CNA Classes and CNA Training Programs in Anchorage, Alaska (AK)

By the time the year 2016 arrives it is estimated that there will be a need for more than 390k CNAs. Certified nursing assistants are specialists who are usually under the supervision of a nurse or physician, and who is obviously going to be in strong demand in the coming years. Interestingly enough, Anchorage, Alaska is one of the best places to be a CNA as well as a vibrant city to live. You will find it easy to get the training you need in the area, and will have ample job opportunities after taking CNA classes in Anchorage.

Finding Information about CNA Jobs in Anchorage

If you are curious about employment opportunities for CNAs in Anchorage, you need only take a quick peek at the Indeed.com page in your area. You will be astonished by the number of openings for CNAs in all of their varieties. You will see options for basic caregivers (who need a CNA license) to advanced CNA positions working alongside physicians.

Naturally, you want more than just classified listings if you are going to conduct a serious job hunt in the area, and so you may want to explore your options at staffing agencies. One such staffing agency in the area is Axis Medical Staffing.

Licensing and Education Requirements

While there are some very entry level positions for those who want to work as CNAs, you do need a sound education and official certification before you can work as a CNA in Alaska. The Alaska Nurse Aide Registry demands that you have 140 hours of training, or more. Your schooling or training program does count towards the minimum hours, and most courses offer a mix of classroom and “on the job” training. The most common format is sixty hours in the classroom and the remaining eighty hours in the clinical setting chosen.

Depending entirely on the program that you choose you can often be trained and working as a certified professional in roughly eight months. The key is to get training through an accredited institution and passing the necessary state licensing exam.

Key Training Centers in Anchorage

Though the state is huge, there are a lot of convenient CNA training centers and locations in the Anchorage area. They are all approved by the state and include the following venues for CNA classes in Anchorage:

• Providence Alaska Medical Center
• Alaska Vocational Technical Center – Allied Health Dept.

Key Employers to Know

What is very interesting to discover is that the state of Alaska is currently considered one of the top places to work as a CNA. This has to do with job opportunities and with salary. It pays one of the highest hourly wages for those who get the training and pass the exam. Currently some of the best employment resources in the Anchorage area include:

• Alaska Regional Hospital
• Providence Alaska Medical Center
• Anchorage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Salary Information

We’ve already mentioned the higher than average salary that CNAs in Anchorage might expect. The median annual Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Anchorage, AK is $35,930, as of August 17, 2020, with a range usually between $29,836-$43,075 (Salary.com).

Key Skills Learned in CNA Training

What do you need to know to work as a CNA? Your training is going to vary according to the program and goals you have, but most CNAs must know:

• Basic CPR;
• Lifting and moving techniques;
• How to listen and respond to common patient concerns, and how to communicate this to physicians and nurses;
• How to take vital signs;
• How to properly toilet and dress their patients; and
• How to clean, bathe, feed, and generally care for patients in many settings.

This is very rewarding work and is something that is already in high demand in Anchorage, Alaska!