Last Updated: April 2026
Understanding the local landscape is key to maintaining your AR nursing license without any lapses in practice. The Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) operates with a high level of transparency through the Arkansas Nurse Portal, but they are strict regarding their unique fingerprinting and renewal timelines.
For nurses holding an active multistate license from another compact state, Arkansas’s membership in the eNLC allows for immediate practice. However, if you are establishing residency or moving from a non-compact state, you must proactively manage the background check portal to avoid your application stalling during the review phase.
As a dedicated service for clinicians taking future assignments with Advantis Medical, our licensing experts provide 1-on-1 support to reduce stress and shorten processing times.
We’ll help you quickly get your AR license & connect you to top contracts in the state.
Our licensing specialists are your partners in navigating the complexities of state licensing so you can move forward with confidence. From understanding state requirements to submitting documentation, our team works closely with you to keep the process simple, organized, and efficient.
1123 S. University Ave., Suite 800, Little Rock, AR 72204
All applications and license updates are managed through the Arkansas Nurse Portal. Because the Board does not offer refunds, ensure you have selected the correct application type before submitting your payment.
Licensure by Examination: $100
Licensure by Endorsement: $100
Temporary Permit: $30
RN License Renewal: $100
Late Renewal Fee: $100
Reinstatement Fee: $100
Fees vary and are subject to change. Always verify the most current pricing directly with the Board of Nursing.
Arkansas RN and LPN licenses renew every two years. Your expiration date is tied to the last day of your birth month in either an odd- or even-numbered year, depending on your assigned renewal cycle.
To renew and maintain an active Arkansas RN license, you must:
Arkansas requires nurses to demonstrate continuing competency during each two-year renewal cycle. You must complete one of the following options:
Renewal Fee: $100
If you are relocating to Arkansas or currently hold a single-state license elsewhere, you will apply for an Arkansas nursing license by endorsement. This process allows the ASBN to pull your existing credentials from your original state of licensure.
Because Arkansas is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, this is also the path you take to upgrade a single-state license to a multistate license if you are making Arkansas your permanent home.
If you have a job offer and need to start sooner, an Arkansas temporary nursing license can allow you to begin working while your full background check is still being processed. The temporary permit typically costs $30 and helps avoid delays in starting your assignment.
Out of State Residents:
The ASBN will review your application, license verification, and background check.
Once approved, your Arkansas RN license will be issued and visible in the ASBN license lookup system.
If you are a new graduate of a U.S. nursing education program (for RN or LPN) who has not been licensed in another state, you apply by examination.
Arkansas offers a mix of large academic health systems and growing regional hospitals that frequently rely on contract clinicians. Major healthcare hubs include Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas, Fort Smith, and Jonesboro.
If you already hold a multistate license from another compact state, you can typically begin working in Arkansas immediately without applying for a separate license.
However, nurses relocating permanently from non-compact states should start the licensing process early because the separate Criminal Background Check portal and fingerprinting requirements can add extra processing time, particularly for out-of-state applicants using mailed fingerprint cards.
Once licensing is complete, you can begin exploring travel nursing jobs in Arkansas and identify assignments that match your experience.
Explore our travel nurse jobs in Arkansas to find your next great assignment.
It’s all based on your birth year. If you were born in an even year, you renew in even years. If you were born in an odd year, you renew in odd years. The specific date is always the last day of your birth month.
You have three choices: 15 hours of accredited CE, a current national nursing certification, or one college credit hour in nursing. You just need to finish one of these during your two-year window.
Yes, it is. If you have an active multistate license from another compact state, you don't need a separate AR nursing license to work here. If you are moving here permanently, you’ll apply for endorsement to flip your residence to Arkansas.
You have to go to a separate website (the Arkansas CBC portal) to pay the fee and get your instructions. This is a separate step from your actual nursing application, so don't skip it or your license will be held up.
An initial application or a renewal is $100. If you let your license lapse, you’ll end up paying an extra $100 late fee and a $100 reinstatement fee, so it’s much cheaper to renew on time.
Advantis Medical helps you leverage your license with 4,000+ high-paying travel nurse jobs & fast starts —trusted by thousands and backed by 700+ 5-star reviews.
