Working as a CRNA in Alaska: Jobs, Autonomy & Practice Overview

• Practice Model: Alaska allows independent CRNA practice with no physician supervision requirement, giving CRNAs a high level of autonomy.
• Where Jobs Are: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and numerous rural critical access hospitals throughout the state.
• Clinical Settings: Hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, community hospitals, and remote facilities that rely heavily on CRNA-only anesthesia coverage.
• Compensation Environment: Alaska CRNA pay tends to be strong across the board, with rural contracts often providing significant location-based premiums. For detailed data, see our CRNA Salary & Compensation Dataset.

Licensure & Credentials for CRNA Jobs in Alaska

• Education: Completion of a doctoral degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia program (DNAP/DNP).
• Certification: Active NBCRNA certification after passing the National Certification Examination (NCE).
• State Licensure: Alaska RN license plus Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) licensure with an anesthesia focus.
• Maintenance: Ongoing NBCRNA recertification and continuing education. See our guide to NBCRNA Recertification for Practicing CRNAs.

Practice Environment & Autonomy

• Independent Practice: CRNAs may practice without a supervising physician, especially in rural and critical access facilities.
• Care Models: CRNA-only models in smaller hospitals; collaborative and ACT models in larger health systems.

Major Hospitals & Healthcare Systems Employing CRNAs in Alaska

These are the primary employers and anesthesia practice environments for CRNAs across the state:

• Providence Alaska Medical Center (Anchorage): The state’s largest hospital; mixture of ACT and collaborative practice models with broad case mix.
• Alaska Native Medical Center (Anchorage): Large regional medical center serving Alaska Native communities; strong demand for experienced CRNAs.
• Mat-Su Regional Medical Center (Palmer): High-volume hospital with OR, OB, and trauma capabilities.
• Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (Fairbanks): Major employer in Interior Alaska; mix of scheduled and call-based anesthesia work.
• Juneau / Bartlett Regional Hospital: Community hospital serving Southeast Alaska with general, OB, and surgical cases.
• Critical Access Hospitals (Statewide): Numerous remote and frontier hospitals that frequently run CRNA-only models—ideal for practitioners seeking autonomy.
• Outpatient Surgery Centers (Anchorage & Fairbanks): Growing number of centers offering GI, ortho, plastics, and same-day surgical anesthesia roles.

Staying Current on Alaska CRNA Practice

Practice regulations and licensure requirements can change. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, refer to:

• Alaska Board of Nursing
• Alaska Association of Nurse Anesthetists