Hannah Pierce, BSN
June 26, 2025
Alaska’s vast and varied healthcare landscape presents numerous opportunities for nurses at every stage of their careers. From hands‑on training programs for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to bridge pathways that elevate Registered Nurses (RNs) to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and on through advanced practice degrees for Nurse Practitioners (NPs), the state’s educational offerings are designed to fit both newcomers and seasoned professionals. Whether you’re taking your first steps into patient care or seeking to deepen your clinical expertise, Alaska’s nursing programs combine rigorous coursework with practical experience, preparing graduates to meet the unique challenges of delivering quality care across the Last Frontier.
Anchorage, AK - Private 4-year - alaskapacific.edu
Online Learning - Visit Website
Alaska Pacific University's RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is designed for registered nurses seeking to advance their careers. This online program emphasizes cultural competence and safety, preparing graduates to serve Alaska's diverse populations. With a focus on indigenous ways of knowing, the program offers flexible, distance delivery courses. Admission requires a minimum GPA of 2.5, an RN license, and official transcripts. The curriculum includes foundational and major studies, with courses like Professional Nursing and Healthcare Ethics.
Anchorage, AK - Public 4-Year - uaa.alaska.edu
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the University of Alaska Anchorage prepares students for a rewarding career in nursing. This hybrid program offers two tracks: one for students seeking RN licensure in Alaska and another for current RNs aiming to advance their education. With a focus on evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, and interprofessional collaboration, graduates are ready to meet the healthcare needs of diverse populations. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), ensuring high-quality education. Admission requires a minimum GPA of 3.00 for pre-licensure students and 2.00 for RNs, along with specific coursework. The BSN lays a solid foundation for graduate study in nursing.
Anchorage, AK - Private 4-year - chartercollege.edu
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at Charter College in Anchorage, AK, prepares students for a rewarding career in nursing. This 19-month hybrid program combines online and classroom learning, offering flexibility. Students gain skills in patient care, nursing practices, and technology use. The curriculum includes anatomy, pharmacology, and pediatric nursing, among others. Graduates are prepared for the NCLEX-RN exam, essential for becoming a registered nurse. With high demand for nurses in Alaska, this program opens doors to various healthcare settings. Financial aid and scholarships may be available to eligible students.
Alaska’s LPN programs equip students with the fundamental nursing knowledge and practical skills needed to deliver care across the state’s unique and often remote communities. Through structured coursework in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and hands‑on training, learners gain experience in hospitals, long‑term care facilities, and rural health clinics. Graduates emerge prepared to assist RNs and physicians by administering medications, monitoring patient status, and promoting wellness. By addressing workforce demands and enhancing access to care in Alaska’s challenging environments, LPN programs play a crucial role in sustaining the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
Built around the state’s unique geography, Alaska’s CNA courses pair infection‑control lectures and daily‑living assistance labs with real‑world rotations in Anchorage hospitals and Yup’ik village clinics. Students learn to deliver comfort and dignity, whether helping a patient use the restroom in a sprawling hospital or supporting elders in a remote health outpost, and relay critical vital‑sign data back to supervising nurses. Their presence is essential for keeping care flowing in communities where every pair of hands counts.
Alaska’s RN to BSN tracks are crafted to meet the state’s vast, often remote healthcare needs by blending flexible online instruction, spanning clinical leadership, community and rural health, research methods, and culturally responsive care, with hands‑on practicums at urban hospitals and village clinics. These bridge programs enable experienced RNs to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), equipping them for supervisory and specialty positions, meeting growing employer and accreditation standards, and honing skills critical to improving patient outcomes across Alaska’s diverse communities. Offered in part‑time and accelerated formats, they fit around shift work and life in Alaska, helping nurses advance without pausing their careers.
Alaska’s Nurse Practitioner programs build upon a bachelor’s degree in nursing by offering rigorous advanced clinical coursework and extended supervised residencies, typically spanning two to four years, in specialties such as family practice, pediatric care, and psychiatric-mental health. Available in online, hybrid, and on-campus formats, these MSN and DNP pathways equip graduates for APRN certification and state licensure. As primary care providers, chronic disease managers, and telehealth clinicians in hospitals, tribal health centers, and remote village clinics, NPs help bridge critical gaps in rural and indigenous communities. By expanding access to high-level care and improving patient outcomes, NP programs play an essential role in fortifying Alaska’s healthcare infrastructure.
| Degree | Typical Length | Prerequisites | Outcome / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) | ~2 years | High school diploma or GED | Common entry point, vital for rural and underserved communities |
| RN Diploma | 2-3 years | High school diploma or GED | Not currently offered in Alaska |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) | 4 years | High school diploma or ADN transfer | Includes rural health and indigenous care focus, preferred by employers |
| Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) | 2 years (post-BSN) | BSN + RN license | Prepares for advanced practice roles, full practice authority for NPs |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | 3-6 years (post-BSN or post-MSN) | BSN or MSN + RN license | Highest degree, NPs can practice independently, critical in frontier regions |
Online Learning - Website
Online & Campus Based - Website
Online & Campus Based - Website