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CNA Classes in Alaska: 33 State-Approved Programs (2026)

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CNA Classes in Alaska: Programs, Costs, and State Requirements

Published June 19, 2026 · Last updated June 19, 2026

Alaska has 33 state-approved CNA programs spread across 19 cities, with 5 in Anchorage and more in Sitka, Palmer, Soldotna, Fairbanks, and Juneau. That puts Alaska at #45 of 50 for program count, so the list is short enough to read end to end before you choose. This page sorts every approved route by cost, schedule, and city, then lays out what the state requires: 140 training hours, the Credentia exam, and a statewide median wage of $22.29 an hour for nurse aides.

Sourced from Alaska AK BON registrySourced from AK BONBLS salary dataBLS dataLast verified Jun 19, 2026Verified Jun 19
Illustration of a certified nursing assistant caring for an elderly patient, CNA classes in Alaska

AT A GLANCE

Your Alaska CNA path

Four steps from interest to certification. Most students complete this in 6–8 weeks.

  1. Step 1.Complete 140 hours of approved training.
  2. Step 2.Finish 80 supervised clinical hours.
  3. Step 3.Pass the Credentia written and skills exam.
  4. Step 4.Get listed with the Nurse Aide Registry.
See the full How to Become guide →

Key numbers before you compare programs

Typical program length
5–16 weeks
Typical paid program cost
$1,404–$2,300
Average CNA salary
$46,370/yr (BLS, May 2025)
Reciprocity accepted
Yes, from all states

All 33 state-approved Alaska CNA programs

Sort by cost, length, format, or city. Filter with the chips above the table. Click any row to expand full address, phone, clinical site, and next cohort.

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How this list works. Every program below is state-approved by the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry (AK AK BON). Cost, length, and format come directly from each program’s published materials. Blanks (“N/A”) mean the program hasn’t published that detail yet. Programs with a linked name have a verified profile we maintain. Last verified June 19, 2026.
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Showing 1–25 of 33
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Showing 1–25 of 33

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Fastest CNA programs in Alaska

The shortest calendar on Alaska’s list is about 5 weeks, at the Alaska Native Medical Center program in Anchorage; the longest approved courses run closer to 16 weeks. Most programs with a posted schedule fall in between, like the 6-week courses at Alaska CNA in Anchorage and Mat-Su CNA in Palmer. Faster here means a tighter calendar, not less training, since every option still meets the same 140-hour requirement.

ProgramCityLengthTotal CostSponsored

Schedules verified June 19, 2026, sourced from each program’s published calendar.

Is a 5-week CNA program in Alaska long enough?

A 5-week program and a 16-week program in Alaska are not a short version and a long version of different training. Both meet the state’s 140-hour requirement, both include the 80 clinical hours, and both end at the same Credentia exam. The difference is how those hours are packed into your calendar.

The Alaska Native Medical Center’s roughly 5-week course compresses the same requirement into a shorter stretch. The 6-week options at Alaska CNA and Mat-Su CNA spread it across a few more weeks. A 16-week schedule stretches it further still, often with evening sessions.

Pick the calendar you can finish. The 5-week path asks for full days over a short stretch; a 16-week path spreads the same 140-hour requirement into a lighter weekly load. Every approved Alaska program meets the same 140-hour requirement, including 80 clinical hours, and ends at the same Credentia exam, so the real question is which pace fits your situation, not which course is better.

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Online, hybrid, weekend & evening CNA programs in Alaska

Alaska does not offer a CNA course you can finish entirely from a screen, and the data is clear that online-only training is not available here. What you can find is online coursework and hybrid formats: the lecture and theory portion runs online or self-paced, while the skills lab and 80 clinical hours happen in person, because you cannot learn hands-on care from a video. Alaska CNA in Anchorage runs a hybrid format, and evening schedules show up among the approved programs too. So online CNA classes in Alaska realistically means the classroom half online, with the clinical half on site.

ProgramCityFormatLengthTotal CostSponsored

Format and schedule options verified June 19, 2026. Confirm current online, hybrid, evening, and weekend availability with each program.

Which flexible format is right for working adults?

Hybrid splits the training into two parts: online coursework and in-person skills. At a program like Alaska CNA in Anchorage, you handle the reading and lectures online, then show up in person for the skills lab and the 80 clinical hours the state requires. For a state with programs scattered across 19 cities, the online portion is completed remotely while the skills lab and clinical hours still happen in person.

Evening programs solve a different problem: the same classroom at later hours. An evening schedule lets you meet Alaska’s 140-hour requirement without giving up your daytime. Both formats end at the same Credentia exam as every full-day, in-person course, so choosing hybrid or evening is about when and how you attend, not a lighter version of the training.

What no Alaska format removes is the in-person clinical requirement. The 80 clinical hours, five times the federal clinical floor of 16 hours set under OBRA ’87 (42 CFR 483.152), are always completed on site. When you read online next to a CNA program here, read it as online coursework with in-person clinicals, and confirm with the school which parts are which before you enroll.

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Cheapest CNA programs in Alaska

The lowest paid tuition on Alaska’s list is $1,404 at the University of Alaska Anchorage School of Allied Health, an in-person program at a community college in Anchorage. Across the programs with a published price, tuition runs up to about $2,300, so even at the high end Alaska’s paid courses stay in a tight band. That cheapest sticker is one of only seven programs with a verified cost, though, so treat it as a starting point, not the whole decision.

ProgramCityLengthTotal CostSponsored

Costs verified June 19, 2026, sourced from each program’s published tuition materials.

Is the cheapest CNA program always the best value in Alaska?

That $1,404 floor at the University of Alaska Anchorage buys the same thing a $2,300 program in Palmer does: a state-approved course that meets Alaska’s 140-hour training requirement and ends at the same Credentia exam. The price gap comes from the school and the format, not from a lighter curriculum.

So when you weigh the University of Alaska Anchorage against Alaska CNA in Anchorage at $1,800 or Mat-Su CNA in Palmer at $2,300, you are not comparing a basic course to a better one. Every approved program clears the same 140-hour minimum, including 80 clinical hours, and graduates sit for the same state exam.

What the extra money can buy is schedule, location, and an open seat. A program a short drive from home, or one that runs in the evening, differs in schedule and location, not in the credential it leads to, so the lowest number on the page is one factor among several, especially when only a handful of Alaska cities list more than one option.

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Free & employer-sponsored CNA training in Alaska

Alaska’s most realistic low-cost path is the $1,404 floor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, plus a handful of employer-sponsored routes. In an employer-sponsored program, a care facility funds your training in exchange for a commitment to work there after you certify. There is no statewide scholarship to name here, so the move is to ask local facilities directly and read what each one requires.

One note specific to Alaska’s short list: an employer-sponsored seat usually carries its own work commitment, so the terms are worth reading closely. Confirm them with the facility and with the Nurse Aide Registry before you commit to a route.

What’s the catch with free CNA training in Alaska?

Employer-sponsored training is a real route in Alaska, but it is a trade, not a giveaway. A hospital or nursing facility covers your course, and in return you agree to work for them after you pass the exam. Read that work commitment closely before you sign, because it is the real price of a no-cost seat.

Because Alaska has only 33 approved programs and several cities with a single option, an employer-sponsored seat depends on a local facility offering one. Where that route is not open to you, the realistic paid option is tuition, and the $1,404 program at the University of Alaska Anchorage is the lowest verified figure on the list.

For other help with cost, skip the guesswork. A local workforce or WIOA office can tell you what funding you may qualify for, and the Alaska Board of Nursing Nurse Aide Registry can confirm which programs are currently approved. Those two calls will tell you more than any general advice, and they cost nothing but time.

CNA salary in Alaska

BLS wage data for Alaska and its top 3 metros.

Alaska’s median CNA wage is $22.29 an hour, which ranks the state #13 of 50 for nurse-aide pay, about $46,370 a year at the median. The spread around that midpoint is real: the 10th percentile sits at $18.97 an hour and the 90th percentile reaches $28.09. Where you fall depends on your setting and percentile, not on a single number that applies to everyone.

Entry-level (10th)
$18.97/hr
$39,458/yr
Median (50th)
$22.29/hr
$46,370/yr
Top end (90th)
$28.09/hr
$58,427/yr

Pay by setting in Alaska

SettingMedian hourlyNotes
Hospitals$23.40/hrEstimated from the state wage distribution
Skilled nursing / SNF$22.29/hrEstimated
Assisted living / residential$20.73/hrEstimated

Setting figures are estimated from the verified Alaska wage distribution (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (Nursing Assistants, 31-1131), Alaska, May 2025); actual pay varies by employer.

In Alaska, pay tracks closely with the setting you work in. Assisted living and residential care sit at the low end, around $20.73 an hour. Skilled nursing facilities run near the state median of $22.29. Hospitals pay the most of the three, at $23.40 an hour. That is about a $2.67 spread between assisted living and hospital work, all inside the same $22.29 statewide median. The 90th percentile figure of $28.09 marks the top of the range rather than a standard rate, so when you weigh Alaska jobs, start by comparing them within the same setting.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), occupation 31-1131. Cost-of-living differential: Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024).

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Alaska SNAPSHOT

What makes CNA training in Alaska different

State-specific context (hours, exam vendor, and funding density) now that you’ve seen the options.

TRAINING HOURS

140 hours, incl. 80 clinical

Alaska requires 140 training hours including 80 clinical, well above the 75-hour federal training floor set under OBRA '87.

EXAM VENDOR

Credentia (NNAAP)

The Alaska NNAAP Nurse Aide Examination costs $60: a written or oral test plus a 5-skill practical.

MEDIAN PAY

$22.29/hr, #13 of 50

Alaska's median nurse-aide wage is $22.29 an hour, ranking #13 of 50; the range runs $18.97 to $28.09.

140-hour requirement
Same Credentia exam
33 programs, 19 cities

140 hours, nearly double the federal floor

Alaska sets its CNA training minimum at 140 hours, including 80 hours of clinical work. The training figure is well above the federal floor of 75 hours, and the clinical portion is five times the 16-hour federal clinical minimum set under OBRA '87 (42 CFR 483.152). Every approved program meets this same requirement, so a cheaper or shorter-calendar course is not a lighter one.

One exam vendor statewide: Credentia

Every Alaska program ends at the same test, the Alaska NNAAP Nurse Aide Examination delivered by Credentia. It costs $60 and pairs a 70-question written exam, or a 60-question oral version with 10 reading items, with a 5-skill practical. Because the exam is identical statewide, it is the common standard behind every program on this page, whatever the price or schedule.

Renewal needs 160 paid hours every two years

Alaska certifies through the Nurse Aide Registry under the Alaska Board of Nursing, and certification renews on a 24-month cycle. To renew, the state requires at least 160 paid hours worked as a nurse aide during the cycle, plus a $100 biennial fee. Reciprocity is open from all states, with initial certification by endorsement totaling $275.

Bottom line for Alaska students

Alaska gives you 33 approved programs across 19 cities, one $60 Credentia exam, and a $22.29 median wage. Choose on cost, schedule, and city, because every program meets the same 140-hour requirement.

CNA classes by city in Alaska

Alaska’s 33 programs spread across 19 cities, but not evenly. Anchorage has the most at 5, followed by Sitka with 3, then Palmer and Soldotna with 2 each. Many other towns list a single option, so check your own city first and widen the search from there.

Top 10 Alaska metros by program count

  • Anchorage5 programs
  • Sitka3 programs
  • Palmer2 programs
  • Soldotna2 programs
  • Homer2 programs
  • Fairbanks2 programs
  • Juneau2 programs
  • Kodiak2 programs
  • Nome2 programs
  • Petersburg2 programs

Alaska Nurse Aide Registry: contacts & reference

Alaska certifies CNAs through the Nurse Aide Registry, run by the Alaska Board of Nursing. Use the contact below to verify a certification, ask about renewal, or confirm a program’s approval status.

Managing agencyAlaska Board of Nursing
Phone(907) 269-8161
Websitecommerce.alaska.gov
Typical processingN/A
Renewal windowEvery 24 months; At least 160 paid hours as a nurse aide
Fee structureInitial by exam or endorsement: $275 total ($100 application, $100 certification, $75 fingerprint); biennial renewal: $100; Alaska certificate verification: $20.

Always verify with the registry directly before enrolling. Approved-program lists update periodically.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the questions Alaska CNAs ask most, drawn from the state’s verified rules. For anything beyond these, the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry has the current details.

How do I lookup my CNA certification?
You can verify an Alaska CNA certification through the Nurse Aide Registry, run by the Alaska Board of Nursing. Use the registry’s website or call its office to confirm a certification’s status. Alaska also offers a certificate verification for a $20 fee when you need official confirmation, for example for an employer or another state.
How do I renew my CNA license in Alaska?
Alaska renews CNA certification on a 24-month cycle. The state requires at least 160 paid hours worked as a nurse aide during that cycle, plus a $100 biennial renewal fee. The Alaska Nurse Aide Registry handles renewals and can confirm the current steps and documents you need.
Can I transfer my CNA license to Alaska?
Yes. Alaska accepts CNA reciprocity from all states. You apply to the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry to certify by endorsement, and the registry can confirm what your current certification needs to show. Initial certification by endorsement in Alaska totals $275 in state fees.
How much is Alaska CNA reciprocity?
Certifying in Alaska by endorsement totals $275 in state fees: $100 application, $100 certification, and $75 for fingerprinting. That is the same fee structure Alaska uses for initial certification by exam. The Alaska Nurse Aide Registry can confirm the current total before you apply.
What states reciprocate with Alaska?
Alaska accepts CNA reciprocity from all states, so a certification from any other state can be the basis for certifying in Alaska by endorsement through the Nurse Aide Registry. The registry reviews each application individually, so check with the Alaska Board of Nursing for the requirements that apply to your certification.
What can stop you from becoming a CNA?
To certify in Alaska you complete a 140-hour state-approved program, pass the Alaska NNAAP exam through Credentia, and clear a fingerprint background check, which is built into the $275 initial fee. Eligibility rules beyond those steps are set by the Alaska Board of Nursing, so the Nurse Aide Registry is the place to confirm anything specific to your situation.
Can you have a background and still be a CNA?
Alaska includes a fingerprint background check in the certification process, with a $75 fingerprint fee built into the initial $275. The state does not publish a single yes-or-no rule that fits every situation, so whether a specific background affects eligibility is decided by the Alaska Board of Nursing. Contact the Nurse Aide Registry directly to ask about your own record.
Can I still work if my CNA license expires?
Alaska certification runs in 24-month cycles and renews once you have logged at least 160 paid nurse-aide hours and paid the $100 renewal fee. What happens after a certification lapses, including any reinstatement steps, is set by the Alaska Board of Nursing rather than published as a single rule here. Check with the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry before your cycle ends to confirm your status.
Can I renew my Alaska license online?
Alaska handles CNA renewals through the Nurse Aide Registry under the Alaska Board of Nursing, on a 24-month cycle that requires 160 paid hours and the $100 renewal fee. The registry’s website is the place to confirm the current renewal methods available to you. Check there before your renewal date so you have time to gather what the state asks for.
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