CNA Classes in Anchorage, AK

How Much Does CNA Training Cost in Anchorage?

Tuition at Anchorage programs runs $1,500 to $1,840 (about $1,670 on average). Beyond tuition, plan for the state exam fee ($60 total through Credentia ($30 written or oral knowledge exam + $30 clinical skills evaluation); a separate $275 in state fees is paid to the State of Alaska ($100 application + $100 certification + $75 fingerprint processing)), the application/registry fee ($275 total in State of Alaska fees ($100 application + $100 initial certification + $75 fingerprint processing)), a background check, and uniforms or supplies. All in, total CNA training cost in Alaska typically falls around $1,500-$3,500 including training tuition.

How to Become a CNA in Anchorage, AK

1. 1

   Confirm eligibility and prerequisites

   Verify you are at least 18 years old, can read and write English fluently, and are physically capable of lifting and transferring patients. Obtain a high school diploma, GED, or letter from a school confirming current enrollment, since most Alaska Board-approved programs require it for admission. Begin gathering identification documents you will need later for the fingerprint card and the Authorization to Test letter from the Board of Nursing.

2. 2

   Enroll in a Board-approved 140-hour training program

   Alaska requires a minimum of 140 hours, broken into 60 hours of classroom theory and 80 hours of supervised clinical practice in a long-term care setting. Programs are offered through the University of Alaska Anchorage, Foundation Health Partners in Fairbanks, Alaska Career College, and various tribal health organizations. Programs typically run 4-12 weeks depending on full or part-time scheduling, and tuition ranges from about $800 to $2,500.

3. 3

   Complete the fingerprint and background check

   Get an original FD-258 fingerprint card completed at a local law enforcement agency or other approved fingerprinting site. The card is submitted with your application to the Alaska Board of Nursing, which forwards it to the Department of Public Safety for a state and FBI criminal history review. Disqualifying offenses include patient abuse, neglect, theft, and certain drug-related convictions; you have 30 days to dispute adverse findings.

4. 4

   Submit the Application for Certification by Examination (Form 08-4069)

   Mail the completed application along with the $50 application fee, $100 initial certification fee, fingerprint card, and the Verification of Training form signed by your program director to the Board of Nursing in Anchorage. The Board reviews submissions and issues an Authorization to Test letter (ATT) within 1-7 business days after verification of training is on file.

5. 5

   Schedule and pass the NNAAP exam

   Once you receive the ATT, register through the official testing vendor's Alaska portal to schedule both the written knowledge test and the manual skills evaluation. Test sites are located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai, and Wasilla, with travel reimbursement sometimes available for rural candidates. You must pass both sections, and you have three attempts within 24 months of finishing training.

6. 6

   Get listed on the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry

   After both exam parts are passed, the testing vendor reports your results to the Board of Nursing, which adds you to the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry. Your certificate and wallet card are mailed to the address on file, usually within two weeks. You can begin working as a CNA in Alaska as soon as your name appears on the public registry lookup.

7. 7

   Maintain certification and renew every two years

   To stay active, you must complete a minimum of 12 hours of paid nursing-related work under the supervision of a licensed nurse within each two-year cycle and submit a renewal application before your expiration date. Continued competency requirements are administered by the Board of Nursing, and lapsed certificates may be reinstated within a limited window before retesting is required.

Becoming a CNA in Alaska

Alaska is one of the most demanding states in the country for nurse aide training because the Board of Nursing chose to nearly double the 75-hour federal floor. Candidates must complete a 140-hour program that splits 60 hours of classroom theory with 80 hours of supervised clinical work, a structure designed to prepare aides for the isolated rural settings where they may be the only direct-care worker on shift. The expanded clinical block also reflects the influence of tribal health employers, who recruit heavily from CNA cohorts and expect graduates to step quickly into village clinics and remote long-term care wings.

Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Anchorage