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Open a jurisdiction to review its dated requirements and official sources. Use the compact tables to compare which states participate.

Nurse state crossing · Alaska licensing · NLC status table · LPN/LVN list

AK

RN work list: Alaska

What an RN has to do to work in Alaska. Pick where you live and the page shows your route.

Alaska is not a compact state, so a multistate licence does not cover work here. You need a Alaska licence; the steps are below.

Alaska: Not a Nurse Licensure Compact state

NCSBN · ncsbn.org · checked 15 Oct 2026

Source quotation
Alaska, American Samoa, California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Northern Mariana Island and Oregon have yet to join the NLC.

ncsbn.org · NCSBN

Route B: get a Alaska licence by endorsement

For everyone else. Each step comes from Alaska’s own licensing sources; tick it off as you go.

    • Current license in another jurisdiction

      Detail
      Must be current when the permanent Alaska license issues; inactive status is not current.

    • Practice currency

      Detail
      Document 320 nursing employment hours in the five years before application, or meet Board continuing competency requirements or complete an approved refresher.

    • Application

      Detail
      Completed application signed and notarized.

    State Board of Nursing · commerce.alaska.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

    Source quotation
    A completed application, signed and notarized (#08-4016, pages 1-5). 2. FEES Fees made payable to “State of Alaska.” Nonrefundable Application Fee: $200.00 License Fee: $100.00 Fingerprint Processing Fee: $ 75.00 Total Fees Due: $375.00 Note: Once a permit or license is issued, you are no longer eligible for a refund. 3. FINGERPRINT & BACKGROUND REPORTS Submit one original 8" x 8" fingerprint card (FD-258). The card must be printed in black/pale blue ink, on cardstock and include the FBI privacy statement on the back. The fingerprint card submitted as part of this application should be sent directly to the Alaska Board of Nursing (550 W. 7th Ave., Ste. 1500 Anchorage, AK 99501) who will submit it to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to perform a criminal background check through the State and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in accordance with AS 12.62.400 and 28 CFR 50.12(b). The fingerprint card will be rejected, and a new card and fee may be required for any of the following reasons: • Incorrect type of card • Incomplete or incorrect personal information or signatures • Improperly rolled prints If, however, an adverse report is received you may decide to challenge the accuracy or completeness of your FBI report directly with the FBI at www.FBI.gov (28 CFR 16.30 through 16.34). Challenges to the accuracy or completeness of your State of Alaska criminal history report may be directed to the Division of Statewide Services, Department of Public Safety at https://dps.alaska.gov/Statewide/R-I/Background/Home. Challenges may be given no later than 30 days after you have been notified by DPS of an adverse report. 08-4016 (Rev. 07/21/2025) Application Instructions Page 1 of 2 4. VERIFICATION OF LICENSURE Verification of licensure sent directly from (or made available via the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) online verification system at www.nursys.com): 1) the state or Canadian province where you received initial licensure and 2) from a state or Canadian province where you hold a current license. 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. Canadian nurses who passed the CNATS exam before August 1980, with a score of at least 350 on each of the five parts of the examination, or after July 1980 but before July 1992, with a score of 400 may apply for a License by Endorsement. Applicants who took the CNATS after June 1992, must apply to take the NCLEX examination. See 12 AAC 44.310(d). 5. VERIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT A completed Verification of Employment form (#08-4016b), verifying at least 320 hours of employment in a nursing capacity within the five years before the date the application is received by the board. If you cannot document 320 hours of employment in the past five years, you must satisfy the continuing competency requirements of the board or complete a board approved refresher course. Board approved refresher courses can be found at www.Nursing.Alaska.Gov. 6. ENGLISH PROFICIENCY - FOREIGN GRADUATES ONLY If you graduated from a foreign pre-licensure education program NOT taught in English, submit ONE (1) of the following: (i) Verification you have passed an English proficiency examination that includes components on reading, speaking, writing, and listening; (ii) An evaluation of your nursing education by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools Credentials Evaluation Service (CGFNS), including a full education, course-by-course report that indicates your nursing education was taught in English; – OR – (iii) An official International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP) certificate that verifies you have successfully completed the VisaScreen: Visa Credential Assessment Service. Note: We are unable to accept the Online IELTS Indicator Test or the TOEFL at Home Test.

    commerce.alaska.gov · State Board of Nursing

  2. commerce.alaska.gov

    Conditions & source context

    RN endorsement application, revision July 21, 2025. The LPN application is a separate Board form.

    State Board of Nursing · commerce.alaska.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

    Source quotation
    Registered Nurse License by Endorsement Application Instructions

    commerce.alaska.gov · State Board of Nursing

  3. Amount
    375
    Per
    application
    Conditions & source context

    Total: $375, including a $200 application fee, $100 license fee and $75 fingerprint fee. The same form identifies $200 as nonrefundable in its instructions and $275 as nonrefundable on the application. Refund eligibility ends when a permit or license is issued; the conflicting nonrefundable amounts remain unresolved.

    State Board of Nursing · commerce.alaska.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

    Source quotation
    Nonrefundable Application Fee: $200.00 License Fee: $100.00 Fingerprint Processing Fee: $ 75.00 Total Fees Due: $375.00

    commerce.alaska.gov · State Board of Nursing

  4. Required
    Yes
    State check
    Yes
    FBI check
    Yes
    Fingerprints
    Yes
    Vendor
    Alaska Department of Public Safety; Board forwards the applicant fingerprint card to DPS
    Fee
    75
    From out of state
    Submit an original FD-258 fingerprint card directly to the Board; it forwards the card to DPS for state and FBI checks.
    Conditions & source context

    The separate $75 fingerprint-processing fee is part of the $375 endorsement total; no additional generic CBC fee is stated.

    State Board of Nursing · commerce.alaska.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

    Source quotation
    The fingerprint card submitted as part of this application should be sent directly to the Alaska Board of Nursing (550 W. 7th Ave., Ste. 1500 Anchorage, AK 99501) who will submit it to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to perform a criminal background check through the State and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in accordance with AS 12.62.400 and 28 CFR 50.12(b).

    commerce.alaska.gov · State Board of Nursing

  5. Required
    No
    Verification for endorsement
    Yes
    Accepted methods
    • Direct board verification
    • Nursys verification
    Conditions & source context

    License verification is required. Nursys and direct board verification are accepted alternatives; the form does not publish a Nursys fee.

    State Board of Nursing · commerce.alaska.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

    Source quotation
    Verification of licensure sent directly from (or made available via the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) online verification system at www.nursys.com): 1) the state or Canadian province where you received initial licensure and 2) from a state or Canadian province where you hold a current license.

    commerce.alaska.gov · State Board of Nursing

  6. Available
    Yes
    Type
    endorsement temporary permit
    Fee
    0
    Eligibility
    May issue after application items 1–4 are received and processed, including professional-fitness review; items 5–6 are not required.
    Duration (months)
    6
    Renewable
    No
    Conditions & source context

    Valid for six months and nonrenewable. The LPN endorsement form states that no additional temporary-permit fee is required.

    State Board of Nursing · commerce.alaska.gov · checked 10 Oct 2026

    Source quotation
    A temporary permit may be issued once items #1 - #4 are received and processed (this includes review of professional fitness questions). Items #5 and #6 are not required for a temporary permit. Temporary permits are valid for six months and are nonrenewable.

    commerce.alaska.gov · State Board of Nursing

Built from the Alaska nursing licensing record and the compact status table. A step appears only when the record has a sourced answer for it; anything else points to the board. Informational only: confirm with the board of nursing before you apply.