Alaska Nursing Continuing Education Requirements
Alaska CE Requirements at a Glance
| RN | LPN | Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) | Home Health Aide (HHA) | Personal Care Assistant (PCA) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total CE Hours | Complete two of three continued competency options: 30 contact hours of CE, 30 hours of uncompensated professional activities, or 320 hours of RN employment. | Complete two of three continued competency options: 30 contact hours of CE, 30 hours of uncompensated professional activities, or 320 hours of LPN employment. | Generally requires 24 contact hours of continuing education and at least 160 hours of paid CNA employment during the certification period. First-renewal exceptions may apply. | HHAs working through Medicare-certified home health agencies must receive at least 12 hours of in-service training every 12 months. | Training is based on the PCA program, services performed, and agency requirements. Alaska does not establish one universal annual CE-hour requirement for all PCAs. |
| Governing Body | Alaska Board of Nursing | Alaska Board of Nursing | Alaska Nurse Aide Registry | Employing home health agency under federal requirements | Employing home health agency under federal requirements |
Alaska Continued Competency Courses for Nurses (RNs and LPNs)
General/Elective Continuing Education Contact Hours
(30 contact hours as one continued competency option per renewal period)
Alaska Nurse Aide Continuing Education
General/Elective Nurse Aide Continuing Education Contact Hours
(24 contact hours generally required per two-year certification period)
California Licensed Vocational Nurses generally complete 30 continuing education contact hours every two years to maintain an active license. Qualifying courses must relate to the LVN’s scope of practice, and nurses must retain their completion certificates for four years. LVNs are exempt from the standard 30-hour requirement for their first license renewal.
Alaska Home Health Aide Annual In-Service Training
General/Elective Home Health Aide In-Service Training
(12 hours required every 12 months for HHAs working through Medicare-certified home health agencies)
California Licensed Vocational Nurses generally complete 30 continuing education contact hours every two years to maintain an active license. Qualifying courses must relate to the LVN’s scope of practice, and nurses must retain their completion certificates for four years. LVNs are exempt from the standard 30-hour requirement for their first license renewal.
Alaska Personal Care Assistant and Direct-Care Training
General/Elective Home Health Aide In-Service Training
(12 hours required every 12 months for HHAs working through Medicare-certified home health agencies)
California Licensed Vocational Nurses generally complete 30 continuing education contact hours every two years to maintain an active license. Qualifying courses must relate to the LVN’s scope of practice, and nurses must retain their completion certificates for four years. LVNs are exempt from the standard 30-hour requirement for their first license renewal.
Using C-E-U.com for Alaska Continuing Education and Caregiver Training
C-E-U.com is an approved continuing education provider through the Florida Board of Nursing, Provider #50-47308. Alaska nurses, nurse aides, home health aides, and other caregiving professionals may use qualifying C-E-U.com courses toward applicable continuing education, continued competency, or employer-required training when accepted by the appropriate Alaska regulatory authority or employer. Course eligibility varies by profession, certification, work setting, and renewal requirement, so learners should confirm acceptance before enrolling.
Alaska Nursing and Caregiver Resources
Alaska Nursing and Caregiver Resources
Alaska Board of Nursing
Official licensing, regulatory, application, and renewal information for Alaska RNs, LPNs, APRNs, and Certified Nurse Aides.Alaska Continued Competency Information
Explains the continuing education, professional activity, and nursing-employment options available to Alaska RNs and LPNs.Alaska Nursing Renewal Information
Provides renewal schedules, deadlines, instructions, and access to Alaska’s online licensing services.Alaska Nursing Statutes and Regulations
Contains the statutes and regulations governing nurses, nurse aides, continuing competency, and professional practice in Alaska.Alaska Nurse Aide Registry
Official certification, renewal, application, and registry information for Alaska Certified Nurse Aides.Alaska Nurse Aide Certification Renewal Application
Lists the continuing education, paid-employment, documentation, and renewal requirements for Alaska Certified Nurse Aides.Alaska Home Health Agency Licensing and Oversight
Provides state licensing and certification information for home health agencies operating in Alaska.Alaska Personal Care Services Program
Provides information about Alaska Medicaid personal care services and the agencies that provide in-home assistance.Federal Home Health Aide Requirements—42 C.F.R. § 484.80
Establishes federal qualification, competency, supervision, and annual in-service training requirements for home health aides working through Medicare-certified home health agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions: California Nursing CE
Alaska RNs must complete two of the state’s three continued competency options during each renewal period: 30 contact hours of continuing education, 30 hours of uncompensated professional activities, or 320 hours of RN employment. Therefore, an RN who uses continuing education as one of the two selected options must complete 30 contact hours. Qualifying C-E-U.com courses may be used toward this option because Alaska accepts continuing education approved by another state board of nursing.
Alaska LPNs must complete two of the state’s three continued competency options during each renewal period: 30 contact hours of continuing education, 30 hours of uncompensated professional activities, or 320 hours of LPN employment. An LPN who selects continuing education as one of the two options must complete 30 contact hours. Qualifying C-E-U.com courses may be used toward this option because Alaska recognizes continuing education approved by another state board of nursing.
Alaska nurses report compliance with continuing competency requirements when completing their license renewal application. Continuing education providers do not routinely report course completions directly to the Alaska Board of Nursing, and Alaska does not use CE Broker for nursing renewals.
Nurses should retain their course certificates and other supporting documentation for at least four years. A percentage of renewal applications are randomly audited, and nurses selected for audit must submit copies of their certificates or other acceptable proof of completion. C-E-U.com provides a certificate after each completed course for the learner’s records.
Yes. Alaska nurses may complete all 30 contact hours online when continuing education is selected as one of their continued competency options. Alaska accepts internet-based and independent-study courses when they are offered through an accepted continuing education provider, and the state does not require any of the 30 hours to be completed in person.
Qualifying C-E-U.com courses may be used toward this option because C-E-U.com is an approved Florida Board of Nursing continuing education provider, Provider #50-47308. Nurses should retain their completion certificates in case they are selected for an Alaska Board of Nursing audit.
If you do not complete Alaska’s continued competency requirements and renew your license by the applicable deadline, your nursing license will lapse. Alaska does not provide a grace period, and you may not continue working as a nurse until the license has been reinstated.
To return to active practice, you must complete the applicable continued competency requirements and submit a reinstatement application with the required fees and supporting documentation. Do not certify that you completed the requirements unless you can document them. Nurses selected for an audit who cannot provide satisfactory records may be subject to disciplinary action.
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