Moving between states / Alaska

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Moving from Arkansas to Alaska as a registered or practical nurse

What a registered or practical nurse licensed in Arkansas has to do to work in Alaska, what the move does to your pay, and who in Alaska is hiring from out of state.

Endorsement needed. Alaska is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so your Arkansas multistate licence does not work there. Apply to the Alaska Board of Nursing for licensure by endorsement before you move; it commonly takes six to twelve weeks. Your Arkansas licence stays valid for compact states.

What the move does to your paycheck

On a $60,000 salary Alaska leaves you roughly $1,638 a year more than Arkansas does, because Alaska has no state income tax on wages.

SalaryArkansas state taxAlaska state taxDifference a year
$40,000$1,092$0+$1,092
$60,000$1,638$0+$1,638
$90,000$2,457$0+$2,457

Rough figures for a single filer: exact in the flat-rate and no-tax states, approximated at 70% of the top bracket in the progressive ones. Property and sales tax are not in it.

CNA: Arkansas to Alaska

Transfers by reciprocity. Your Arkansas certificate stays on the Arkansas Office of Long Term Care, Nurse Aide Registry; to work in Alaska you apply to the Alaska Board of Nursing (Certified Nurse Aide program) for reciprocity. It accepts an active certificate in good standing from another state; there is no retest if your record is clean. Most registries list you within two to six weeks.

Electrician: Arkansas to Alaska

Reciprocity likely. Alaska licenses electricians at state level through the Alaska Department of Labor, Mechanical Inspection, and State certificate of fitness for journeymen; Alaska takes part in the western reciprocity group, so a journeyman card from a partner state can be endorsed. Your Arkansas licence comes from the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Electrical Section, a state body, which is what a reciprocity application needs: ask it for a verification letter before you move.

CDL: Arkansas to Alaska

Transfers at the DMV. A commercial driver's licence transfers like any licence: within 30 days of becoming a Alaska resident you surrender the Arkansas CDL at a Alaska driver licence office, pass the vision test, pay the fee, and your endorsements carry over. A hazmat endorsement needs a fresh TSA threat assessment in Alaska. Your driving record follows you through the federal CDLIS system.

  • Permanent Fund Dividend: roughly $1,000 to $1,700 a year. For every resident after a full calendar year in the state; not a relocation grant, but paid every year.

Going the other way? Arkansas has Life Works Here (Northwest Arkansas). See moving from Alaska to Arkansas.

Openings filed in Alaska

11 open positions filed with the Department of Labor by Alaska employers who could not fill them locally.

Your own route from Arkansas to Alaska

Tell us your trade and your licence. We write the steps for your case, check the job offer for scams, and keep your resume ready for Alaska employers.

Plan my move to Alaska

Same move, by trade

CNA: Arkansas to Alaska · Electrician: Arkansas to Alaska · Truck driver: Arkansas to Alaska · All licences: Arkansas to Alaska

From Arkansas to the states next to Alaska

To Alaska from the states next to Arkansas

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Everything about working in Alaska · All moves between states · All 50 states

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