Best Alaska LPN to RN/BSN Programs 2026
Alaska offers LPN to RN bridge programs designed for nurses seeking expanded skills in patient care and clinical judgment. The curriculum typically includes classroom instruction in advanced nursing concepts, as well as hands-on training in hospitals and community health settings. Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN and pursue licensure as registered nurses.
Alaska LPN to RN Program Overview
Eligibility and Admission Requirements
Alaska’s LPN to RN bridge pathways admit currently licensed practical nurses who can demonstrate readiness for advanced practice and clinical learning across the state’s urban and rural settings. While each school sets its own criteria, applicants should expect the following common requirements in Alaska:
- Active, unencumbered LPN license, with eligibility to practice in Alaska by the time clinicals begin
- Recent completion of prerequisite college courses with minimum grade requirements, typically including:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs
- Microbiology with lab
- Chemistry, Nutrition, and a college-level Math course
- English composition and Lifespan or Developmental Psychology
- Standardized entrance exam used by many Alaska programs, such as TEAS or HESI
- CPR for Healthcare Providers, immunizations and titers, TB screening, and fit testing where required
- Background check and fingerprinting that meet Alaska licensure and clinical site requirements
- Drug screening and proof of current health insurance
- For LPN advanced placement, programs may require proof of recent LPN practice hours and skills validation to award credit or allow challenge exams
Working LPNs may receive advanced standing for prior learning and experience, reducing time to completion once prerequisite and bridge-transition requirements are met.
Program Curriculum and Accreditation
LPN to RN bridge curricula in Alaska build on your LPN foundation and emphasize RN-level assessment, clinical judgment, care coordination, and leadership. You can expect:
- Transition coursework focused on the RN scope, delegation, and evidence-based decision making
- Adult medical-surgical nursing across the lifespan, including complex and multi-system conditions
- Maternal-newborn, pediatric, and mental health nursing
- Health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology at the RN level
- Population and community health, including rural practice, telehealth, and culturally responsive care with Alaska Native communities
- Clinical rotations in hospitals, clinics, long-term care, and community settings across Alaska
Accreditation and state approval are essential in Alaska. Choose a program that is approved by the state and institutionally accredited, and whose nursing program holds national nursing accreditation such as ACEN or CCNE. Program approval by the Alaska Board of Nursing ensures your education meets state standards for RN licensure and NCLEX eligibility, and national nursing accreditation supports credit transfer, employer recognition, and access to graduate education.
LPN to RN Schools and Classes
Alaska primarily offers bridge options through public institutions with statewide delivery sites. Because Alaska is geographically large with many rural communities, didactic instruction is often offered through distance or hybrid models, while skills labs and clinicals are conducted in person at designated hub sites and partner facilities. Cohorts may be offered in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and regional communities depending on clinical partnerships and faculty availability.
Typical coursework includes:
- LPN-to-RN transition and professional role development
- Advanced health assessment, pharmacology, and pathophysiology
- Adult medical-surgical nursing I and II, with high-fidelity simulation and acute care clinicals
- Maternal-newborn and pediatric nursing with family-centered care
- Mental health nursing with emphasis on therapeutic communication and crisis intervention
- Community and population health with rural health and telehealth applications
- Leadership and teamwork, quality and safety, and preparation for the NCLEX-RN
Electives or focused clinical experiences may include emergency, perioperative, or critical care exposure depending on site capacity.
Career Outlook
Registered nurses in Alaska are employed in hospitals, critical access facilities, tribal and community health organizations, public health departments, primary care clinics, home health, long-term care, and school health. Rural practice can include expanded care coordination, medevac interfaces, and telehealth-supported roles. Shift options vary by employer and may include 8 or 12-hour schedules, nights and weekends, and on-call in remote areas.
Demand for RNs is steady across the state due to workforce turnover, an aging population, and persistent rural access needs. Compared with LPN roles, RNs in Alaska perform comprehensive assessments, initiate and revise care plans, deliver a wider range of IV therapies, precept and delegate, and qualify for more specialty areas and leadership roles. These differences typically correspond to broader job opportunities and higher compensation relative to LPN positions.
LPN to RN Program Length
- Full-time bridge: Often three to four semesters after prerequisites, depending on advanced placement awarded and clinical site scheduling
- Part-time bridge: Often five to six semesters, designed for working LPNs who need a reduced course load
- Evening or weekend options: Availability is limited and varies by location. Some programs offer hybrid schedules with evening synchronous classes and weekend skills labs, but clinicals follow site-specific schedules
Because Alaska uses hub-and-spoke delivery for many clinicals, start times and completion timelines can vary by cohort and site. Applicants should verify current delivery schedules and cohort availability before planning a start date.
Tuition and Costs
Tuition for Alaska LPN to RN bridge programs varies by institution type, residency, and nursing differential fees. As a general reference:
- Public in-state bridge pathways typically fall in a moderate range for tuition and mandatory fees, with total program costs influenced by how many credits transfer from prior coursework
Additional expenses commonly include textbooks and digital resources, uniforms and clinical supplies, background check and drug screening, immunizations, licensing and exam fees, and travel to skills labs or clinical sites. Cost of living in Alaska is higher than the national average, and students should plan for housing and transportation. Depending on where you study, you may need to budget for regional travel or short-term lodging near hub hospitals during intensive clinical periods.
Can I Take LPN to RN Classes Online?
In Alaska, many bridge programs use hybrid or distance models that deliver lectures online or by web conferencing, paired with in-person skills labs and supervised clinical rotations at approved Alaska facilities. Fully online prelicensure RN education is not feasible because hands-on clinical practice is required for licensure. Some out-of-state schools may offer online theory, but they must have approved clinical placements in Alaska and meet state education standards. Always confirm that any program you consider is approved for RN licensure in Alaska and that it can place you in local clinical sites that satisfy program and state requirements.
LPN to RN Licensure Requirements in Alaska
NCLEX-RN Exam Information
Graduates of Alaska LPN to ADN or LPN to BSN bridge programs must pass the NCLEX-RN to become licensed as Registered Nurses. In Alaska, you apply to the Alaska Board of Nursing for RN licensure by examination and separately register for the NCLEX-RN. After the Board determines you are eligible, you will receive an Authorization to Test and can schedule your exam.
- Application to the Board: submit the RN exam application and fees, request an official transcript sent directly from your approved RN program showing degree conferral, and complete fingerprint-based background checks.
- Testing: register for the NCLEX-RN, receive your Authorization to Test, and sit for the exam. If you do not pass, national testing rules require a waiting period before retesting.
- Temporary practice: the Board may issue a temporary permit for qualified graduates while exam results are pending. Check current eligibility, document requirements, and time limits with the Board.
RN Reciprocity and Nurse Licensure Compact
Alaska licenses experienced RNs from other states through licensure by endorsement. You must submit an endorsement application, verification of original RN licensure, fingerprint-based background checks, and meet Alaska’s continuing competency requirements if applicable. When qualified, a temporary permit may be available while your endorsement is processed. Alaska does not have separate reciprocity agreements with individual states beyond this endorsement pathway.
Alaska is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. A multistate RN license from a compact state does not authorize practice in Alaska. RNs coming to Alaska must hold an Alaska RN license or an Alaska-issued temporary permit, and Alaska RNs do not receive multistate practice privileges.
Licensure Requirements
The Alaska Board of Nursing regulates RN licensure, education, and practice. To obtain an RN license by examination, applicants must:
- Graduate from an approved RN program and have an official transcript sent directly to the Board.
- Submit a completed application with fees and fingerprint-based background checks.
- Register for and pass the NCLEX-RN.
- Meet any additional requirements for internationally educated applicants, such as English proficiency and credential evaluation, if applicable.
To obtain an RN license by endorsement, applicants must:
- Hold a current RN license in another U.S. state or territory.
- Provide license verification from the original state of licensure.
- Complete fingerprint-based background checks and meet continuing competency requirements when required by the Board.
License Renewal
Alaska RN licenses expire every two years on November 30 of even-numbered years. You must renew on time and attest to having met continuing competency requirements during the two-year licensing period. Alaska uses a flexible continuing competency model; RNs must complete at least two of the following activities within the renewal period:
- Complete a minimum of 30 contact hours of nursing continuing education.
- Practice at least 320 hours as an RN.
- Engage in at least 60 hours of professional activities such as precepting, teaching, presenting, publishing, committee or board service, or volunteer nursing that enhances practice.
Keep documentation of your activities in case of audit. Review the Board’s current forms, fee schedules, and any additional renewal conditions or exceptions before submitting your renewal.
LPN to ADN Bridge Program
Program Length:
Approximately 18 months to 2 years.
Credential Awarded:
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
NCLEX-RN Eligibility:
Yes.
Program Focus:
Prepares students as nurse generalists with foundational skills for diverse healthcare settings, with a focus on meeting the needs of Alaskan communities.
Average In-State Tuition in Alaska:
Tuition varies by institution. For example, Alaska Pacific University's undergraduate tuition is a flat rate of $10,175 for 12-18 credit hours per semester. The University of Alaska Anchorage has in-state tuition and fees of around $8,750 per year. Charter College, a private institution, has an annual tuition of approximately $18,678.
Best For:
LPNs seeking the fastest route to becoming a registered nurse, those who want to enter the RN workforce quickly, and individuals who may want a more affordable entry into registered nursing.
School Types:
Private universities and private for-profit colleges.
LPN to BSN Bridge Program
Program Length:
Typically 2 to 4 years, often completed online.
Credential Awarded:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
NCLEX-RN Eligibility:
Yes.
Program Focus:
Builds upon LPN experience to provide a broader education in nursing theory, research, leadership, and public health.
Average In-State Tuition in Alaska:
There are currently no in-state LPN to BSN bridge programs in Alaska. Students must enroll in online programs offered by universities in other states, with tuition costs varying significantly.
Best For:
LPNs who desire a four-year degree, are interested in future leadership or advanced practice roles, and want the widest range of career opportunities.
School Types:
Primarily online universities based outside of Alaska.
Choose LPN→ADN If:
- Faster Entry into the RN Role: ADN programs are significantly shorter than BSN programs, allowing LPNs to transition to an RN role more quickly.
- Lower Initial Cost: The overall tuition for an ADN program is generally less than for a BSN, making it a more financially accessible option for many.
- Strong Foundation for Practice: The curriculum is focused on providing the essential clinical skills and knowledge needed for immediate entry into the nursing workforce.
- Option for Future Advancement: Graduates can begin working as RNs and choose to pursue an RN to BSN bridge program later, often with employer tuition assistance.
Choose LPN→BSN If:
- Broader Career Opportunities: A BSN is often required for leadership, management, research, and public health nursing roles. In Alaska, a BSN may be required for certain positions, such as in public health nursing.
- Higher Earning Potential: Nurses with a BSN generally have a higher earning potential over their careers compared to those with an ADN.
- Foundation for Advanced Degrees: A BSN is the necessary stepping stone for pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a doctoral degree to become a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, or nurse educator.
- Improved Patient Outcomes: Research has shown a correlation between a higher percentage of BSN-prepared nurses and better patient outcomes.