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Become a CNA in Alaska

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(found 24 schools, updated in March 2017)

The Certified Nursing Assistant, also called a Certified Nurse Aide, enjoys a rewarding healthcare career in Alaska helping patients and clients enjoy the highest quality of life possible in a variety of medical and long-term care facilities. This is an excellent entry-level career choice for people who want to start earning money in 2017 after a short training period or who want to work in healthcare facility before deciding to pursue a nursing or other type of healthcare degree.

SHOW ME SCHOOLS

  • 5 Steps to Becoming a CNA in Alaska
  • How to Keep CNA Certification Active in Alaska
  • Salary and Job Outlook for CNAs in Alaska
  • Nearby or Bordering States

5 Steps to Becoming a CNA in Alaska

The Alaska Board of Nursing administers the Alaska statutes governing Certified Nurse Aides and is responsible for certification and recertification of Nurse Aides. There are five steps an applicant can take to ensure a smooth journey towards becoming a CNA in Alaska.

  • Step 1: Research and Select a Program
  • Step 2: Review Training Costs
  • Step 3: Meet Prerequisites
  • Step 4: Complete CNA Training
  • Step 5: Get Certified by CNA Examination or Endorsement

Step 1: Research and Select a Program

CNA programs in Alaska are located throughout the state. The programs are offered at technical centers, medical centers, community colleges, universities and residential or long-term care facilities. There are also several school districts offering CNA training to high school students only, and CNA training is available through the Job Corps for Health Occupations.

State-Approved CNA Programs in Alaska

State-approved CNA programs must offer at least the minimum 140 hours of classroom and clinical training hours as required by law. However, programs are structured differently from school to school in terms of location, enrollment period, age requirements and so on. The most important point to keep in mind is that students should only attend a state-approved CNA program in Alaska.

SHOW ME SCHOOLS

Anchorage / Bethel / Chugiak / Cordova / Fairbanks / Homer / Juneau / Ketchikan / Kodiak / Kotzebue / Nome / Palmer / Petersburg / Sitka / Soldotna / Valdez / Wasilla / Wrangell
Anchorage
Alaska CNA Program

Address: PO Box 220553, Anchorage, AK 99522
Phone: (907) 267-9113
Email: marcusmurchison@yahoo.com

Anchorage School District

Website: www.asdk12.org/schools/kcc/pages
Address: King Career Center 2650 E Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: (907) 742-4136
Email: Hudson_Emelyn@asdk12.org
Special Requirements: high school students only
Program Period: spring semester only
Clinical Training: 60 hours in nursing home and assisted living facilities
Estimated Tuition Fees and Costs: $300 including clinical training costs and licensing exam fees

Caregiver Training Academy

Address: 203 West 15th Avenue #104, Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 258-0535
Email: ctaanchorage@alaska.net

Charter College

Website: www.chartercollege.edu
Address: 2221 E Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: (907) 277-1000
Email: Michelle.Muller@chartercollege.edu

Trinion Quality Services

Website: trinionqcs.com/index.php/main
Address: 3700 Woodland Dr, Suite 500, Anchorage, AK 99517
Phone: (907) 644-6050
Email: twelton@trinionqcs.com

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Bethel
Bethel CNA Program

Website: www.bethel.uaf.edu
Address: Kuskokwim Campus, UAF PO Box 368, Bethel, AK 99559
Phone: (907) 543-0528
Email: mtweiss@alaska.edu
Registration Deadline: March 9, 2017
Program Period: March 20, 2017 – May 18, 2017
What to Learn: Nurse Aide training including First Aid & CPR
Estimated Tuition: $2,037 (standard), $1,587 (Delta), $1,137 (high school students)
Estimated Fees and Costs: $147 (books), $260 (state application fee), $55 (fingerprint card/photo, background check)

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Chugiak
Chugiak-Eagle River Health Education CNA Program

Website: www.chugiak.org/education
Address: 22424 N Birchwood Loop, Chugiak, AK 99567
Phone: (907) 688-2609
Email: education@mtaonline.net
Estimated Tuition Fees and Costs: $1,600 plus $200 state exam fee

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Cordova
PWSCC

Address: PO Box 160, Cordova, AK 99574
Phone: (907) 424-7598
Email: spharding@pwscc.edu

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Fairbanks
UAF Community Technical College

Website: www.ctc.uaf.edu/programs/health/nurs-aid.html
Address: 604 Barnette Street Room 401, Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone: (907) 455-2876
Email: cmwinfree@alaska.edu
Program Length: one semester
Clinical Practicum: 48 hours at a long term care center or assisted living home

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Homer
Kachemak Bay Campus-Kenai Peninsula College

Address: 533 E Pioneer Ave, Homer, AK 99603
Phone: (907) 235-7743
Email: ciswartz@kpc.alaska.edu

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Juneau
University of Alaska Southeast

Website: www.uas.alaska.edu
Address: 11120 Glacier Hwy, Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 796-6131
Email: smalter@uas.alaska.net
Application Start Date: November 1, 2016
Registration Start Date: November 28, 2016
Program Start Date: Spring 2017
Program Length: 9 credits including minimum 75 lecture hours and 80 clinical hours
Program Outcome: 98% of graduates passed the Alaska CNA exam

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Ketchikan
University of Alaska Southeast

Website: www.uas.alaska.edu
Address: 2600 7th Avenue, Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone: (907) 228-4537
Email: Abby.kosmos@uas.alaska.edu
Program Length: 10 weeks, two days weekly (8am – 5pm)
Program Period: Spring 2017
Scholarship and Financial Aid: Spring 2017 Semester CNA Scholarship (learn more)

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Kodiak
Kodiak College

Website: www.koc.alaska.edu
Address: 117 Benny Benson Dr, Kodiak, AK 99615
Phone: (907) 486-1266
Email: Charissa.overman@yahoo.com
Program Name: Certified Nurse Aide Course
Application Deadline: November 4, 2016
Program Period: January to May 2017
Program Length: 60 hours of classroom instruction and 80 hours of supervised clinical training
Class Size: 10 students
Estimated Tuition Fees and Costs: $1,183 (resident tuition), $100 (background check and fingerprints), $85 (uniform pants, shoes, top, wristwatch, etc.), $125 (books and supplies), $100 (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR certification), $260 (state examination), and other costs
Scholarship and Financial Aid: CNA Plus Annual Scholarship (learn more)

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Kotzebue
Alaska Technical Center

Address: PO Box 51, Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone: (907) 442-3733
Email: clincoln@nwarctic.org

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Nome
UAF Northwest Campus/NSHC-Nome

Address: PO Box 400, Nome, AK 99762
Phone: (907) 455-2876
Email: cmwinfree@alaska.edu

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Palmer
Alaska Job Corps

Website: alaska.jobcorps.gov
Address: 800 E Lynn Martin Dr, Palmer, AK 99654
Phone: (907) 861-8808
Email: graham.tami@jobcorps.org
Special Requirements: 17 ½ – 24 year old
Program Length: 9 to 15 months

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Petersburg
Petersburg Medical Center

Website: www.pmcak.org
Address: PO Box 589, Petersburg, AK 99833
Phone: (907) 772-4291
Email: amenish@pmc-health.org

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Sitka
University of Alaska Southeast – Sitka

Website: www.uas.alaska.edu
Address: 1332 Seward Ave, Sitka, AK 99835
Phone: (907) 747-9476
Email: Radams58@uas.alaska.edu
Program Length: a semester (Fall or Spring semester)

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Soldotna
Heritage Place

Address: 232 Rockwell, Soldotna, AK 99669
Phone: (907) 252-7337
Email: rtruesdell@cpgh.org
Special Requirements: not accepting remedical students

Kenai Peninsula College Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Website: www.kpc.alaska.edu
Address: 156 College Road, Soldotna, AK 99669
Phone: (907) 262-0344
Email: slhorn@kpc.alaska.edu
Program Length: 80 hours of supervised clinical training and 60 hours of classroom and lab instructions
Estimated Tuition Fees and Costs: $1,044 (tuition), $42 (technology fee), $135 (lab fees), $279 (background check and CNA certification examination fees), $133 (books), $40 (scrubs) and other costs
Scholarships: South Peninsula Hospital Foundation Scholarship (learn more)

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Valdez
Providence Valdez Medical Center

Address: PO Box 550, Valdez, AK 99686
Phone: (907) 834-1801
Email: Renea.mitchell@providence.org

Prince William Sound College

Website: pwsc.alaska.edu
Address: PO Box 97, Valdez, AK 99686
Phone: (907) 834-1645

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Wasilla
Mat-Su Career & Tech High School

Address: 2472 Seward Meridian, Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone: (907) 352-0426
Email: Shawn.glenn@matsuk12.us
Special Requirements: high school students only

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Wrangell
Wrangell Medical Center

Website: www.wrangellmedicalcenter.org
Address: PO Box 1081, Wrangell, AK 99929
Phone: (907) 874-7000
Email: Sue.nelson@wrangellmedical.org
Program Length: 9 college credits, a semester long
Program Period: Fall or Spring semester

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Step 2: Review Training Costs

Costs of CNA programs in Alaska range from $1,500 to $2,500, depending on the program chosen. Training expenses include tuition, fees, books, supplies, uniforms, drug screening, background check, health exam and CNA examination.

Financial aid is available at many of the schools and technical centers. Some of the organizations and agencies offering financial assistance include the Department of Labor, community foundations, educational facilities, Native American Councils, and state agencies administering Workforce Investment Act or other skills training funds.

Possible Free CNA Training

There are two main ways to get free CNA training. One way is to obtain federal or state grants that do not have to be paid back like a loan. The other way is to work in and train at a Medicare/Medicaid nursing home or long-term residential facility, and the employer pays the tuition and fees. Federal law also says that Certified Nursing Assistants employed by a federally funded skilled nursing facility within 12 months of passing the certification exam can be reimbursed training and exam expenses by the employer.

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Step 3: Meet Prerequisites

Besides completing a state-approved nurse aide program application in the state, each training candidate will need to meet specific prerequisites. The prerequisites can vary, but as a minimum they will include the following:

  • Meet school admission requirements
  • Provide high school or college transcript, or high school diploma or GED
  • Be at least a senior in high school
  • Provide proof of English proficiency which can be passing an English Placement Exam or providing high school or college transcripts
  • Pass a health screening exam
  • Pass a drug test
  • Pass an Alaska criminal background check
  • Show proof of CPR training (unless included in CNA training program)

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Step 4: Complete CNA Training

In Alaska, state-approved Nurse Aide training programs are required by law to include:

  • 60 hours of classroom and laboratory training
  • 80 hours of skills and clinical training, of which 48 hours has to be in a long-term care facility, assisted living home or an acute care facility

What to Learn

CNA classes in the state cover many different topics and skills which are all focused on helping patients or residents be as healthy and safe as possible. Classroom training covers topics that include:

  • Infection control
  • Respecting client rights
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Safety procedures
  • Reading and recording vital signs
  • Observing, reporting, and documenting the patient’s status
  • Observing, reporting, and documenting changes in patient body functioning
  • Safe procedures for personal hygiene and grooming, i.e. skin care, bed bath, oral hygiene, patient positioning, etc.
  • Disability awareness
  • Legal and ethical responsibilities
  • Dementia care

This is entry level health services training. However, the Nurse Aide holds a critical position in medical facilities because he or she is the person who has the most regular contact with patients or residents.

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Step 5: Get Certified by CNA Examination or Endorsement

After completing a state-approved Nurse Aide training program in Alaska, there are two ways to get certified:

  • Certification by Examination
  • Certification by Endorsement

Certification by Examination

CNA Certification by Examination is a common path and is initiated by submitting the Application Form Certified Nurse Aide by Examination to the Nurse Aide Registry. The Board of Nursing gives the applicant permission to sit for the CNA state exam. Applicants are eligible to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) certification exam within two years of completing a state approved Nurse Aide training program.

People who have a current or lapsed unencumbered nursing license obtained in the U.S. or Canada may certify through testing. There are also provisions made for people who completed one or more years of U.S. or Canadian based nursing education within the last two years, or a U.S. military corpsman or medic training program within the prior five years. People who completed a nursing training program in a foreign country other than Canada can also take the NNAAP exam. Anyone who completes a CNA program outside the U.S. must show proof he or she passed an approved English proficiency examination.
CNA State Examination

The Nurse Aide examination is administered by Pearson VUE and consists of two parts.

  • Written examination – Consists of 70 multiple choice questions. If the exam is administered orally, the exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions and 10 reading comprehension questions; It is strongly advised that exam candidates take the practice exam and self-assessment reading tests found online at Pearson VUE and on other sites
  • Skills Evaluation – Perform five randomly selected nurse aide skills
The candidate must pass both parts of the exam within three tries or will be required to complete a state-approved training program again.
Get Certified

Pearson VUE mails the examination results to the Alaskan candidate. If the candidate passes, his or her name is added to the Nurse Aide Registry, indicating all certification requirements have been met. At that point, the applicant has earned CNA certification in Alaska.

Some applicants attend a state-approved training program in Alaska while already working in a nursing home. They have up to 120 days to train and get certified, and are only allowed to perform duties which they have learned in the training program.

Certification by Endorsement

Besides certification by examination, there is another certification pathway called Certification by Endorsement. Briefly, Certification by Endorsement recognizes prior training and does not require taking the exam. This certification process is initiated by submitting the Application for Nurse Aide Certification by Endorsement to the Board of Nursing.

Requirements

There are strict requirements that must be met. The certification applicant must have successfully completed a state-approved Nurse Aide program, possess an unencumbered Nurse Aide certification earned in the U.S. or Canada and complete a competency evaluation. Depending on where certification was earned, it might be necessary to also prove an English proficiency examination was passed with minimum scores.

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How to Keep CNA Certification Active in Alaska

Alaska renews certifications biennially (every two years) during an announced period ending March 31 of even-numbered calendar years. For example, the renewal period in 2016 was February 1 to March 31. If the Nurse Aide gets certified during the biennial period, the certification is valid only up to the March 31 biennial renewal date.

Renewal Requirements

To renew CNA certification in Alaska, the applicant must do a minimum of 160 hours of paid work in the United States or Canada during the certification period. If the applicant works less than 160 hours, it is necessary to complete a competency evaluation before the certification will be reviewed. The exception is the CNA who has been certified for less than 12 months before the next biennial renewal period.

During the period of valid certification, the CNA needs to complete 12 continuing education requirements. Once again, there is an exception if the CNA has been certified for less than 12 months before the next biennial renewal period.

Lapsed Certification

A Nurse Aide with CNA certification that has been lapsed for less than 12 months before the renewal period can renew certification, if able to meet the paid employment and continuing education requirements. A CNA who has a lapsed certification that is more than one year but less than five years can be reinstated by meeting the continuing education requirements and verifying employment for the number of hours that would have been required to maintain current certification for the entire period (160 hours must be within the last 24 months of application), OR by completing a competency evaluation within 24 months of application.

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Salary and Job Outlook for CNAs in Alaska

The average annual CNA salary in Alaska was $37,520 as of the last salary survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in May 2016. This salary equates to $18.04 an hour, making the state first on the list of top paying states for Certified Nursing Assistants in the country. The average annual CNA salary in the United States is $27,650. For the period 2014-2024, the employment projection for Alaska reports a 10.2 percent increase in the number of CNA jobs. | See Job Openings

CNA Salaries in Alaska

AK CNA SalaryEmpl.Hourly mean wageAnnual mean wageWage percent relative std. errorHourly 10th % wageHourly median wageHourly 90th % wageAnnual 10th % wageAnnual median wageAnnual 90th % wage
National144315013.29276500.29.6412.7818.22200402659037900
Alaska172018.04375201.813.2217.8123.46275103703048810
Anchorage, AK97017.38361402.412.7017.2522.94264203589047710
Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area37017.58365801.813.1617.3923.05273603617047940
Fairbanks, AK6020.17419403.417.2119.4424.07357904043050060
Southeast Alaska nonmetropolitan area30019.60407602.715.7218.8724.34327103926050630

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Nearby or Bordering States

There are no U.S. states bordering Alaska. The nearest U.S. state is Washington State which is approximately 500 miles to the south.

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