Alaska Board of Nursing · NP

30 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Below is exactly what Alaska Board of Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from ABN~4 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated April 26, 2026

Mandatory topics

Alaska has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 30-hour total.

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Alaska cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalOpioid/Substance Use[1]
2 hrs
Biennial

Alaska NPs who hold an active DEA registration must complete 2 hours of pain management and opioid/addiction CE per biennial renewal period

View sourceVerbatim from source
“completed no less than two hours of continuing education in pain management and opioid use and addiction during the licensing cycle”
AS 08.68.276 (statute layer: 2hr pain management/opioid CE in the two years preceding renewal unless the licensee demonstrates no current DEA registration) implemented for APRNs at 12 AAC 44.470(5)(A) (rule layer: renewal attestation, quoted; trigger phrased as DEA registration + controlled substance prescriptive authority) and 12 AAC 44.445(i)(1) (same 2hr at initial CS-authority application)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPharmacology[1]
15 hrs
One-time

APRNs applying to the Alaska Board of Nursing for initial prescriptive authority

View sourceVerbatim from source
“shall provide evidence of completion of 15 contact hours of education in advanced pharmacology and clinical management of drug therapy within the two-year period immediately before the date of application”
12 AAC 44.440(b)(2) (rule layer, board statutes/regs publication)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Alaska Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
ANCC contact hours from approved providers are accepted. National certification maintenance may also fulfill CE requirements.
Board-approved credit
Alaska Board of Nursing-approved continuing education activities.
Documentation & audit

Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Alaska.

FAQ
Do Alaska NPs need to maintain national certification?
Yes. National APRN certification from a board-recognized certifying body (such as ANCC or AANP) is required for APRN authorization in Alaska. Maintenance of current national certification is a renewal condition.
Is Alaska a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
No. Alaska is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The Alaska Board of Nursing's NLC page states Alaska has not yet passed legislation to join; HB 131 and SB 124 (2025-2026 session) would enact it. Alaska nurses hold single-state licenses, and APRN authorization is state-specific.
What is the opioid CE requirement for Alaska NPs?
Alaska NPs who hold an active DEA registration must complete a minimum of 2 hours of education in pain management and opioid use and addiction during the two years preceding biennial renewal. NPs without an active DEA registration are exempt from this requirement per AS 08.68.276.
Do Alaska NPs have independent prescriptive authority?
Yes. Alaska is a full-practice-authority state. Under 12 AAC 44.440 and 12 AAC 44.445, the Alaska Board of Nursing grants both legend-drug and Schedule II–V controlled-substance prescriptive authority directly to the APRN. The regulations contain no requirement for a collaborative practice agreement, supervising physician, written protocol, or delegation. The APRN holds their own DEA registration and PDMP enrollment.
What does Alaska require for initial APRN prescriptive authority?
Per 12 AAC 44.440(b)(2), an APRN applying for initial prescriptive authority must show 15 contact hours of advanced pharmacology and clinical management of drug therapy completed within the two years before the application. This is a one-time application requirement and does not recur at renewal.

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Other roles in Alaska

Nurse Practitioners CME requirements in other states

Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. Alaska Nursing Statutes and Regulations PDF — AS 08.68 and 12 AAC 44 (Board of Nursing publication)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-26
    Show verbatim text
    “completed no less than two hours of continuing education in pain management and opioid use and addiction during the licensing cycle”AS 08.68.276 (statute layer: 2hr pain management/opioid CE in the two years preceding renewal unless the licensee demonstrates no current DEA registration) implemented for APRNs at 12 AAC 44.470(5)(A) (rule layer: renewal attestation, quoted; trigger phrased as DEA registration + controlled substance prescriptive authority) and 12 AAC 44.445(i)(1) (same 2hr at initial CS-authority application)
    “shall provide evidence of completion of 15 contact hours of education in advanced pharmacology and clinical management of drug therapy within the two-year period immediately before the date of application”12 AAC 44.440(b)(2) (rule layer, board statutes/regs publication)

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Alaska Board of Nursing, or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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