How To Become a Nurse in Alaska 2025

We invite you to discover how to become a nurse and learn the requirements in Alaska. This is a terrific opportunity to serve your community as a nurse in one of several essential healthcare roles. This article shows you a step-by-step approach to gaining RN licensure in your state.

What Does an RN Do?

Nurses have diverse roles and responsibilities, which they fulfill in various positions, such as emergency room nurse, licensed practical nurse (LPN), nurse practitioner, long-term-care nurse, and more. A certified registered nurse (RN) must undergo rigorous academic training and earn clinical experience and prepare for the following important duties:

• assessing patient vitals
• patient education
• supporting physicians
• mental health nursing
• surgical nursing
• long-term patient care
• public health advocacy
• neonatal nursing

How Long Does It Take To Become a Nurse in Alaska?

Nursing education takes the most time for prospective nurses. The process of earning either an associate degree or bachelor's degree could last between two to four years, depending on your selected program. However, you can finish your education much faster by enrolling in accelerated nursing programs online, which could reduce degree completion duration by several months.

3 Steps To Become a Registered Nurse in Alaska

We offer a three-step strategy for completing the most important educational requirements for nurses. This explains what you should do to obtain an associate degree, nursing license, bachelor's degree, and more.

Step 1: Get a College Degree

Most nurses enter a nursing program for either an associate degree or a bachelor's degree. The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) covers the entry-level education you need to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

You can also enter a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and sit for the same afterward. These degree programs train new nurses through coursework in nursing and allied health sciences, along with practical experience supervised by credentialed faculty.

Step 2: Get Your RN License

The State of Alaska requires licensing for all nurses who pursue an RN, LPN, or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). The specific requirements are different for each license, but all involve passing the NCLEX-RN exam shortly after completing your nursing degree. RN licensure also requires the candidate to submit a background check (including fingerprinting), pay application fees, and renewal every even-numbered year with various continuing education requirements.

Step 3: Continue Education

There are several ways to satisfy Alaska's continuing education requirements, specific to which license you obtain. This is also an important strategy for nurses who wish to advance their nursing careers and secure higher administrative roles. One way to do this is to pursue graduate degrees, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which is the terminal degree for nurses.

Top Nursing Degree Programs in Alaska

There are many accredited nursing schools in Alaska, which provide face-to-face training and/or online nursing programs. Here are five for your consideration.

1. Alaska Pacific University

Alaska Pacific University offers associate degrees, LPN programs, LPN-to-RN bridge programs, and RN-to-BSN bridge programs. The university's website also provides information to help you decide which best fits you based on your career ambitions. You can also locate plenty of information on admissions, scholarships, cost of attendance, prerequisite course requirements, and degree outcomes.

• Estimated tuition cost: $10,175 per semester (in-state and out-of-state)
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

2. University of Alaska - Anchorage

The University of Alaska - Anchorage also offers a two-year degree track, a BSN program, and an opportunity to bridge from RN to BSN. Admitted students for the BSN degree must take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with an overall score of at least 58.7. There are also 10 prerequisite courses required, including anatomy and physiology, college algebra, and two chemistry courses.

• Estimated tuition cost: $234 per credit hour (in-state); $800 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: ACEN

3. University of Alaska - Fairbanks

The University of Alaska - Fairbanks offers a pre-nursing certificate and an Associate of Arts and Science (AAS) for nursing students. The university encourages students to complete the certification before enrolling in the nursing-intensive coursework of the AAS. Once you enter the AAS program, you can take a majority of courses online except for the clinical work, which you would complete at the school's nursing laboratory.

• Estimated tuition cost: $298 per credit hour (in-state); $898 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: ACEN

4. Charter College - Alaska Campus

Charter College has multiple campuses, including one in Anchorage, for its nursing program. It offers a blended learning delivery for its ADN degree program, which takes only 19 months to complete. Course topics include pediatric nursing, mental health nursing, gerontological nursing, clinical leadership, surgical nursing, and NCLEX review.

• Estimated tuition cost: $300 per quarter credit hour (in-state and out-of-state)
• Accreditation: ACEN

5. University of Alaska Southeast

The University of Alaska Southeast offers associate degrees, certificates, and occupational endorsements at one of its three campus locations or fully online. This includes an AAS degree, available with four in-demand concentrations: general health, behavioral health, medical coding, or medical assistance. Successful program completion can lead to several career paths as a medical assistant, clinician, or healthcare administrator.

• Estimated tuition cost: $241 to $291 per credit hour (in-state); $841 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: ACEN

Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in Alaska

Now is a good time to enter this profession because the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates a 6% growth in nursing jobs between 2023 and 2033. This goes along with a salary estimate of about $93,000 per year, which is equivalent to about $45 per hour.

FAQs About How To Become a Nurse in Alaska

Below are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding nursing education in Alaska. This explains the cost of BSN programs, how long they take to complete, and how to get financial aid.

How Much Does a Nursing Degree Cost in Alaska?

The cost of your degree depends on whether you pursue an ADN or BSN, as well as which university you attend. Some colleges charge more for tuition than others, which is why you should seek grants and scholarships after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Almost all schools in Alaska and several other online colleges that accept FAFSA for nursing school funding.

What Are the Prerequisites for a Nursing Degree?

Prerequisite courses are the lower-division classes you must take before entering a nursing degree program. This includes topics like college algebra, introductory nursing, and microbiology, which you can complete any time of year through convenient self-paced nursing prerequisites online. If you choose to take them this way, then make sure you buy the best laptop for nursing students because reliable technology is essential for completing coursework online.

What Is the Fastest Way To Become a Nurse?

The fastest way to become a nurse is to enter a fast-track degree program to complete your ADN or BSN. This gives you the chance to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam sooner and enter the workforce with your RN as quickly as possible.

What Is the Easiest Nursing Degree?

The easiest nursing degree is an associate degree because it features the most fundamental education in the field. Although even the lower-division courses are rigorous, these are not as difficult as advanced BSN coursework. You can also make these classes easier by completing them slowly by enrolling in a self-paced online nursing curriculum.

Find a Nursing Degree

Now is the perfect time to study for an RN license, earn a bachelor's degree, and more by using Learn.org to identify reputable degree programs. Our resources can help you find online programs for nursing degrees, master's degrees, doctoral studies, and more.