Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training & certification requirements vary considerably across the U.S. In some states, the requirements go beyond the federal minimum while in other states requirements are nearly identical to the federal standards.
This page displays Alaska CNA Requirements as of February 2023.
To see requirements in other states, visit nursinghome411.org/cna-reqs.
Alaska CNA Requirements
- Eligibility/Screening Requirements
- 16 years of age.
- Education & Training Requirement
- Individuals must complete a state approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program.
- Testing Requirement
- Individuals must pass both a written and skills test.
- Individuals who do not pass by their third test attempt within 24 months of the training must retake the training program before testing again.
- Renewal & In-Service Requirements
- For certification originally issued before 4/1/2020 – 24 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) AND at least 160 hours performing CNA duties for monetary compensation between 4/1/2020 and 3/31/2022.
- For certification originally issued on or after 4/1/2020 but before 4/1/2021, – 12 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) AND at least 160 hours performing CNA duties for monetary compensation 4/1/2020 and 3/31/2022.
For certification originally issued on or after 4/1/2021 – no need to comply with the Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Employment requirements until the next renewal cycle.
- Hours
- 140 hours of training including 60 hours of didactic instruction, 80 hours of supervised skills and clinical training, 48 in a long-term care facility, and 32 hours in learning and practicing under the appropriate direct supervision.
- Curriculum
- A certified nurse aide training program must be conducted in a manner to assure that clients receive safe and competent care, and must train a certified nurse aide to:
- form a relationship, communicate, and interact competently with the client;
- demonstrate sensitivity to the emotional, social, and mental health needs of a client through skillful and directed interactions;
- assist a client in attaining and maintaining independence;
- exhibit behavior that supports and promotes the rights of a client; and
- demonstrate the skills of observing, caregiving, and reporting needed to document the health, physical condition, and well-being of a client.
- Before having any direct contact with a client, a student must complete a minimum of 16 hours of classroom training and 16 hours of specific skill training that includes:
- communication and interpersonal skills;
- infection control, including standard precautions;
- safety and emergency procedures;
- respecting and promoting the rights of the client;
- observation, reporting, and documentation of patient status and the care or service furnished;
- reading and recording temperature, pulse, and respiration;
- basic elements of body functioning and changes in body function that must be reported to a nurse aide’s supervisor; and
- appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene and grooming that includes:
- bed bath;
- sponge, tub, or shower bath;
- skin care;
- oral hygiene;
- toileting and elimination;
- safe transfer techniques and ambulation; and
- The 60 hours of classroom instruction required in 12 AAC 44.835(c)(1) must include the following topics:
- the role of a certified nurse aide, including
- ethical standards;
- legal issues;
- the certified nurse aide as a member of the health care team; and
- the client’s rights and responsibilities;
- basic nursing skills, including:
- monitoring body functions;
- taking and recording vital signs;
- measuring and recording a client’s height and weight;
- caring for the client’s environment;
- non-invasive collection and testing of physical specimens;
- measuring and recording fluid and food intake and output;
- caring for a client if the client’s death is imminent; and
- postmortem care;
- personal care skills, including:
- bathing;
- oral hygiene;
- grooming;
- dressing;
- toileting;
- assisting with eating and hydrating;
- proper feeding techniques; and
- skin care;
- safety concepts related to nursing, including:
- medical aseptic technique, including isolation;
- basic life support;
- environment;
- body mechanics;
- transfer and ambulation;
- restraints and other protective devices;
- fire and disaster;
- food service; and
- infection control, including standard precautions;
- communication skills, including:
- psychosocial needs of clients;
- verbal and nonverbal communications;
- knowledge of communication modifications for clients with limited abilities;
- medical and nursing terminology; and
- recording and reporting;
- hygiene and restorative nursing care, including:
- personal hygiene;
- activities of daily living;
- adequate nutrition and fluid intake;
- excretory system;
- bladder and bowel retraining; and
- preventive maintenance and rehabilitative measures;
- human growth and development, including:
- basic needs;
- developmental needs;
- care of the cognitively impaired;
- mental health and social service needs;
- cultural factors;
- sexuality;
- process of aging; and
- death and dying.
- The 80 hours of supervised skills and clinical training required must provide an opportunity for a student to gain the following competencies:
- perform according to a nurse aide’s role and responsibility by
- using ethical and legal concepts in relationships and communication with others, including other health care providers and the client;
- maintaining confidentiality of client information;
- identifying the lines of authority and reporting problems to the appropriate person;
- identifying the range and limitation of certified nurse aide functions;
- accepting responsibility for one’s actions;
- demonstrating promptness and dependability;
- seeking assistance when unsure about appropriate action;
- participating as a member of the health care team, including providing input to licensed nursing staff in the development and updating of client care plans; and
- using the concept of client’s rights and responsibilities in client relationships, including the rights described in 7 AAC 12.890;
- demonstrate an understanding of the basic nursing skills of
- monitoring body functions;
- taking and recording vital signs;
- non-invasive physical specimen collection and testing, including recognizing and reporting deviations from normal limits;
- measuring and recording height and weight;
- recognizing abnormal signs and symptoms of common diseases and conditions, including the following:
- shortness of breath;
- rapid respiration;
- fever, chills, or coughs;
- pain in the chest or abdomen;
- nausea and vomiting;
- blue color to the lips;
- drowsiness;
- excessive thirst or sweating;
- pus, blood, or sediment in urine;
- urinating difficulties, urinating in frequent small amounts, pain or burning during urination, or urine with dark color or strong odor;
- transfers, positioning, and turning of clients;
- demonstrate an understanding of basic personal care skills by assisting clients with
- bathing;
- oral hygiene;
- grooming;
- dressings;
- toileting;
- eating and hydration;
- proper feeding techniques; and
- skin care;
- demonstrate knowledge of safety concepts by
- using the principles of medical asepsis and isolation techniques;
- showing proficiency in basic life support;
- providing adequate ventilation, warmth, light, and therapeutic environment;
- using appropriate measures to relieve pain and promote rest and sleep;
- maintaining equipment and keeping client space clean and orderly;
- identifying and using accident prevention measures;
- applying principles of body mechanics in transferring and ambulation of a client;
- demonstrating the proper application and release of restraints and other protective devices;
- demonstrating the proper care of the client in protective devices;
- demonstrating knowledge of fire and disaster procedures; and
- applying principles of health and sanitation in the service of food to a client;
- demonstrate appropriate communication skills by
- listening and responding to a client’s verbal and nonverbal communications;
- recognizing that the certified nurse aide’s own behavior influences a client’s behavior;
- seeking assistance in understanding a client’s behavior;
- giving appropriate positive and negative reinforcement;
- making adjustments for the physical or mental limitations of a client;
- using terminology accepted in the employing facility to record and report observations and pertinent information;
- recording and reporting observations, activities, and communications accurately;
- demonstrate knowledge of hygiene and restorative nursing care by
- providing appropriate personal hygiene services to the client;
- using measures that promote good skin care, including the use of antipressure procedures and devices;
- carrying out preventive maintenance and rehabilitative measures such as therapeutic ambulation, exercise, range of motion, and bed and chair positioning in daily care;
- recognizing and promoting opportunities for self-care, according to the client’s ability;
- helping to provide adequate nutrition, including fluid intake and progressive self-feeding by the client;
- identifying and monitoring special dietary needs;
- following correct procedures to aid adequate elimination from the bladder and bowel, including measuring output;
- demonstrating an understanding of the concepts of bladder and bowel retraining; and
- making adjustments for physical or mental limitations;
- demonstrate knowledge of growth and development concepts by
- identifying basic human needs;
- helping to provide for a client’s spiritual needs;
- recognizing the client’s family as an influence on behavior and care;
- identifying developmental tasks associated with aging;
- identifying cultural factors that may influence behavior;
- describing the body responses, including sexuality, in the normal life cycle;
- describing the body responses to loss, dying, and death; and
- demonstrating knowledge of post mortem care; and
- demonstrate behavior that maintains the rights of the client by
- providing privacy and maintenance of confidentiality;
- promoting the client’s right to make personal choices to accommodate individual needs;
- helping the client to resolve grievances;
- helping the client get to, and participate in, family and other group activities;
- helping to care for and maintain the security of a client’s personal possessions;
- providing care that protects the client from abuse, mistreatment, or neglect;
- reporting any instances of abuse, mistreatment, or neglect to the appropriate authorities;
- maintaining the client’s environment and providing the level of care that will minimize the need for physical and chemical restraints;
- acting as an advocate if a client’s rights appear to have been violated by reporting to the appropriate supervisory staff.
- perform according to a nurse aide’s role and responsibility by
- the role of a certified nurse aide, including
- A certified nurse aide training program must be conducted in a manner to assure that clients receive safe and competent care, and must train a certified nurse aide to:
- Alaska Stat. Ann. § 08.68.331
- Alaska Admin. Code tit. 12, § 44.847 et seq.
- Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
- Alaska Nurse Aide Renewal FAQs