Arkansas CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
Verify an Arkansas CNA through the Arkansas DHS Office of Long Term Care registry, hosted by Headmaster/TMU; the official lookup is linked on this page. This office, part of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, maintains the state's list of certified nurse aides and their certification status. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check this registry before hiring anyone to work as a nurse aide, since employers who skip this step risk placing an unqualified or disqualified aide with vulnerable patients. For questions the registry can't answer online, call (888) 401-0465.
Official Arkansas lookup
Run by Arkansas DHS Office of Long Term Care (registry hosted by Headmaster/TMU).
(888) 401-0465
Official link checked 2026-09-01
How to verify in three steps
- 1
Open the official lookup
Use the Arkansas lookup linked above. It is free and public.
- 2
Search by name
Enter the aide’s full legal name. If you have it, a certification number narrows the result fastest; some states also ask for city or date of birth.
- 3
Read the status
An active status means the certification is current. Also check for any substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation, which bars employment as an aide.
Arkansas registry at a glance
| Run by | Arkansas DHS Office of Long Term Care (registry hosted by Headmaster/TMU) |
| Phone | (888) 401-0465 |
| Renewal cycle | Every 24 months (federal baseline) |
| Training required | 90 hours (16 clinical) |
| Federal minimum | 75 hours (16 clinical) |
What the lookup shows
- ✓Certification status (active, expired, or inactive)
- ✓Certification details on file with the registry
- ✓Any substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation (bars employment as an aide)
Arkansas note: Automated line (501) 682-8484
A registry check is not a criminal background check.
17,260
CNAs working in Arkansas
$34,430
Median pay per year ($16.55/hr)
$42,260
National median
90 hrs
Required training (16 clinical)
CNA median pay in Arkansas, 2015 to 2025
$21,660 in 2015 to $34,430 in 2025 (BLS OES).
Wages and employment: BLS OES, May 2025.
What you need for a lookup
A search typically needs the aide's first and last name, and a middle initial or date of birth helps narrow results if the name is common. A successful match shows certification status and basic identifying details tied to the registry entry. The registry also records substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property; anyone with such a finding cannot be employed as a nurse aide. This lookup is not a full employment or criminal background check.
Renewal, lapses, and moving to Arkansas
Certification runs on the federal 24-month renewal cycle: a nurse aide must perform paid nursing-related work in that window to stay active on the registry. Without qualifying paid work, certification typically lapses, and a lapsed aide usually has to retest. Aides moving to Arkansas from another state also go through the registry, which confirms out-of-state certification and checks for any findings before adding someone under reciprocity or endorsement. Exact renewal windows, qualifying work rules, and transfer paperwork vary by situation, so call the Arkansas registry at (888) 401-0465, or use the automated line at (501) 682-8484, for your specific case.
CNA work in Arkansas, by the numbers
Arkansas employs about 17,260 nurse aides, according to BLS May 2025 figures. The median pay is $34,430 a year, or $16.55 an hour, which runs $7,830 below the national median of $42,260. That gap has narrowed over the past decade: median pay has climbed roughly 59% since 2015, when it stood at $21,660. Training in Arkansas takes more than the federal minimum. The state requires 90 hours of nurse aide training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice, above the federal floor of 75 hours with 16 supervised practical hours. Nationally, the field is expected to add about 196,200 openings a year through 2035, a reminder that demand for trained aides isn't slowing even as Arkansas's own pay lags the country as a whole.
Verifying an aide certified in a different state? Every state runs its own registry: find the right one in the state directory.
Common questions
How do I look up a CNA license in Arkansas?
Use the Arkansas registry lookup linked on this page, run by the Office of Long Term Care and hosted by Headmaster/TMU. Enter the aide's name to search for their certification status. If the online tool doesn't resolve your question or you need to confirm a result, call the registry at (888) 401-0465 or use the automated line at (501) 682-8484.
I passed my CNA exam. How long until I appear on the registry?
You're added to the registry once your exam results and paperwork are processed and forwarded to the state, though the timing depends on how quickly those steps move. There's no fixed number of days to expect. If a reasonable amount of time has passed and you still don't see your name, call the registry directly at (888) 401-0465 to check on your status.
What if I search and can't find someone?
A missing result doesn't automatically mean someone isn't certified. Try searching maiden names, hyphenated last names, or a middle initial, since a mismatch in how a name is entered can hide a real match. If you still can't find the person after trying variants, call the registry at (888) 401-0465 to confirm their status directly.
How often does a Arkansas CNA certification need to be renewed?
Nurse aide certification follows the federal 24-month renewal cycle, which requires paid nursing-related work during that period to remain active. Arkansas administers this cycle through its registry, so for the specific renewal window that applies to your certification, call (888) 401-0465.
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Arkansas?
Arkansas requires 90 hours of nurse aide training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. That's above the federal minimum of 75 hours, which also requires at least 16 supervised practical hours. Training programs are offered through Arkansas long-term care facilities and approved training providers.
How do I update my name or address on the registry?
Contact the Arkansas registry directly at (888) 401-0465 to update your name or address, since the registry that holds your certification is the one that can make the change. These updates are routine, but the exact steps, such as what documentation is needed, are set by the registry itself.