Overview
Steadily growing during the past 20 years and expected to continue its upward trend, Alaska’s health care industry offers year-round employment opportunities, even in its smallest rural communities. Providing great opportunities for a rewarding career in a setting that combines modern-age conveniences with the freedom and excitement of living on the edge of a vast, unspoiled wilderness, Alaska is the perfect location to see your professional dreams come to life.
Alaska Board of Nursing – Mission
The mission of the Alaska Board of Nursing is to actively promote and protect the health of the citizens of Alaska through the safe and effective practice of nursing as defined by law. The Board adopts regulations to carry out the laws governing the practice of Nursing and the work of Nurse Aides in Alaska. It makes final licensing decisions and takes disciplinary action against people who violate the licensing laws.
Registered Nursing (RN) Licensure by Examination
In order to become an RN in Alaska, you must have a minimum of an associate degree in nursing from an accredited college or university approved by the Alaska Board of Nursing. Application by examination is applicable if you have completed an approved nursing program and have not yet taken/passed the Council Licensure Examination NCLEX-RN.
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- A completed application signed and notarized. A completed application must include an original, signed and dated passport type photograph on photography paper, approximately two inches by two inches of the face and shoulders, taken within the six months immediately preceding the date of application.
- Pay appropriate fees.
- One completed fingerprint card, on cards supplied by the Alaska Board of Nursing or online form FD-258. The completed fingerprint card will be used to check the criminal history records of the State of Alaska and the FBI per A.S. 12.62.400. National Criminal History Record Checks For Employment, Licensing, and Other Noncriminal Justice Purposes.
- Nursing Program Verification form, sent directly from the school of nursing attended, verifying successful completion of an approved nursing program.
- An official transcript sent directly from the college or school of nursing attended. The graduation date and the type of degree conferred must be posted on the transcript (Send electronic transcripts to boardofnursing@alaska.gov).
- Documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
Note: All foreign graduates must take the NCLEX and all documents must be accompanied by certified English translations if the original documents are not in English. Additionally, graduates who have graduated from a foreign nursing school must provide proof of passing one of the following:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language, paper based test (TOEFL-PBT) & Test of Spoken English (TSE).
- Test of English as a Foreign Language, computer based test (TOEFL-CBT) & Test of Spoken English (TSE).
- Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet based test (TOEFL-iBT) including spoken score International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Examination
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- A completed application that is signed and notarized. The application must include an original, signed and dated passport type photograph on photography paper, approximately two inches by two inches of the face and shoulders, taken within the six months immediately preceding the date of application.
- Pay appropriate fees.
- One completed fingerprint cards, on a card supplied by the Alaska Board of Nursing or online form FD-258. The completed fingerprint card will be used to check the criminal history records of the State of Alaska and the FBI per A.S. 12.62.400. National Criminal History Record Checks For Employment, Licensing, and Other Noncriminal Justice Purposes.
- Nursing Program Verification form sent directly from the school of nursing to the Alaska Board of Nursing, verifying successful completion of an approved nursing program. An official transcript sent directly from the college or school of nursing attended to the Alaska Board of Nursing. The graduation date and the type of degree conferred must be posted on the transcript. (Send electronic transcripts to boardofnursing@alaska.gov )
- Documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
More information on the application process, candidate requirements and general information can be found on the appropriate application forms and on the official Alaska Board of Nursing website.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) & Registered Nursing (RN) Licensure by Endorsement
Application by endorsement is applicable for individuals currently licensed in another U.S. state or territory and some Canadian nurses licensed before 1992. Applicants must have successfully completed an approved registered nurse program and provide proof of licensure in another state along with appropriate continuing education hours.
All Applicants Must Provide the Following:
- A completed signed and notarized RN application OR LPN application. A completed application must include an original, passport type photograph, approximately two inches by two inches of the face and shoulders on photography paper, taken within the six months immediately preceding the date of application.
- Appropriate fees.
- One properly completed fingerprint card on a card supplied or approved by the Alaska Board of Nursing (Form FD-258). The completed fingerprint card will be used to check the criminal history records of the State of Alaska and the FBI per A.S. 12.62.400. National Criminal History Record Checks For Employment, Licensing, and Other Noncriminal Justice Purposes.
- Completed Verification of Licensure form sent directly from (or made available via the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) online verification system at nursys.com ):
- the state or Canadian province where you received initial licensure and
- from a state or Canadian province where you hold a current license. (Send only one form if your initial license is still current.
Note: You must hold a current license in another state to be eligible for a nursing license by endorsement in Alaska. This license must be current at the time the board issues the permanent license. An inactive status is not a current license.
- Verification, on a form provided by the Department, of at least 320 hours of employment in a nursing capacity within the two years before the date the application is received by the Board.
- If you graduated from a registered nurse or practical nurse program offered by a school of nursing outside of the United States including territories or Canada, except Quebec, Canada, where English is not the primary language of the country or from a school in the United States and territories where English is not the primary language, verification of passing one of the following English proficiency examinations, with at least the following minimum scores:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic examination – overall score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 on all modules;
- Test of English as a Foreign Language, paper-based test (TOEFL-PBT) – overall score of 560 with a score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) of 50;
- Test of English as a Foreign Language, computer-based test (TOEFL-CBT) – overall score of 220 with a score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) of 50;
- Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-based test (TOEFL-iBT) – overall score of 84 with a speaking score of 26.
More information on the application process, candidate requirements and general information can be found on the appropriate application forms and on the official Alaska Board of Nursing website.
References:
http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofNursing.aspx