State of Arkansas
Arkansas.
Updated 2026
Contact hours
For RN renewal, every 2 years
15
Mandatory topics
For RN renewal, topics
0
Online CE
For RN renewal, fully accepted
Yes
¶ Arkansas requires registered nurses to complete 15 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years to maintain an active license. CE requirements apply to all renewal periods, including the first renewal after initial licensure.
Nursing in Arkansas.
Arkansas has approximately 42,000 licensed registered nurses serving a population of 3 million. The state faces persistent nursing shortages, particularly in the Delta region and rural western counties. Major employers include the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, Baptist Health, and Mercy Health System. The nursing workforce is concentrated in the Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas metropolitan areas.
The Arkansas State Board of Nursing requires nurses to practice a minimum of 200 hours in nursing or complete 15 contact hours of continuing education, or a combination of both, within each renewal period. This practice hour option recognizes that active nursing practice itself provides ongoing learning opportunities and competency maintenance.
Common practice settings
Critical Access Hospitals
Arkansas has numerous critical access hospitals in rural areas where nurses handle diverse patient populations with limited specialist support.
Community Health Centers
Federally qualified health centers throughout Arkansas serve uninsured and underinsured populations, employing nurses in primary care roles.
Home Health
Home health agencies serve patients throughout the state, with nurses traveling significant distances in rural areas.
Renewal tips
01
Track your practice hours carefully if using them to meet renewal requirements.
02
Keep employer verification letters documenting your nursing practice hours.
03
If combining practice hours and CE, ensure you understand the calculation formula.
04
Complete CE through ANCC-accredited or Arkansas Board of Nursing approved providers.
The Nurse Licensure Compact in Arkansas
Arkansas is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Nurses residing in Arkansas can obtain a multistate license allowing practice in other compact states. This is valuable for nurses near border cities like Texarkana or West Memphis who may work in neighboring states.
Read the compact license guide→The requirements, by license
Every license type,side by side.
Hours, cycles, mandatory topics, exemptions. Switch between RN, LPN, APRN and the four advanced-practice specialties.
License
RN
Registered nurse.
Contact hours
15
every 2 years
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for RN renewal.
Notes
- 15 contact hours every 2 years required - OR one of these alternatives:.
- Alternative 1: Hold current nationally recognized certification/recertification.
- Alternative 2: Complete 1+ college credit hour in nursing with grade C or better.
- APRNs with prescriptive authority need additional 5 hours in pharmacotherapeutics.
License
LPN
LPN / LVN.
Contact hours
15
every 2 years
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for LPN renewal.
Notes
- 15 contact hours every 2 years required - OR one of these alternatives:.
- Alternative 1: Hold current nationally recognized certification/recertification.
- Alternative 2: Complete 1+ college credit hour in nursing with grade C or better.
License
APRN
APRN, general.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for APRN renewal.
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional requirements
License
NP
Nurse practitioner.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for NP renewal.
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional requirements
License
CNS
Clinical nurse specialist.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for CNS renewal.
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional requirements
License
CNM
Certified nurse-midwife.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for CNM renewal.
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional requirements
License
CRNA
Nurse anesthetist.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for CRNA renewal.
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional requirements
In context. Arkansas requires 15 contact hours every 2 years for RN license renewal. Compared with neighbors, Missouri has no general CE requirement, while Tennessee has no general CE requirement. As a Nurse Licensure Compact state, Arkansas allows nurses to practice across state lines with a multistate license.
Continue.
Verify with the source
Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
(501) 686-2700
1123 S University Avenue, Suite 800, Little Rock, AR 72204
Verify before relying on this