How to get a single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license in Arkansas

Arkansas registered nurse licenses

Arkansas issues 2 registered nurse credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Arkansas registered nurse license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

What it covers

Professional nursing: for compensation, observation, care and counsel of the ill, injured or infirm; health maintenance and illness prevention; supervising and teaching other personnel; delegation; and administering medications and treatments prescribed by authorized practitioners where substantial specialized judgment and skill are required.⁹

Requirements

High school diploma or GED

Required⁴

Education or training

Complete an approved professional (registered) nursing education program; the program director confirms completion with an Affidavit of Graduation and the official transcript must reach the ASBN before results are released.¹
Who may teach it: An approved nursing education program (ASBN lists approved associate and baccalaureate RN programs).⁴
Alternative: Internationally educated nurses: graduation from an approved/accredited school as a registered or first-level nurse, licensure or eligibility in the country of graduation, and a credentials review (education, licensure and English competence) by a board-approved agency.⁴
Alternative: Military education, training, national certification and experience may be accepted in lieu of education or experience if substantially similar.⁴

Exam

NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination)²
Given by: Pearson VUE²
Passing score: Set by the Board (NCLEX pass/fail).⁴
When you can take it: Submit the state application about 60 days before graduation; you are not eligible to test until state and federal background check results are received.²
Retakes: Frequency and number of retests are set by the Board; retake applicants need background checks from the past 12 months on file. The application fee is charged for first attempts and retakes and is not refundable.⁴

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required¹
Applicants who pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, or were found guilty of, an offense listed in Ark. Code 17-3-102 are not eligible, but may request a waiver.²
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply⁴

Residency or citizenship

US citizens and others with an SSN or USCIS Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766); DACA recipients with a current EAD may be licensed (Ark. Code 17-87-313).⁴

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Pearson VUE², when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Complete an approved RN program. About 60 days before graduation, submit the RN Initial by Exam application in the Arkansas Nurse Portal, declare your primary state of residence and pay the $100 fee by card.² arsbn.boardsofnursing.org²
2. Register for the NCLEX-RN with Pearson VUE (before or at the same time as the state application).²
3. Request state and federal (fingerprint) background checks through the ASBN Criminal Background Checks System - a separate system from the application.²
4. Your program director files the Affidavit of Graduation (electronically for Arkansas programs; paper form for out-of-state programs) and the school sends your official transcript.²
5. Optional: request a temporary permit (within 90 days of program completion, once registered with Pearson VUE and background checks are clear).²
6. Pass the NCLEX-RN; the initial license is free and is verified on Nursys (no paper license).²

Apply online

arsbn.boardsofnursing.org²

Temporary or provisional license

Exam applicants: temporary permit valid 90 days or until first exam results (whichever first), only within 90 days of program completion; endorsement applicants: one-time permit up to six months. Fee $30.²

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years¹

When it expires

Biennial renewal on a staggered birth-date cycle; the first license may run from 91 days to 2 years depending on birth date. Renew before the expiration date (notice mailed 60 days before).²

Renewal fee

$100³

Continuing education

At least 15 hours each renewal period⁴

Required topics

Alternatives to the 15 contact hours: certification or recertification during the renewal period by a national certifying body recognized by the ASBN, or an academic course in nursing or a related field (Board page: at least one college credit hour with grade C or better).⁴
Random CE audits: keep certificates; on audit provide proof of CE from the 24 months before renewal within 30 days. Extra hours do not carry over.⁴

Approved courses

Practice-focused contact hours from a nationally recognized or state continuing-education approval body recognized by the ASBN; the ASBN can approve individual offerings.⁴

Exemptions

First renewal: no CE if the initial license was valid less than two years.²
Deployed uniformed service members and spouses of deployed members: CE waived on request until 180 days after return.⁴
Inactive licenses have no CE requirement.⁴

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $100³ (lapsed license: current renewal fee plus this late fee)

If it expires

A license not renewed (or placed inactive) by the expiration date lapses; practicing on a lapsed license is illegal practice. Reinstate by filing a renewal application and paying the renewal fee plus the late fee.⁴
Reinstating within 5 years: 20 practice-focused contact hours in the past 2 years (or certification or an academic course). After more than 5 years: the same CE plus 1,000 hours of practice in the past 2 years, or a Board-approved refresher course, or graduation from an approved program within 1 year.⁴

Renew online

arsbn.boardsofnursing.org¹⁰

From another state

Who needs a single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license

Work that does not need this license:

• A nurse working in a federal facility is exempt from Arkansas licensure when holding an active nurse license in any state.⁸

Requirements for a single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Social Security number

ASBN application pages require a valid US SSN; the rule also accepts a USCIS Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766).²

Also required

Single-state license: valid in Arkansas only, issued when the applicant does not qualify for the multistate license.⁶

Renewal and continuing education

Multistate Registered Nurse (RN) license

Requirements

Social Security number

A valid US Social Security number is required for a multistate license.¹¹

Also required

NLC uniform licensure requirements for a multistate license: meet home-state requirements; approved (or verified international) program; English proficiency if applicable; passed NCLEX-RN; eligible for an active unencumbered license; fingerprint-based state and federal checks; no felony convictions; no nursing-related misdemeanours; not in an alternative program; valid US SSN.¹¹

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a registered nurse in Arkansas, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Arkansas is on the Arkansas license lookup page.

Look up a license

nursys.com²

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Ark. Code Ann. 17-87-301 (Registered nurses)
• Ark. Code Ann. 17-87-306 to -308
• Ark. Code Ann. 17-87-312 (Criminal background checks)
• Ark. Code Ann. 17-87-102 (Definitions)
• 17 CAR Part 121 (Licensure: RN, LPN, LPTN)
• Act 457 of 2023 (Automatic Occupational Licensure for Out-of-State Licensure Act, Ark. Code 17-7-101 et seq.)

Common questions

Registered nurse (RN) licenses in other states

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