Arkansas Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees

Arkansas belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, effective January 19, 2018. A registered nurse whose primary state of residence is another compact state already holds a multistate license valid to practice in Arkansas and cannot be issued a separate Arkansas license. Nurses whose primary residence is a non-compact state, or who plan to make Arkansas their home state, apply for an Arkansas license through endorsement instead.

To apply by endorsement, a nurse submits an application through the ASBN Nurse Portal for $125, completes a state and FBI criminal background check, and obtains license verification through Nursys or, for non-Nursys states, the board's own verification form. Arkansas issues temporary permits. A nurse who has been out of active practice for more than five years must complete an Arkansas-approved refresher course or graduate from an approved program within a year of applying.

The board does not specify a particular nursing degree requirement, only that candidates must pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Graduates typically apply about 60 days before finishing their program; the application stays valid for one year, and an official transcript must be submitted before results are released. Applicants register for the NCLEX-RN with Pearson either before or along with the state application. Internationally educated nurses use a separate application track with a $200 fee.