Returning to Nursing in Alaska

Built by Keegan, a travel RN · verified against official board sources

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the Alaska Board of Nursing · 2026-07-13

The Alaska RN reinstatement fee is Tiered by lapse length: $200 within 60 days of lapse (license fee only); $300 if lapsed 60 days to 1 year ($200 license fee plus $100 penalty); $375 if lapsed more than 1 year (adds a $75 fingerprint processing fee), plus any back renewal fees. What else your return takes depends on how long the license has been lapsed: short lapses are paperwork and CE, long ones can add a refresher course.

Grace period: No grace period. If the license is not renewed by November 30, a $100 late fee is assessed in addition to the renewal fee. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.

What your lapse length means in Alaska

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Alaska: Tiered by lapse length: $200 within 60 days of lapse (license fee only); $300 if lapsed 60 days to 1 year ($200 license fee plus $100 penalty); $375 if lapsed more than 1 year (adds a $75 fingerprint processing fee)) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Alaska: Tiered by lapse length: $200 within 60 days of lapse (license fee only); $300 if lapsed 60 days to 1 year ($200 license fee plus $100 penalty); $375 if lapsed more than 1 year (adds a $75 fingerprint processing fee)) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (Alaska: Tiered by lapse length: $200 within 60 days of lapse (license fee only); $300 if lapsed 60 days to 1 year ($200 license fee plus $100 penalty); $375 if lapsed more than 1 year (adds a $75 fingerprint processing fee)) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in Alaska.

Refresher course rules in Alaska

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: Lapsed one year or less: 30 hours of professional activities within the prior 2 years. Lapsed more than one year: either 320 hours of nursing employment plus 30 CE hours, or a board-approved refresher course (within 2 years) plus 30 CE hours.
What it takes: The refresher must be board-pre-approved and completed within 2 years of application. Nurses who practiced in another jurisdiction during the lapse can reinstate with verification of that license in good standing.
Re-examination: Alaska publishes no routine re-examination requirement for reinstatement; the employment, CE, or refresher pathways govern.

Source: Alaska Board of Nursing, reinstatement information, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in Alaska

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.
2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.
3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.
4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.
5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).
6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Start at the source: Alaska Board of Nursing or the online renewal portal.

Alaska reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in Alaska?: The Alaska RN reinstatement fee is Tiered by lapse length: $200 within 60 days of lapse (license fee only); $300 if lapsed 60 days to 1 year ($200 license fee plus $100 penalty); $375 if lapsed more than 1 year (adds a $75 fingerprint processing fee), plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the Alaska Board of Nursing before applying.
Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my Alaska nursing license?: Lapsed one year or less: 30 hours of professional activities within the prior 2 years. Lapsed more than one year: either 320 hours of nursing employment plus 30 CE hours, or a board-approved refresher course (within 2 years) plus 30 CE hours. The refresher must be board-pre-approved and completed within 2 years of application. Nurses who practiced in another jurisdiction during the lapse can reinstate with verification of that license in good standing.
Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my Alaska license back?: Alaska publishes no routine re-examination requirement for reinstatement; the employment, CE, or refresher pathways govern.
Is there a grace period after my Alaska license expires?: Alaska's published rule: No grace period. If the license is not renewed by November 30, a $100 late fee is assessed in addition to the renewal fee. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.
How long does Alaska license reinstatement take?: Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The Alaska Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

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Returning to Nursing in Alaska

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the Alaska Board of Nursing · 2026-07-13

Grace period: No grace period. If the license is not renewed by November 30, a $100 late fee is assessed in addition to the renewal fee. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.

What your lapse length means in Alaska

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Alaska: Tiered by lapse length: $200 within 60 days of lapse (license fee only); $300 if lapsed 60 days to 1 year ($200 license fee plus $100 penalty); $375 if lapsed more than 1 year (adds a $75 fingerprint processing fee)) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Alaska: Tiered by lapse length: $200 within 60 days of lapse (license fee only); $300 if lapsed 60 days to 1 year ($200 license fee plus $100 penalty); $375 if lapsed more than 1 year (adds a $75 fingerprint processing fee)) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (Alaska: Tiered by lapse length: $200 within 60 days of lapse (license fee only); $300 if lapsed 60 days to 1 year ($200 license fee plus $100 penalty); $375 if lapsed more than 1 year (adds a $75 fingerprint processing fee)) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in Alaska.

Refresher course rules in Alaska

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: Lapsed one year or less: 30 hours of professional activities within the prior 2 years. Lapsed more than one year: either 320 hours of nursing employment plus 30 CE hours, or a board-approved refresher course (within 2 years) plus 30 CE hours.
What it takes: The refresher must be board-pre-approved and completed within 2 years of application. Nurses who practiced in another jurisdiction during the lapse can reinstate with verification of that license in good standing.
Re-examination: Alaska publishes no routine re-examination requirement for reinstatement; the employment, CE, or refresher pathways govern.

Source: Alaska Board of Nursing, reinstatement information, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in Alaska

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.

2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.

3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.

4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.

5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).

6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Alaska reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in Alaska?

The Alaska RN reinstatement fee is Tiered by lapse length: $200 within 60 days of lapse (license fee only); $300 if lapsed 60 days to 1 year ($200 license fee plus $100 penalty); $375 if lapsed more than 1 year (adds a $75 fingerprint processing fee), plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the Alaska Board of Nursing before applying.

Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my Alaska nursing license?

Lapsed one year or less: 30 hours of professional activities within the prior 2 years. Lapsed more than one year: either 320 hours of nursing employment plus 30 CE hours, or a board-approved refresher course (within 2 years) plus 30 CE hours. The refresher must be board-pre-approved and completed within 2 years of application. Nurses who practiced in another jurisdiction during the lapse can reinstate with verification of that license in good standing.

Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my Alaska license back?

Alaska publishes no routine re-examination requirement for reinstatement; the employment, CE, or refresher pathways govern.

Is there a grace period after my Alaska license expires?

Alaska's published rule: No grace period. If the license is not renewed by November 30, a $100 late fee is assessed in addition to the renewal fee. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.

How long does Alaska license reinstatement take?

Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The Alaska Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

Returning to Nursing in Alaska

What your lapse length means in Alaska

Refresher course rules in Alaska

Steps to reinstate in Alaska

Alaska reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for Alaska nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free

Returning to Nursing in Alaska

What your lapse length means in Alaska

Refresher course rules in Alaska

Steps to reinstate in Alaska

Alaska reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for Alaska nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free