Alaska offers one of the most flexible continuing competency systems in the country. Nurses must meet two of three options every two years, including CE hours, nursing employment, or professional volunteer work.
Alaska RN License Renewal Requirements Overview
The Alaska Board of Nursing requires all nurses to demonstrate continuing competency by completing two of three options every 2-year renewal cycle. This gives nurses flexibility to combine CE hours with employment or professional activities to meet the requirement.
Alaska is not a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, meaning you must hold an Alaska-specific license to practice in the state, even if you hold a multistate license from another state.
What Is Required for Renewal?
For RNs (Two of Three Options Required):
- Option 1: 30 contact hours of continuing education, at least 20 of them from programs accredited by ANCC, ACCME or ACPE (P-designated), an NP or CRNA certifying body, or a sponsor approved by the Alaska Board (or hold a current national nursing certification)
- Option 2: 320 hours of compensated nursing employment as an RN during the renewal period
- Option 3: 30 hours of professional activities: uncompensated volunteer work in a nursing-related capacity
- Renewal fee: $200 for RN
For LPNs:
- Same two-of-three competency options as RNs
- Renewal fee: $200 for LPN
For APRNs:
- Same two-of-three competency options, plus any additional APRN-specific certification requirements
- Renewal fee: $100 for APRN
Important Renewal Dates
Alaska uses different renewal dates for different license types:
- RN and APRN deadline: November 30 of even-numbered years
- LPN deadline: September 30 of even-numbered years
- Grace period: There is no grace period. If your license is not renewed by the deadline it lapses and you must reinstate it with a notarized paper application. Practicing on a lapsed license is illegal.
Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your Alaska Nursing License
- Log in to the Alaska Professional Licensing portal. Access your license through the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing website.
- Select your license type and click Renew. Choose your RN, LPN, or APRN license.
- Attest to completing two of three competency options. Select which two options you are using (CE hours, employment, or professional activities).
- Provide documentation if requested. Keep records of CE certificates, employment verification, or professional activity logs readily available.
- Pay the renewal fee. $200 for RN/LPN or $100 for APRN by credit card.
- Submit before your applicable deadline. November 30 for RN/APRN, September 30 for LPN. After that the license lapses and must be reinstated.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Only completing one of three options. Alaska requires two of the three continuing competency options, not just one. Make sure you have documentation for two separate categories.
- Using non-approved CE providers. At least 20 of the 30 hours must come from programs accredited by ANCC, ACCME or ACPE (P-designated), an NP or CRNA certifying body, or a sponsor approved by the Alaska Board, and no more than 10 may be facility in-service education (12 AAC 44.610). Verify accreditation before taking courses.
- Missing your applicable deadline. Alaska has no grace period. RN/APRN expire November 30 of even-numbered years; LPN expires September 30. Reinstating costs at least the $200 license fee, plus a $100 penalty after 60 days.
- Not tracking employment hours. If you're using the 320-hour employment option, make sure you have documentation from your employer. Keep pay stubs or a letter verifying your hours.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal
- Choose the easiest two-option combination for you. If you work full-time as a nurse, the 320-hour employment option plus 30 CE hours is often the simplest path. If you volunteer regularly, that can replace one of the other options.
- Start your CE early in the cycle. With a 2-year window, spreading 30 CE hours over 24 months is manageable. But don't wait until the last few months.
- Keep organized records. Alaska may audit your continuing competency documentation. Maintain copies of CE certificates, employment letters, and volunteer logs for at least 4 years.
- Set up renewal reminders. RenewRN can track your CE hours and send automatic reminders as your applicable deadline approaches, so you never miss a renewal.
Choosing Two of Alaska's Three Competency Options
Per the Board, Alaska requires nurses to meet a flexible continuing competency standard by completing two of three options every two years:
- 30 contact hours of CE, at least 20 of them from programs accredited by ANCC, ACCME or ACPE (P-designated), an NP or CRNA certifying body, or a sponsor approved by the Alaska Board (or hold a current national nursing certification)
- 320 hours of compensated nursing employment during the renewal period
- 30 hours of professional activities: uncompensated volunteer work in a nursing-related capacity
Common combinations:
- Most full-time nurses: 320 employment hours + 30 CE hours (the simplest path for actively-practicing nurses)
- Part-time nurses with employer flexibility: 320 employment hours + 30 hours volunteer work
- Nurses in non-traditional roles: 30 CE hours + 30 hours volunteer work
Whatever combination you pick, document both pathways with clear evidence. Auditors verify both, not just one.
Why Alaska's Non-Compact Status Matters for Travel Nurses
Per the Board, Alaska is not a Nurse Licensure Compact member state. If you hold a multistate license from another NLC state (Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, etc.), you cannot practice in Alaska on that license alone. You need an Alaska-specific license, including for short-term, telehealth, or travel-nursing assignments.
Practical implications:
- Travel nurses considering Alaska assignments need to apply for licensure-by-endorsement before starting work
- Endorsement applications can take several weeks to process, longer during peak periods
- Telehealth providers serving Alaska patients need an Alaska license, not just a multistate license
The Two-Date License Calendar
Per the Board, Alaska uses different renewal dates for different license types:
- RN and APRN licenses: November 30 of even-numbered years (2024, 2026, 2028…)
- LPN licenses: September 30 of even-numbered years
For nurses holding both an RN and LPN credential, this means two separate renewals in the same even-numbered year, two months apart. Each license has its own $200 fee.
How Alaska Audits Work
Per the Board, Alaska may conduct random audits to verify continuing competency. Retain documentation for at least 4 years. Documentation auditors verify both of your chosen competency pathways:
- CE pathway: course certificates for all 30 hours, with provider name, course title, hours, and completion date. At least 20 hours must come from ANCC, ACCME, ACPE (P-designated), NP or CRNA certifying-body accredited programs, or a sponsor approved by the Alaska Board
- Employment pathway: employment records or attestation covering 320 hours of nursing practice during the renewal period
- Professional activities pathway: documentation of 30 hours of uncompensated nursing-related volunteer or professional activities
Failed audits can result in license discipline. Save documentation digitally with clear filenames covering the rolling 4-year retention window.
Late Renewal and Reinstatement in Alaska
Per the Board, Alaska has no grace period. A license not renewed by November 30 (LPN: September 30) lapses the next day, and you cannot simply renew it online. Reinstatement takes a notarized paper application (form 08-4067) with continuing competency completed in the two years before you apply, plus license verifications from any other state where you held a license while lapsed. Fees are tiered by how long the license has been lapsed:
- Under 60 days: $200 (the license fee)
- 60 days to one year: $300 (adds a $100 late renewal penalty)
- Over one year: $375 (adds a $75 fingerprint processing fee), and you also need 320 hours of nursing employment in the last five years or a board-approved course with at least 100 supervised clinical hours (12 AAC 44.317(b))
- You cannot work as a nurse while your license is lapsed. A six-month temporary permit may be issued while your reinstatement is processed.
APRN Renewal in Alaska
Per 12 AAC 44.470, APRN renewal requires current national certification for each role and population focus and a current Alaska RN license, so APRNs renew both. The APRN license fee is $100, in addition to the $200 RN renewal.
APRNs who hold a DEA registration and controlled-substance prescriptive authority must also attest to at least 2 hours of CE in pain management and opioid use and addiction during the licensing cycle, and to registration with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (12 AAC 44.470(5)). Separately, the federal MATE Act requires a one-time 8 hours of substance use disorder training for DEA registrants.
Alaska RN Renewal FAQ
Can I count 60 CE hours as both options? No. Per the Board, you need two different options. 30 CE hours can only count once. You must combine CE with either employment or professional activities.
What counts as “professional activities”? Per the Board, uncompensated nursing-related volunteer work, which can include serving on professional committees, volunteer nursing care, professional association activities, and similar work. Documentation should clearly describe the nursing relevance.
Does my multistate license from another state work in Alaska? No. Alaska is not an NLC member state. You need an Alaska-specific license to practice here.
Can I take all 30 CE hours online? Yes. Alaska doesn't require any in-person CE, but at least 20 of the 30 hours must come from one of the accreditors or sponsors named in 12 AAC 44.610.
I'm a first-time renewer. Am I exempt? Only if your license was issued late in the cycle. For the 2026 renewal, an RN license first issued on or after December 1, 2025 (LPN: on or after October 1, 2025) does not need continuing competency activities this time and pays a prorated $100 fee. A license issued in the first year of the cycle must meet the full requirement before its first renewal (12 AAC 44.650).
Track Your Alaska License with RenewRN
With Alaska's unique two-of-three competency system and no grace period, staying organized is essential. RenewRN sends Pro email reminders at 90, 60, 30, 7, and 1 day before your license expires, tracks your CE completion, and helps you stay on top of all your credentials.