Becoming A Nurse In Alaska + Requirements & Licensing

COMPLETE AN LPN (LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE) DIPLOMA PROGRAM

During this program, you will gain patient care techniques and clinical care. It will allow you to sit the NCLEX-PN examination, which is a national examination. See 6 Things to Know About the NCLEX Examination and How to Master NCLEX-Style Test Questions.

COMPLETE EITHER AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE OR A BACHELOR DEGREE IN NURSING, WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO BECOME A REGISTERED NURSE

These two options have similar prerequisites. During the first year of studying, you will complete between 15 and 30 hours of core courses like statistics, math, psychology and physiology. These core courses will allow you to be accepted in a nursing college. Choosing the bachelors option will give you more advanced skills and knowledge and allows for greater job opportunities. Both degrees will allow you to sit the NCLEX-RN examination. Some 90% of students have a pass grade on these degrees.

ONCE YOU PASS YOUR NCLEX-PN OR NCLEX-RN EXAMINATION, YOU CAN BECOME LICENSED THROUGH THE ALASKA BOARD OF NURSING

The LPN will take the NCLEX-PN examination while the RN will have to take the NCLEX-RN examination.

GAIN A GRADUATE DEGREE IN YOUR CHOSEN SPECIALTY

The program must be recognized by the Board and accredited by an institution that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Depending on your chosen specialization, there are a number of requirements. For APNs and Nurse Midwives, these are:

• The program must be at least a year in length full time.
• At least 500 hours of clinical practice must be included.
• At least 3 credits must be offered in advanced pharmacotherapeutics, advanced pathophysiology and advanced physical assessment.

ANPs, NURSE-MIDWIVES AND CRNAs CAN ALL APPLY FOR PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY

For an ANP, at least 15 contact hours must be completed in clinical management and advanced pharmacology of drug therapy during the two years before applying for authorizations. Additionally, they must gain a year of working experience in prescribing and administering legend drugs while being supervised. This secondary requirement is not in place for CRNAs.

CHOOSE SPECIALIZATION

As an ANP, you can work as a nurse practitioner or a nurse midwife, or you can choose both. However, you have to specialize in a population target area as well, which can be adult, acute care/emergency care, geriatric, family, pediatric, neonatal, family psychiatric/mental health, womens health or adult psychiatric mental health.

FOR THOSE NURSE PRACTITIONERS WHO HAVE GAINED THEIR EDUCATION OUT OF STATE, OR WHO HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED THE REQUIRED CLINICAL HOURS, A PRECEPTORSHIP MAY BE NEEDED

For this, you must complete the Advanced Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship Registration, with associated fees.

BECOME NATIONALLY CERTIFIED THROUGH A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED INDEPENDENT CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATION

You will also need to complete continuous education as set out by the organization through which you are certified. The following organizations are recognized in Alaska:

• The ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center), who recognize Adult Nurse Practitioners, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP), Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner PNP) and the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).
• The AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners), which recognizes the Adult Nurse Practitioner and the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP.
• The AACN Certification Corporation (American Association of Critical Care Nurses), which recognizes the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
• The NCC (National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties), which recognizes the Women Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) and the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP).
• The National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses (NCBPNP/N), which recognizes the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP).
• The National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), which recognizes the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
• The American Midwifery Certification Board, which recognizes the Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM).

GAIN YOUR ADVANCED PRACTICE AUTHORIZATION

For this, you will need your social security number. As an ANP, you will need to complete the Advanced Nurse Practitioner Application with all supporting documentation. You must also indicate whether you want prescriptive authority, which requires a further application form.

As a registered nurse anesthetist, you will need to complete the relevant form and include all necessary documentation.

RENEW YOUR AUTHORIZATION

This is done every two years on the 30th of November of an even numbered year. You will receive a reminder for this. Your RN license will expire at the same time and must be renewed first. You must also include continuous education to maintain your prescriptive authority. The national agency you are certified with is likely to have additional continuous education requirements. Additionally, you must maintain the continuous education requirements for your RN license, which are 30 per renewal cycle, 20 of which must be approved by a recognized institution.

Alaska Board of Nursing

Juneau Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 110806

Juneau, AK 99811-0806

Physical Address:

333 Willoughby Avenue

9th Floor

Juneau, AK 99801-1770

Phone Numbers

Main Phone: (907) 465-2550

FAX: (907) 465-2974

Anchorage Mailing/Physical Address:

550 West Seventh Avenue

Suite 1500

Anchorage, AK 99501-3567

Phone Numbers:

Main Phone: (907) 269-8160

FAX: (907) 269-8156