How to Get Your CNA Certification in Alaska (AK): 2026 Guide

If you want to work as a Certified Nurse Aide in Alaska, this guide walks you through the Alaska Board of Nursing process, the Credentia (NNAAP) exam, training hour requirements, where to test, and how to keep your certification active on the state's biennial renewal cycle. Alaska's program is run by the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development and the testing is delivered by Credentia, the same vendor that runs the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) in most U.S. states.

Alaska CNA at a glance

• Test vendor: Credentia (NNAAP)
• Training hours required: 140 total (60 classroom/theory + 80 clinical)
• Written exam: 70 multiple-choice questions (NNAAP standard)
• Clinical skills exam: 5 skills performed on a live actor
• Application fee: Contact the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry for the most current fee
• Testing fee: Contact Credentia for current NNAAP exam pricing in Alaska
• Background check: Required — FD-258 fingerprint card submitted to the state before testing
• Renewal cycle: Every two years; certification expires March 31 of every even-numbered year

Who oversees CNA certification in Alaska

CNA certification in Alaska is regulated by the Alaska Board of Nursing, which sits inside the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development's Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. The Board maintains the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry, approves training programs, and processes reciprocity applications for CNAs moving into the state from other jurisdictions. Day-to-day registry operations — including verification of active credentials, renewal paperwork, and reciprocity review — are handled by the same division.

For the most authoritative and up-to-date information, start at the official Nurse Aide Registry page: Alaska Nurse Aide Registry.

Training programs in Alaska

Alaska requires every CNA candidate to complete a state-approved training program of at least 140 hours, split into roughly 60 hours of classroom/theory instruction and 80 hours of supervised clinical practice. Programs are typically delivered through community campuses, university continuing-ed departments, tribal health programs, and a small number of private vocational schools, with the heaviest concentration in the Anchorage and Mat-Su regions.

Most Alaska programs run 6–10 weeks depending on the schedule (intensive day cohorts finish faster; evening or weekend cohorts stretch out). Tuition varies widely by site, sponsor, and whether the program is tied to a high-school or tribal health pathway — typical ranges fall roughly between $400 and $1,200, but you should verify pricing directly with the school because Alaska-specific costs (especially in rural sites) can run higher than the Lower 48 average. Look for programs that explicitly list Alaska Board of Nursing approval on their website, and confirm the school's current approval status with the registry before you pay a deposit. A solid study plan to pair with your program is at ExamReady CNA study guides.

The CNA exam in Alaska: Credentia (NNAAP) details

Alaska uses the Credentia NNAAP, which is the same exam most other U.S. states use. The NNAAP has two parts:

1. A written (or oral) knowledge exam — 70 multiple-choice questions covering the role of the nurse aide, communication, infection control, safety and emergency procedures, resident rights, and basic nursing skills. You have 2 hours to complete it; you can request an oral version at registration if you have a documented reading accommodation.
2. A clinical skills exam — you perform 5 randomly selected nurse-aide skills on a live actor, with one of them being the mandatory handwashing skill. A Credentia evaluator scores you on critical steps and watches for safety errors.

You register through Credentia's Alaska NNAAP portal and schedule each portion at the testing site nearest you. Most Alaska candidates take the written and skills portions on the same day at the same Anchorage-area site, but you may be required to test on separate dates depending on the site's published schedule — always confirm at booking.

How much does the Alaska CNA exam cost?

Specific dollar amounts for Alaska's state application fee and Credentia testing fee fluctuate, so the registry and Credentia's site are the only reliable sources. As a planning baseline, the typical NNAAP cost across most states runs roughly in the $100–$200 range for the full written + skills attempt, with retest fees charged per portion. Plan for these line items:

• State application / registry fee: Contact the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry for the most current fee
• Credentia written (or oral) exam fee: Per Credentia's published Alaska fee schedule
• Credentia clinical skills exam fee: Per Credentia's published Alaska fee schedule
• Retest fees: Charged separately for each portion if you fail and re-attempt
• FD-258 fingerprint card / federal background check: Required and priced separately through the Alaska Department of Public Safety's approved livescan or ink-card vendor
• BLS / CPR card: Only required if your employer mandates it; not a state-level prerequisite for the credential

Build a small buffer into your budget for travel to a testing site — see the next section.

Where to take the test in Alaska

Alaska has a small but functional footprint of Credentia NNAAP test sites. Cadence varies by region, so book early if you live outside the Anchorage bowl. Call the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry to confirm the current cadence for any city whose schedule isn't on Credentia's site.

• Anchorage — the busiest Alaska NNAAP site. Expect multiple administrations per month, often weekly, and the easiest path to scheduling written and skills on the same day.
• Fairbanks — monthly administrations. Book 4–6 weeks ahead, especially if you need a specific date for employer onboarding.
• Juneau — periodic administrations, typically aligned with local training-program completion dates. Call the registry to confirm the next available sitting.
• Wasilla / Mat-Su — periodic administrations, often coordinated with the regional training cohorts. Same-day written + skills is sometimes available.

If you live in a hub outside these four (for example the Kenai Peninsula, the Kodiak Island region, or anywhere in the Bush), plan on traveling to Anchorage or Fairbanks for testing. Some rural candidates arrange testing dates in conjunction with a single multi-day trip to Anchorage.

Scheduling and what to bring on test day

You'll register with Credentia through their Alaska NNAAP portal, choose your testing site, and pay the testing fee at booking. Bring a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport) that matches the name on your registration — name mismatches are a common cause of same-day disqualification. Wear closed-toe, non-slip shoes and comfortable scrubs or clinical attire; you will be performing skills on a live actor and you may not be allowed to test in jeans, open-toed shoes, or clothing with logos.

Arrive at least 30 minutes early to allow for check-in, ID verification, and the skills-exam orientation. Plan for roughly 3–4 hours total on site if you're taking both portions the same day (skills exam first, written exam after, with a short break). If you've requested an oral exam, confirm in advance that Credentia has the audio equipment and quiet room available — Alaska sites vary.

Before you can test at all, Alaska requires you to submit an FD-258 fingerprint card for the federal background check. This is a state-level prerequisite that runs independently of your Credentia registration — submit it early so it clears before your scheduled exam date. A delayed fingerprint card is one of the top reasons Alaska candidates get turned away on test day.

After you pass: Alaska certification and renewal

Once Credentia scores both portions as passing, your results are forwarded to the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry, which adds you to the active roster and mails your certification card. Allow a few weeks for the registry to process — the card typically arrives within 30 days, but you can verify your active status on the Alaska Department of Commerce's public licensee lookup at any point after passing.

Alaska certifications lapse on March 31 of every even-numbered year, so your first renewal window depends on when you were certified. Renewal requires you to have worked a minimum number of paid CNA hours in the preceding certification period (typically 160 hours, with the exact requirement depending on how long you've been certified) and to complete 12–24 continuing-education hours through an approved provider. Submit proof of employment and CE completion to the registry before the March 31 deadline — late renewals lapse your certification, and you'll need to retest to reactivate.

Common pitfalls specific to Alaska

• Fingerprint card timing. Submit your FD-258 card to the state well before your scheduled exam; a backlogged background check will block you from testing even if everything else is in order.
• Biennial March 31 expiry. Alaska is an even-year-lapse state. Set a phone reminder for February of each even year so you file renewal paperwork before the deadline — not after.
• CE + work-hour combo. Renewal isn't CE-only or work-only — you need both. Nurses who only worked part-time or skipped CE often discover at renewal that they don't meet either threshold.
• Rural travel costs. If you're testing outside your home hub, build travel into your schedule and budget. Last-minute flights into Anchorage or Fairbanks in winter are expensive and weather-prone.
• Same-day vs. separate-day skills and written. Not every Alaska site offers both portions on the same day. Confirm your site's policy when you book — otherwise you'll book a return trip.

FAQ

How long does it take to become a CNA in Alaska? Most candidates finish in 2–4 months: 6–10 weeks for the 140-hour training program, plus a few weeks for registry processing, fingerprint clearance, and scheduling the Credentia NNAAP exam.

How much does the test cost in Alaska? The combined Credentia NNAAP written + skills fee is typically in the $100–$200 range, but Alaska-specific pricing varies — check Credentia's published Alaska fee schedule for the current amount before you register.

Can I challenge the Alaska CNA exam without training? No. Alaska requires completion of a state-approved 140-hour training program before you can sit for the NNAAP. The only training-waiver path is reciprocity from another state's active CNA registry.

Does Alaska accept out-of-state CNAs? Yes, through the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry's reciprocity process. You'll submit verification of your current out-of-state certification, meet Alaska's background-check requirement, and the registry will issue an Alaska credential without requiring you to retest.

When does my Alaska CNA certification expire? Certifications expire on March 31 of every even-numbered year. Renewal requires both paid work hours and CE credits, so plan ahead.

Practice questions for the Alaska CNA exam are at /exam and clinical-skills walkthroughs are at /skills.