Desire to move from SC to Alaska

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Hi everyone,

Yes, my husband and I want to move to Alaska after I get my RN. I'm an LPN right now but I will start back to school in Jan. Does anyone know what needs to be done to move my licensure to alaska. I do know they need fingerprints. Do I have to take an exam to qualify to practice up there even after I pass my boards here in SC? Please help!

nursegottabe

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Boards are national. Call the Alaska BON for their specific requirements.

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You just apply for a transfer lic. We just moved from AK to WA with the military and will be goiing back in a few yrs once my husband retires. We loved it there. His cousin lived in FL and moved with her husband up there after graduating nursing school and she tested for FL and did a transfer lic bc it was less expensive to do FL and transfer than test for AK. I know that to test for an AK lic is over 300 vs 70 in WA. That does not include the 200 testing fee.....that is just the lic fee. The reason is bc there are no state funds set aside for the program so your lic fee has to cover all the overhead of the BON.

There are a lot of great hospitals around the Anchorage area. Providence, Regional, Alaska Native, and there is a military hospital which civilians can work at which is called Elmendorf AFB Hospital. Then there is the valley hospital in Wasilla. Not sure about the Fairbanks area if you are looking to be in that area, that is about 6 hrs north of Anchorage and much colder. We go up every yr to the North Pole to see the Santa Clause House which is right outside of Fairbanks and this past yr it was MINUS 44 the week before Christmas.

Best of luck to you.

p.s. I am from SC, the Summerville area outside of Chs. I moved from SC after meeting my husband to AK.

DeeDee

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Many places in AK need nurses. If you are not limited to the Anchorage area, there are even more.

If you have school loans I think IHS still has a program where you can work for IHS and not have to pay these loans back. It used to be a five year commitment but have not kept up lately. There are a few IHS places in AK so you need not face the minus degrees everyone thinks about with AK. pm me for more info or specifics.

We need good nurses in AK.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

Moved to Alaskan forum for more input.

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Thanks RNKittycat. I did contact the state board in Alaska and I have info being sent to me. Thank you

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

My pleasure! I envy you going out there to a place as wild as Alaska. If I were just a few years younger...:wink2:

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My pleasure! I envy you going out there to a place as wild as Alaska. If I were just a few years younger...:wink2:

Don't let age stop you. Many areas are much like 3rd world countries. At the same time many areas are very much like the lower 48. There are many aging hippies up here. The pace in hospitals tends to be much slower than down south.

Don't dream it, if you want to do it, just come on up.

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Hi RNkittycat, I'm not a young chicky myself. I'm in my mid 40's but I feel like I can still stand for some adventure. i love to fish and I would love to try my hand at panning for gold. I watch that on t.v. Very interesting. My husband and I want to move somewhere close to work not out in the wilderness. Even though its about 3-4 years out, I'm so excited. I feel like I have to get my alaska fix on the computer everyday. This is why I love this forum. I get so many stories and advice about it. It's great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:yelclap:

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

It was actually a dream of mine to move to Alaska with my kids when I was in my 30's, before I became a nurse. I got cold feet but did seriously entertain the thought.

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Hi Rnkittykat, After the initial excitment about the idea I was wondering 'What am I thinking, here it is winter in south carolina and i am cold. how do i think i can handle alaska' and then I thought hum there are people who are making it up there, why couldn't I. My drive is fishing and panning for gold and of course practicing as a nurse. I just worry about waking up to get ready for work and what I'm gonna have to deal with on the way to work. I did get away from the computer looking at picture of alaska but yesterday I had to get back to it and I just fall in love all over again. Just have to get my daughter situated with her life. She said she does not want to move to alaska and she wants to get as far away from south carolina as she can get. She does have a boyfriend not too far off from being a finance. Anyway we'll see huh? Thanks for being an ear or an eye lol.

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