CNA Training Programs in Alaska

Graduates of CNA Training programs in Alaska are reportedly getting hired by facilities quickly after completing the CNA certification requirements.* Assisted living and long-term care facilities are seeking experienced and new CNAs throughout the state. Based on the available data, this is an opportune time to be researching CNA programs in your area.

CNA Programs in AK

The first step is to find a CNA training program that is convenient to you and is state approved. Eligibility for the Nurse Aide Competency exam, required for certification, requires successful completion of a state approved Nurse Aide training program. A list of state approved CNA programs in Alaska and contact information can be found below.

CNA training involves a state required 140 clock hours divided between classroom instruction, lab time and clinical experience in a facility. 60 hours of classroom instruction are required and 80 hours of clinical training is required. Some programs may require applicants to be 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Other programs may accept high school students. Check with the program for their application requirements as well as to verify the CNA program they are offering is a state of Alaska approved training program.

CNA training prepares students for the State’s Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation/Exam as well as to perform in a professional Certified Nurse Aide capacity. Students learn basic nursing care skills including monitoring body functions, taking and recording temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rate, recognizing and reporting changes in a patient’s condition (rashes, acute illness or pain, dehydration, behavioral changes), assisting with range of motion exercises, administer medications and treatments that have been delegated by an RN or LPN, how to provide comfort and care to a patient when death is imminent, how to care for patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and related cognitive disorders and many other job related skills.

The Nurse Aide competency exam is administered through Pearson VUE and upon completion of a CNA program, students will register for the exam. Successfully passing the competency exam will result in certification and placement on the Alaska Nurse Aide Registry. A Nurse Aide is then eligible to utilize the title of CNA and work in assisted living and nursing home facilities.

According to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Research and Analysis Wages Data, CNAs in Alaska make a median annual salary of $31,300 and a median hourly wage of $15.04, both well above the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported national medians for this profession. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development – Alaska Occupational Forecast projects job growth for this and related professions at 36%. This blows the job growth projections in other states out of the water.

The bottom line is that with the aging population there will be an increase in demand for well trained professionals in Alaska’s booming health care sector. The CNA position is often a way to begin a career in health care. Many CNAs have continued their education and become Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses. Others have entered the business administration and management side of health care after gaining higher education in the field.

You may also be interested in the Medical Assisting programs in Alaska where you will find school, salary and job outlook information.

State Approved Nurse Aide Training Programs in Alaska

(Sources: Alaska Borad of Nursing, Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, *University of Alaska Southeast)

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