Compare ranked programs by cost, outcomes, and flexibility — plus Alaska certification requirements and salary data.
Alaska’s vast distances and limited public transportation mean that aspiring CNAs often face a choice: relocate temporarily to an urban training site or enroll in an online program from an out-of-state provider.
With no in-state programs meeting our ranking criteria, online options have become the default pathway for most Alaskan students. These programs deliver coursework remotely but require local clinical placements, a hurdle in a state where healthcare facilities are concentrated in a handful of cities. Alaska nursing assistants earn wages significantly above the national median, driven by high demand in tribal health clinics and long-term care settings, yet the training bottleneck persists.
No Alaska-based programs appear in this ranking because the current data slice does not include any schools physically located in Alaska. Instead, these nationally available online and hybrid CNA programs fill the gap for Alaska residents who need flexible training options. While the didactic portion can be completed remotely, all programs require in-person clinical or skills hours at a local site, so Alaska students should confirm clinical site availability before enrolling.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pima Medical Institute-Aurora | Aurora, CO | $23,000/yr | Adult learners balancing work and study | |
Pima Medical Institute offers a six-week Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide certificate with hybrid delivery, combining online coursework with in-person skills training. The institution reports a 72.1% graduation rate and an average net price of about $23,255. The program emphasizes infection control, emergency procedures, basic nursing care, and communication, and graduates are eligible to take the CNA exam.
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| #2 | Lake Region State College | Devils Lake, ND | $14,000/yr | Remote learners needing local clinical placement | |
Lake Region State College provides a 75-80 hour Certified Nurse Assistant training program with hybrid and face-to-face options, including online theory, hands-on skills labs, and clinical experiences. The college has a 52.4% graduation rate and an institution-wide average net price of about $13,577. The program is designed for North Dakota's high-demand healthcare market and may offer workforce development financial assistance.
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| #3 | Mid-State Technical College | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | $11,000/yr | Budget-conscious students seeking affordable training | |
Mid-State Technical College offers a short-term Nursing Assistant technical diploma that can be completed in 81 hours, with hybrid/blended delivery and multiple campus locations. The total program cost is $445.15, and the institution's average net price is about $10,873, with a 51.9% graduation rate. The program includes a 27-hour clinical practicum and prepares students for state certification.
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| #4 | Odessa College | Odessa, TX | $3,000 – $5,000/yr | ||
Odessa College's Certified Nurse Aide program is an 8-week accelerated hybrid course with 60 classroom hours and 40 clinical hours. Total tuition is $1,900, which covers textbooks, scrubs, and the state exam fee, and the institution reports a 37.0% graduation rate and average net price of about $6,368. Clinical rotations occur on weekends, and the program follows Texas curriculum.
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| #5 | College of Western Idaho | Nampa, ID | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | ||
College of Western Idaho offers a 12-week Certified Nursing Assistant Preparation program with hybrid online and in-person training. The program costs $945, is ACEN accredited, and requires students to be at least 16 years old. The college has a 30.6% graduation rate and average net price of about $8,500. ACEN accredited
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| #6 | Brightpoint Community College | Chester, VA | $5,000 – $12,000/yr | ||
Brightpoint Community College offers a Nurse Aide/Medication Aide Career Studies Certificate in a hybrid format, covering anatomy, safety, infection control, and medical documentation. Students complete an internship for field experience, and eligible students may receive G3 tuition assistance. The college reports a 38.3% graduation rate and average net price of about $5,490.
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| #7 | Johnson County Community College | Overland Park, KS | ~$14,000/yr (est.) | ||
Johnson County Community College offers a 96-hour Certified Nurse Aide certificate with hybrid delivery, combining online coursework with in-person labs and clinical training. The program includes flexible scheduling options and potential tuition assistance through the Kansas Promise Scholarship. The institution's graduation rate is 30.8% and average net price is about $14,176.
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| #8 | Laramie County Community College | Cheyenne, WY | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Laramie County Community College offers a state-approved Certified Nursing Assistant program with a hybrid model, combining online theory with hands-on clinical experience. The total program cost is approximately $1,200, including a 30-hour clinical experience. The college has a 38.4% graduation rate and average net price of about $7,287.
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| #9 | Northcentral Technical College | Wausau, WI | $5,000 – $7,000/yr | ||
Northcentral Technical College offers a 3-credit Nursing Assistant technical diploma requiring 120 course hours, with hybrid delivery and online options. The approximate total cost is $583, and the program is recognized by Wisconsin's Department of Health Services. The institution's graduation rate is 45.4% and average net price is about $10,303.
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| #10 | Victoria College | Victoria, TX | $3,000/yr (net price) | ||
Victoria College offers a Nurse Aide program with a hybrid structure, featuring a free 60-hour online theory prerequisite and 50-60 clinical hours on campus or at local agencies. Tuition is $650, which includes a textbook, and successful completion allows students to take the Texas Nurse Aide Registry Exam. The college's graduation rate is 29.3% and average net price is about $3,043.
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Online education has transformed how Alaskans access career training, but nursing assistant certification still demands a blend of virtual learning and real-world practice. The state’s low population density and limited training infrastructure outside Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau explain why brick-and-mortar CNA programs rarely appear in local rankings. For students in remote or rural areas, an online program is often the only practical gateway to becoming a certified nursing assistant.
An online CNA program is not fully remote. Classroom theory, such as infection control, anatomy, and patient rights, is delivered through a digital platform, allowing you to study from home. The hands-on portion, including skills labs and 80 hours of clinical experience, must be completed in person at an approved healthcare facility. This hybrid model lets you focus on academic work independently while gaining direct patient care experience under supervision.
The Alaska Board of Nursing mandates 140 total training hours: 60 hours of classroom instruction and 80 hours of clinical practice. Online programs do not automatically satisfy this standard. Only courses that are state-approved or qualify through an endorsement or equivalency pathway will make you eligible for the NNAAP credentialing exam. Before enrolling, request a detailed hour breakdown from any online provider and compare it to Alaska’s minimums. The state’s training program approval list, maintained by the Board, can help you verify a program’s status.
The biggest hurdle for online students is securing a clinical site. The Board of Nursing accepts clinical hours completed in Alaska only if the training program is Alaska-approved or if you are pursuing certification via endorsement. Reach out to potential programs early and ask whether they have existing partnership agreements with hospitals in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau. These urban centers are the most likely to host student rotations. If you live in a smaller community, be prepared to travel, or confirm that the program can coordinate with a local long-term care facility. Do not assume a program’s out-of-state approval transfers automatically.
Despite the logistical effort, an online program remains the most accessible route for students who cannot relocate for a semester or more. The ranked options on this page have been selected because their structures align with Alaska’s 140-hour requirement and they offer clear guidance on setting up clinical placements inside the state. For a student in Nome, Ketchikan, or Bethel, this hybrid model removes the barrier of uprooting for classroom lectures while still meeting the Board’s standards for certification.
Becoming a CNA in Alaska follows a clear sequence that can be completed in a matter of months. Here is the typical path from enrollment to your first job.
Alaska requires a clear set of steps before you can sit for the state certification exam. The process starts with completing a state-approved training program and ends with passing a two-part competency evaluation.
Alaska mandates a minimum of 140 hours of training. This includes a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on clinical practice. While specific hour splits can vary by program, the standard model dedicates roughly half the time to theory (covering infection control, patient rights, and basic nursing skills) and half to supervised clinical work in a skilled nursing facility. The clinical component ensures you practice real patient care under instructor guidance. You must complete the training before applying to test.
Alaska uses the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) administered by Credentia. The exam evaluates both knowledge and performance. You must pass both parts within the same testing window.
Passing scores are set by the Alaska Board of Nursing. Both parts must be passed to earn certification. If you pass one part but fail the other, you retest only the failed portion.
Alaska follows standard NNAAP retake rules. Generally, candidates get up to three attempts to pass both parts. If you fail after three tries, you must retrain before testing again. Waiting periods between retests are typically around 7 days, but exact gaps depend on test center availability. Retest fees apply per part: expect roughly $30-$50 for each retake of the written or skills component. Check with your program or the test center for current Alaska-specific fees, as they can shift annually.
Before you can take the exam, your training program will verify you meet health and safety prerequisites. Almost all programs require a negative tuberculosis (TB) skin test or chest X-ray and a criminal background check. Some employers or facilities where clinical rotations happen may also require fingerprinting. After passing the exam, the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry will process your results and may conduct an additional background screen before issuing your certification. Be sure to complete any required documentation from your training provider before scheduling your test date.
Alaska does not publicly release CNA exam pass rate data. Nationally, NNAAP first-time pass rates often fall between 70% and 80%, but this varies by state and training program. The best proxy for your likelihood of success is your program’s reputation and recent graduate experiences. Ask your program coordinator about their recent pass rates when selecting a school.
Alaska students can choose from several online CNA programs with widely varying costs. The table below shows each school’s published out‑of‑state tuition, the net price students typically pay after accounting for federal, state, and institutional aid, and its graduation rate. Beyond these figures, many Alaska residents qualify for additional support, including Pell Grants (at four of these schools, Pell recipients represent over 80% of the student body) and employer‑sponsored training from organizations such as Providence Alaska, the Yukon‑Kuskokwim Health Corporation, and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, which run paid CNA programs. State‑based aid, like the Alaska Performance Scholarship (up to $4,755) and the Alaska Education Grant, may also help cover tuition for eligible applicants.
| School | Out‑of‑State Tuition | Net Price (After Aid) | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinity College | N/A (private) | $230 | 84.8% |
| Durham Technical Community College | $7,531 | $1,664 | 44.9% |
| Lamar State College‑Port Arthur | $8,070 | $2,846 | 45.0% |
| Victoria College | $5,328 | $3,043 | 29.3% |
| FSCJ | $9,631 | $4,128 | 36.8% |
Nursing assistants in Alaska earn wages that typically exceed the national median, reflecting the state's higher cost of living and the need to attract healthcare workers to remote communities. Consistent demand is fueled by an aging population and a limited local workforce pipeline, making CNA roles stable across the state.
| Metric | Alaska | National |
|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 1,660 | 1,500,000 |
| Mean Annual Wage | $48,550 | N/A |
| Median Annual Wage | $45,840 | $39,530 |
| 25th Percentile Annual Wage | $41,840 | N/A |
| 75th Percentile Annual Wage | $50,700 | N/A |
Alaska values healthcare workers who climb the career ladder, and the CNA credential is an excellent first rung. CNA-to-LPN bridge programs often condense coursework into nine to twelve months because your nursing assistant experience confirms you already understand fundamentals like patient hygiene and vital signs. At the LPN level, you handle basic wound care, administer certain medications, and supervise CNAs. Many LPN programs give admission preference to applicants with active CNA certification and recent paid hours in the field.
For the RN pathway, CNA experience similarly streamlines the journey. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) typically takes two years once prerequisites are met, while a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) is a four-year degree. Both recognize CNA work as direct patient care exposure, which can fulfill clinical experience requirements or boost application points. A number of Alaska facilities also award clinical placement priority to their own employees, so working as a CNA while enrolled can solve the logistical puzzle of securing practicum slots.
The University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Alaska Fairbanks both run nursing programs that CNA credential holders can transition into directly. UAA offers a practical nursing certificate as well as an associate degree in nursing, while UAF provides a pre-nursing track that feeds into a bachelor’s degree. Because these are public institutions, tuition is more affordable for Alaska residents, and the curricula are designed with the state’s rural and frontier healthcare needs in mind. Earning a CNA first and working for a year or two gives applicants a competitive edge, particularly for programs that use a point-based admission system. Checking the nursing department pages on topnursing.org for Alaska LPN programs and RN programs can help you compare prerequisites and application windows.
Without committing to a full nursing degree, you can increase your earnings by adding specialty certifications. The medication aide certification trains CNAs to administer routine oral and topical medications under supervision. The geriatric aide endorsement, aligned with the state’s aging population, deepens skills in dementia care and falls prevention. Typically these involve a short training course, maybe four to eight weeks, followed by a competency exam. Many employers bump hourly pay by one to three dollars for such add-ons, and they often fund the training entirely if you agree to stay on for a set period.
Alaska’s major hospital systems, tribal health organizations, and long-term care operators actively court CNAs who want to become LPNs or RNs. Tuition reimbursement programs frequently cover the majority of tuition, books, and fees in exchange for a work commitment after graduation. As a CNA, you already have a foot in the door; speaking with a human resources representative about education benefits can reveal financial support you might otherwise overlook. These arrangements can dramatically reduce out-of-pocket costs for LPN and RN bridge programs, making the promotion from CNA to higher nursing roles far more accessible than it first appears.
Here are answers to common questions about becoming and working as a CNA in Alaska, covering training timelines, online options, exam details, costs, out-of-state license transfer, renewal steps, and free program opportunities.
If you're an Alaska resident seeking additional options, the following schools offer online or hybrid CNA programs that accept out-of-state students. Compare costs, formats, and program lengths to find a fit for your schedule and budget. All programs prepare you for certification in the state where the training is completed.
