How to Become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) in Alaska

Checked against Alaska Board of Nursing, Nurse Aide Registry (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) · Verified 2026-10-14

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: Up to 2 years: every Alaska CNA certificate expires March 31 of even-numbered years, whatever the issue date (certificates issued within 90 days of that date run to the next cycle).
State fee: $275 total paid to the State of Alaska: $100 nonrefundable application fee, $100 certification fee and $75 nonrefundable fingerprint processing fee.
Certified by: Alaska Board of Nursing, Nurse Aide Registry (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing)

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Who can apply

Most applicants: finish a state-approved CNA training program of at least 140 hours (60 classroom + 80 clinical/skills) no more than two years before applying.
Other routes: a current or lapsed unencumbered U.S. or Canadian nursing license; one year or more of nursing school (within two years); U.S. military corpsman or medic training and service within five years; or a nursing program completed in a country other than Canada.
You must submit a fingerprint card for a state and FBI criminal background check.
You must have a U.S. Social Security number on file (or an approved exemption) before a certificate is issued.

Step by step

Complete a state-approved CNA training program (at least 140 hours).
Apply to the Alaska Board of Nursing for Certified Nurse Aide by Examination (online, or paper form 08-4069) and pay $275.
Send your training program the Verification of Nurse Aide Training form; the program returns it directly to the Nurse Aide Registry.
Mail one FD-258 fingerprint card to the Board of Nursing for the state and FBI background check.
After approval, the Board sends you an Approval to Test letter. Create a CNA365 account with Credentia and register for the NNAAP exam.
Pass the written (or oral) exam and the in-person skills exam. The Board then issues your certificate.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Alaska requires a state-approved program of at least 140 hours: at least 60 hours of classroom instruction and 80 hours of clinical/skills training. That is 65 hours above the 75-hour federal minimum.

Exam: Credentia gives the NNAAP exam: a written test of 70 multiple-choice questions (or an oral version with 60 questions plus 10 word-recognition questions) and an in-person skills test of 5 randomly selected skills. Credentia fees are $30 for the skills test, $30 for the written test and $30 for the oral test. You get three attempts at each part. After three failures you must complete a remedial course or a new program, depending on your program completion date. Time limits depend on your route (for example, 24 months from course completion for nursing-school applicants and 60 months for military applicants).

Practice for the CNA written exam free — physical care skills, safety & infection control, and the nurse aide role →

What it costs in Alaska

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

CNA training tuition (at least 140 hours)$
State application, certification and fingerprint processing fees$275
Fingerprint card rolling$
Credentia exam (written or oral $30 + skills $30)$60

Estimated total in Alaska$335Plus 2 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Credentia exam fees: skills $30, written $30, oral $30.
Fingerprint card rolling: the cost depends on who takes your prints (not set by the state). A rejected card may require a new card and fee.
Training tuition varies by program.

Help while you start out in Alaska

Starting out on an entry-level wage? Check the SNAP income limits in Alaska by household size.

How long it takes

The Board says it will notify you in writing about the status of your application approximately two weeks after it receives your completed application.

Staying on the registry

Renewal: Renew every two years by March 31 of even-numbered years; there is no grace period and no inactive status. You must have been paid for at least 160 hours of CNA work during the period, or have passed a competency evaluation during it (not required if your first certificate was issued less than 12 months before the renewal period). You also need 24 contact hours of continuing education (12 hours at your first renewal if you were certified at least one year of the period; none if less than one year). The 2026 renewal fee was $100, or $50 for certificates first issued on or after April 1, 2025. A certificate lapsed 12 months or less can still be renewed; if you did not work as a paid CNA during the period and finished training more than two years ago, you must complete another approved training program.

Online options: Credentia offers the written or oral exam online; the Board says the skills exam must be done in person.

Good to know in Alaska

Transferring from another state: Apply for certification by endorsement (form 08-4070, $275) if you hold a current, unencumbered CNA certificate from another U.S. state or territory or a Canadian province or territory, finished a training program meeting federal standards and passed a competency evaluation. If your certificate is not current but you trained within the last two years, you may apply by examination instead.

Abandoned applications: An application is abandoned 12 months after the Board last hears from you; application forms and verifications older than 12 months must be resubmitted.

Renewal timing: The current certification period runs April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2028. Plan on 4-6 weeks for the Board to process a correct, complete renewal application (form 08-4188); faxed or emailed applications are not accepted.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Alaska Board of Nursing, Nurse Aide Registry (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) before you apply.