Alaska is a great state in which to practice nursing. Unfortunately, the Alaska state legislature has not made it easier for nurses to gain a license in the state through the Nurse Licensure Compact. Alaska does not participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which would have streamlined licensing procedures for nurses who already hold a license in another state or want to take their Alaska nursing license to another state to gain a license for practice in that state. If you find yourself facing issues trying to gain a nursing license by endorsement when Alaska is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team to help you favorably resolve those issues. Call 888.535.3686 or complete this contact form for the strategic attorney representation you need.
Nurse Licensure Compact Advantages
As just suggested, the national Nurse Licensure Compact can provide nurses moving their nursing practice across state lines with substantial advantages. Qualify for licensure in one Nurse Licensure Compact state, and you should be able to qualify for licensure in all other Compact states. With the advantage of the Nurse Licensure Compact, you can save thousands of dollars, months or years of waiting, and a lot of other time, trouble, expense, and lost earnings. You can also avoid having to retake a nursing license exam like the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) and having to repeat supervised clinical practice requirements. With Nurse Licensure Compact participation in both the state you are leaving and the state you are entering for nursing practice, you may even get a swift temporary permit so that you have no work interruption at all, even on a sudden move of your nursing practice from one state to another. But that's not Alaska. We can help you address your multistate licensing issues if you are entering or leaving Alaska nurse practice.
Alaska Nurse Licensure Compact Bill
Alaska may soon participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact. Both the Alaska House and Alaska Senate have bills pending that would amend the state's nursing laws to meet Nurse Licensure Compact requirements. House Bill 149 has eleven House sponsors and has faced three committee referrals for review. Senate Bill 130 has a single Senate sponsor and faces one committee referral for review. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing actively promotes that the remaining ten states not yet approving the Nurse Licensure Compact soon do so. Nurses, though, have no guarantee that Alaska's legislature will approve either of the two bills. And even if the Alaska legislature soon enacted one of the bills into law, with or without the governor's signature, the legislation's implementation may take months or years. You'd likely find it far better to get our help resolving your Alaska licensure by endorsement issues than to wait for the passage and implementation of uncertain legislation.
Alaska Nurse Licensure Authority
Alaska's Nurse Practice Act, appearing in Alaska Statutes Sections 08.68.010 et seq., establishes the Alaska Board of Nursing to license and regulate nurses for practice in the state. The Alaska Board of Nursing has the further authority to discipline nurses whom it has licensed. Sections 08.68.270 and 08.68.275 of the Alaska Nurse Practice Act empower the Board of Nursing to deny, suspend, or revoke a license on specific disciplinary grounds. The Act's Section 08.68.340 makes it a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by fine and incarceration, to practice nursing in the state without a license. In contrast, the following sections define unlicensed practice as a public nuisance worthy of civil court injunction. Other states have similar prohibitions. You must not practice nursing without a license from the state in which you practice.
Alaska Nurse Licensure Requirements
Section 08.68.190 of Alaska's Nurse Practice Act states the requirements for licensure by examination, generally meaning the first license a nurse obtains. Licensure by endorsement, the requirements for which are below, generally means a second or subsequent license based on a prior license. To qualify for licensure by examination, a candidate must graduate from a nursing education program and qualify for an examination, both of which the Alaska Board of Nursing has approved. Under 12 Alaska Administrative Code Rule 44.300, the Alaska Board of Nursing approves Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited nursing programs. Under 12 Alaska Administrative Code Rule 44.300, the Alaska Board of Nursing approves the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) as meeting its examination requirement. Under 12 Alaska Administrative Code Rule 44.290, you must also apply to the Alaska Board of Nursing and fulfill its physical and mental health and criminal background requirements. Let us help you show Alaska Board of Nursing officials that you have met or can meet these requirements.
Nursing Licensure Requirements in Other States
If instead of licensing in Alaska, you are seeking a license in another state after already having licensed in Alaska, you will face similar licensing requirements. Licensing requirements differ from state to state. That's why we have the Nurse Licensure Compact, as an attempt to standardize qualifications and remove differences. However, states generally have education requirements recognizing ACEN accredited nursing schools and examination requirements recognizing NCLEX passage. Your challenges may be that you did not graduate from an ACEN accredited school or you took a different licensing exam other than the NCLEX. Or you may have other issues with potentially disqualifying discipline, convictions, or unfitness. No matter your multistate licensing issues, we are here to represent you in Alaska or in another state based on your Alaska nursing license.
Licensure in Alaska Based on Endorsement
The above sections describe Alaska's requirements for licensure by examination, in other words, initial licensure. Alaska's Nurse Practice Act Section 08.68.200 states Alaska's requirements for licensure by endorsement, in other words, second or subsequent licensure. Your challenge is that Section 08.68.200 for licensure by endorsement refers right back to Section 08.68.170 for licensure by examination, stating that your licensure by endorsement requires you to meet licensure by examination requirements. You don't necessarily have to take the NCLEX again or earn another nursing degree you already hold. But if you don't meet Alaska's own education, examination, fitness, and criminal history requirements, then you won't generally gain an Alaska nursing license, no matter if you hold equivalent nursing licenses in other states. Still, Alaska licensure by endorsement under Section 08.68.200 may save you some time, trouble, and expense. It may also be your only route for licensure, even if you already encounter issues. Let us help you resolve those issues.
Alaska LPN and RN Licensure by Endorsement
As just indicated, the Alaska Nurse Practice Act Section 08.68.200 sets forth the state's requirements for LPN and RN licensure by endorsement, including by reference to Section 08.68.170 the education and examination requirements all Alaska nurses must meet. For Alaska licensure by endorsement, though, your application begins by showing your verified equivalent license in another state. Showing you already hold an equivalent nursing license moves your application to review by endorsement, speeding, and somewhat streamlining review, even if you must still meet all education and examination requirements. For licensure by endorsement, you must also have practiced nursing within the past five years or, if unable to do so, that you have completed continuing nursing education or will complete the Alaska Board of Nursing's own competency course. If, though, your prior licensure was anomalous in some respect, for instance, under special approval of a non-accredited nursing education program or licensing exam other than the NCLEX, you will likely face significant issues obtaining an Alaska nursing license. Let us help you make the special showing necessary for any available relief from Alaska's standard requirements.
Alaska Temporary Permit by Endorsement
One big advantage of applying for an Alaska nursing license by endorsement rather than by examination is that licensure by endorsement makes a temporary permit available to you while the Alaska Board of Nursing reviews your license application. Alaska Nurse Practice Act Section 08.68.210 simply requires that for a temporary permit, you apply with information indicating your full qualifications, show your verified license in another state, and pay the application fee. Your temporary permit will then be valid for up to six months while the Alaska Board of Nursing processes your full license by endorsement application. A temporary permit can secure your Alaska employment and maintain your income and benefits during a critical transition period, making a difference in the tens of thousands of dollars. Let us help you qualify for a temporary permit while also helping you resolve your Alaska licensure by endorsement issues.
Alaska APRN Licensure by Endorsement
Alaska Nurse Practice Act Section 08.68.200 also sets forth the state's requirements for APRN or other nurse specialist licensure by endorsement. As with the above requirements for an Alaska LPN or RN license, an APRN candidate must meet the state's education and examination requirements for the APRN license. Those requirements, though, come with the APRN territory. APRNs and other nurse specialists generally must complete a national board certification program, including its education and examination requirements. Nurse specialist licensure is, in that sense, already largely a national certification rather than a state by state certification process. But you must still meet Alaska criminal conviction, fitness, and other standard requirements. Let us help you with any APRN or other nurse specialist multistate licensing issues.
Issues Obtaining a Second or Subsequent License
The above paragraphs discuss the requirements for obtaining an Alaska LPN, RN, or APRN nursing license by endorsement. Other states will have similar requirements if your path goes the opposite way, out of Alaska to another state rather than into Alaska from another state. We can help you with issues going either way. Here is a discussion of the common multistate licensing issues you may face.
Alaska Nursing Education Issues Delaying Licensure by Endorsement
Surprising as it may seem, state nursing boards can differ in their rules and requirements for nursing education. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing shows a map of those differences. Only about a third to one-half of U.S. states require licensed candidates to graduate from a nationally accredited nursing program, generally meaning a program that the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits. Although the Alaska Nurse Practice Act Section 08.68.330 permits the Alaska Board of Nursing to make its own list of approved programs, the Alaska Board of Nursing places Alaska among the states requiring national accreditation. Your license from another state may not have required your graduation from a nationally accredited school when Alaska very likely will. You may face that issue, requiring that we seek special relief from Alaska's standard education requirement. You could also have suffered school discipline, academic progress issues, or curriculum anomalies that create issues for the Alaska Board of Nursing to approve your nursing education. Let us help you resolve education issues.
Alaska Nursing Examination Issues Delaying Licensure by Endorsement
Under 12 Alaska Administrative Code Rule 44.300, Alaska's Board of Nursing generally requires that license applicants qualify for and pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing indicates that while state nursing practice acts differ in their requirements for licensure, all states recognize the NCLEX as a qualifying exam. You likely passed the NCLEX to obtain your initial nursing license. However, states can still differ in their NCLEX timing requirements. For instance, Alaska's same Rule 44.300 requires NCLEX passage within two years of a first attempt, or the candidate must take remedial education. Other states have three-year limits or other limits. You may have passed the NCLEX outside of Alaska's limit, or you may have met Alaska's limit for your Alaska nursing license but face a limit you cannot meet in the state to which you want to move your nursing practice. You may also have taken a specially approved licensing exam recognized only by your initial state of licensure. You may also face misconduct or misrepresentation charges relating to your NCLEX administration. Let us help you resolve your examination issues for licensure by endorsement.
License Discipline Issues Interfering with Licensure
State nursing boards also discipline licenses that they grant, up to license denial, suspension, or revocation. Alaska Nurse Practice Act Section 08.68.270 is an example, listing abundant grounds on which the Alaska Board of Nursing may deny a license, whether by endorsement or examination. If you have suffered discipline against your prior license, you may be unable to qualify for licensure by endorsement in Alaska. The same may be true if you have unresolved disciplinary charges still pending or if you favorably resolved your charges, but the disciplinary records do not accurately reflect that favorable resolution. The national Nursys database collects disciplinary action reports from state nursing boards, making it easy for boards to discover prior discipline. You'll also likely have a discipline reporting requirement. You can't run and hide from discipline. Instead, let us help you favorably resolve lingering disciplinary issues and make your best case for a license by endorsement despite any prior issues.
Background and History Issues Interfering with Licensure
State nursing practice acts also routinely impose criminal history requirements and related background checks, disqualifying candidates for licensure whose history reflects bad character or unfitness. Alaska Nurse Practice Act Section 08.68.270 is again an example, listing as grounds to deny a license any candidate who “has been convicted of a felony or other crime if the felony or other crime is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the licensee.” You may have suffered an arguably disqualifying conviction since your initial licensure or your initial state of licensure may have issued you a license despite a conviction that Alaska would not accept. In either case, you may face issues obtaining an Alaska license by endorsement or a license in another state based on your Alaska license. Malpractice liability, substance abuse, and physical or mental impairment may be other potentially disqualifying conditions. Let us help you address any such issues in your effort for licensure by endorsement.
Alaska Nurse Licensing Procedures
Fortunately, if you face any of the above issues or other issues, with your Alaska multistate licensing procedure, we should be able to invoke protective procedures to ensure that we can help you obtain your best possible licensing outcome. You generally have a constitutional right against state nursing board action that unlawfully deprives you of your property and liberty interest in your nursing license and practice without due process of law. State nursing practice acts generally either incorporate the state's protective administrative procedures or provide for their own special protective procedures. Alaska Nurse Practice Act Section 08.68.140 is an example, incorporating the state's administrative procedure act protections against any Alaska Board of Nursing final decision. We can invoke those procedures in Alaska or similar procedures in another state to ensure that we can present your evidence and arguments to qualify for licensure by endorsement.
How We Help With Your Multistate Licensing Issues
Do not retain an unqualified local civil litigator or criminal defense attorney for your professional administrative licensing proceeding. The law, rules, and procedures all differ from court proceedings to administrative licensing proceedings. You need our highly qualified attorney representation. We can strategically pursue any or all of the following actions for your best outcome:
- let the Board of Nursing know that you have retained us so that Board of Nursing officials respond to our requests while properly relying on our national reputation, relationships, and expertise;
- conduct early informal communications and conferences toward a voluntary resolution of your licensure by endorsement issues based on information and documentation we supply and certify on your behalf;
- ensure that the Board of Nursing discloses any remaining alleged deficiencies in your licensure by endorsement application so that we can help you prepare for the formal hearing of those remaining issues;
- invoke and attend the formal hearing on your behalf to present your testimony and other witnesses and evidence while challenging any disqualifying information or allegations;
- if you have already lost your formal hearing, take available appeals for the full Board of Nursing or its special appeal panel or officer to reverse erroneous adverse decisions and
- if you have already lost your formal appeals, pursue judicial and oversight review as available to correct biased decisions, decisions based on conflicts of interest, and decisions reflecting legal and factual error.
What's at Stake in Alaska Nursing License Issues
You know why you are pursuing multistate licensure, surely for good personal and professional reasons. You may need to move your practice into or out of Alaska, or you may just want to do so for sound and beneficial reasons. Those reasons may include new employment, better employment, higher wages, better benefits, greater advancement opportunities, additional education, or the accommodation of similar personal interests of a spouse or other close family member. Your reasons may also include health, lifestyle, and dependent care, among many other sound and even compelling causes. But also recognize that if you don't resolve your current multistate licensing issues favorably, those issues could, in the future, delay, frustrate, or prevent your licensure in another state, license renewal in your current state, or other practice advantage. Your job and career could be on the line, now or later. Let us help.
Premier Alaska Nursing License Attorneys
Your best move is to retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team now to help you resolve your nurse licensure by endorsement issues. We are available in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Badger, Knik-Fairview, College, North Lakes, and across the rest of Alaska, as well as nationwide. Call 888.535.3686 or complete this contact form. We have helped hundreds of nurses and other professionals favorably resolve their licensing issues.
