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.
Look up a Arkansas nurse aide
The official lookup shows whether a person is listed as an active nurse aide in Arkansas, and any finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on record. It is free and public.
Official link checked 2026-09-01
How to verify a Arkansas CNA
Open the official lookup
Use the Arkansas lookup above. It is free and public.
Search by full legal name
A certification number narrows the result fastest. Try former or hyphenated last names if nothing comes up.
Read the status and findings
Active means the listing is current. A substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation bars work as a nurse aide.
What the lookup shows
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.
Arkansas note: Automated line (501) 682-8484
Arkansas registry at a glance
- Run by: Arkansas DHS Office of Long Term Care (registry hosted by Headmaster/TMU)
- Phone: (888) 401-0465
- Training: 90 hours, 16 of them clinical
- Federal floor: 75 hours, 16 supervised practical
- Lapse rule: a listing lapses after 24 consecutive months without paid nursing work
- Not included: a registry check is not a criminal background check
What CNAs earn in Arkansas
Typical annual CNA pay in Arkansas · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
BLS OES May 2025 · CNA salary in Arkansas by city →
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.
Keep your certification active
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.
Registries in nearby states
Each state runs its own registry. An aide who worked in another state may be listed there too, and employers must check every state where they believe the aide has worked.
| State | Training hours | Phone | Official lookup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 90 | (888) 401-0465 | Lookup |
| Louisiana | 80 | (225) 342-0138 | Lookup |
| Missouri | 175 | (573) 526-5686 | Lookup |
| Mississippi | 75 | Lookup | |
| Oklahoma | 75 | (405) 426-8150 | Lookup |
| Tennessee | 75 | (615) 532-5171 | Lookup |
| Texas | 100 | (512) 438-2050 | Lookup |
State nurse aide registries and training rules, curated 2026-09-01
Questions about the Arkansas registry
- 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.