships all pay for nurse aide training. A nursing home that hires you within a year of certification must reimburse your training costs under federal rules.
Start your training in Alaska.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.