Alaska Nurse Practitioner Licensure Steps - 2024

Nurse Practitioner Licensure Requirements in Alaska

Follow below to learn how to become a nurse practitioner (NP) in Alaska.

Initial RN License

Already have your RN License?  Skip to the next section

The first requirement for nurse practitioner licensure in Alaska is a registered nurse license. The basic educational requirement for application is a bachelor’s in nursing science from an accredited institution.

There are two pathways for an initial RN license: RN by Examination and RN by Endorsement. While the first application route applies to graduates of approved bachelor-level nursing programs in accredited institutions in Alaska, the second route applies to those who completed their bachelor’s program in a school outside Alaska and have been licensed in another state.

RN by Examination

Applications for RN by Examination can be completed online or by paper application to be mailed to the following address:

• The requirements for this application include a notification from the institution where you obtained your degree stating that you completed the program. They will also be required to send a copy of your transcript.
• You are expected to register for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) at PearsonVUE. Note that for you to take the NCLEX-RN examination, you need to have been sent an Authorization to Test (ATT) by PearsonVue. This usually comes after the board has approved your application. Once notification of you passing the examination has been sent to the board, your license is processed and sent to you.

RN by Endorsement

This is the application route for holders of a valid RN license from another state. Note that you are not to apply via this route if you have held an RN license in Alaska before (consider applying for reinstatement).  The application can be submitted online or by paper.

• Verification of licensure must be sent directly from the state where you were previously licensed or made available via the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
• You must also provide proof from the department you worked of at least 320 hours of nursing practice in the last two years. The inability to do this means that you must enroll in a government-approved refresher course. This also applies, if you have not practiced in the last five years. The application for RN by Endorsement can also be done online or by paper.

The application fees for an RN license are the same regardless of the route you are taking. A total amount of $375 must be paid via credit card (the only accepted means) before your application can be processed. If you require a non-renewable, temporary permit, you will pay an extra $100. Applications are generally processed within 15 days.

You will be required to fill a notarized signature page which will be mailed separately if you are applying online. A fingerprint-based background check will be done on you by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Hence, you will need to fill an original FD-258 card on card-stock.

All documents provided must be in the English language or accompanied with a translated version if a foreign language is used. Applicants who studied in or were licensed in a state or region where the English language is not the official language must submit proof of passing a language proficiency test such as IELTS or TOEFL-iBT. Finally, all foreign-trained applicants are to have their credentials reviewed by the CGFNS.

Advanced Education Requirements

To be licensed as a nurse practitioner in Alaska, you must have completed a master’s (MSN) or higher degree program for nurse practitioners.

The program must be approved by either the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The program must also cover advanced levels of physical assessment, pharmacotherapeutics, and pathophysiology and must include at least 500 clinical practice hours within a three-semester frame.

Your degree program must be at least one year in length and should prepare you to practice as a nurse practitioner, serving a particular focus population. Certain prospective nurse practitioners have enrolled for a nurse practitioner program in another state while completing their preceptorship program in Alaska. The preceptorship is how you complete the hours of clinical practice.

To register for preceptorship, go here. You can find potential preceptors from this list provided by the Alaska Nurse Practitioners Association.

National Certification

Nurse practitioners must first obtain certification in their desired specialty from a national credentialing agency before they can be licensed to practice in Alaska. You can find a list of the approved certification programs for the different focus populations and the appropriate credentialing agencies on slide 13 here.

For example, pediatric nurse practitioners are certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). As a prospective pediatric nurse practitioner, you can apply for certification on the official PNCB page here. If you have a different population focus, you can also apply for certification on the official website for their certifying body.

Getting Licensed to Practice as a Nurse Practitioner within Alaska

Once you have obtained a master’s or higher degree from an accredited nurse practitioner program and have obtained national certification for your specialty, you are closer to being licensed as a nurse practitioner in Alaska. You can download the application form here.

Your application must be submitted with official transcripts from your program indicating the course offerings as mentioned under the advanced education requirements. You will also submit a completed reference form by one of three references listed on your application. Proof of 60 hours of continuing education in the last two years, as well as a consultation and referral plan to guide your practice must be submitted.

You will be required to pay $100 as a non-refundable application fee and $100 for the APRN licensure fee. To apply for prescriptive authority for Legend drugs and/or Controlled drugs, you will be required to pay $100 each. You must also submit proof of at least 15 contact hours of education in clinical management and advanced pharmacology within the past two years.

Foreign graduates must have an overall score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 on all modules in the IELTS examination or an overall score of 84 with a speaking score of 26 on the TOEFL internet-based test. Your credentials will also be evaluated by the CGFNS.