Licensure Guide

Temporary License: 

1. Mail in your completed, signed, and notarized application for Licensure by Endorsement.
2. Pay the associated fees.
3. Fingerprint & Background Reports:
   1. One original 8″ x 8″ fingerprint card is provided by the State of Alaska, but you may also use this standard fingerprint card.
   2. Take the instructions, the card/form and photo identification to local law enforcement or other authorized agency to have the fingerprints done
   3. After you have had your fingerprints taken, you will submit all the required documents to the Alaska Board of Nursing
4. Mail in a certified true copy of your current license in another state
   • To obtain a “certified true copy,” a notary public must compare the original to the photocopy. The notary must write “I certify this to be a true copy of the original document” on the photocopy and attest to the fact by signing and notarizing the document. If the notary will not certify the copy, you may certify that it is a true copy of the original and have your signature notarized. Be sure that the notary signs and seals the document with an official seal.
5. Complete the Employment Verification form (p. 7 of application) providing proof of at least 320 hours of employment in a nursing capacity within the two years

Permanent License:

1. Complete an application online or submit a completed signed and notarized application for Licensure by Endorsement.
2. Pay the associated fees.(*Check or money order made payable to the State of Alaska)
3. Fingerprint & Background Reports:
   1. One original 8″ x 8″ fingerprint card is provided by the State of Alaska, but you may also use this standard fingerprint card.
   2. Take the instructions, the card/form and photo identification to local law enforcement or other authorized agency to have the fingerprints done
   3. After you have had your fingerprints taken, you will submit all the required documents to the Alaska Board of Nursing
4. Complete the Employment Verification form (p. 7 of application) providing proof of at least 320 hours of employment in a nursing capacity within the two years
   • If you cannot document 320 hours of employment in the past two years, you must satisfy the continuing competency requirements of the Board or complete a Board-approved refresher course.
   • If you have not practiced nursing within the preceding five years, you must submit proof of completion of a Board-approved refresher course.
5. Verification of licensure from the state or Canadian province where you received initial licensure AND the state or Canadian province where you hold a current license
   • If the state(s) participate in Nursys, you must complete the Nursys verification process, pay their fee and designate Alaska as the receipt of the verification.
   • If the state(s) does not participate in Nursys, you must contact their state Boards directly for further instructions. You will need to send them a Verification of License form to complete and submit to the Alaska Board of Nursing on your behalf.
6. Verification of passing one of the following English proficiency examinations (if applicable)
   If you graduated from a pre-licensure nursing program that was not taught with English as the primary language, you must provide verification of passing one of the following English proficiency examinations with the following minimum scores:
   • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic examination – overall score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 on all modules
   • Test of English as a Foreign Language, a paper-based test (TOEFL-PBT) – overall score of 560 with a score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) of 50
   • Test of English as a Foreign Language, computer-based test (TOEFL-CBT) – overall score of 220 with a score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) of 50
   • Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-based test (TOEFL-iBT) – overall score of 84 with a speaking score of 26

*Registered Nurses who receive their original license on or after December 1 of odd-numbered years are not required to provide proof of continuing competency for their first renewal.

*Licensees are subject to a random mandatory audit of continuing competency. If you are selected for the audit, you will be notified in writing and given 30 days to submit proof of continuing competency claimed for the concluding licensing period.