Arkansas Nursing CE & License Renewal Requirements (2026)
To renew, Arkansas registered nurses need 15 contact hours, a national certification, or an academic nursing course each 2-year renewal. The board also requires 1 mandatory topic (listed below). Renewal: Biennial, staggered by birth date (expires in birth month). CE reporting: No upload: you attest at renewal and keep your certificates in case of audit. Verified against the Arkansas board of nursing on 2026-10-16.
Hours
15 contact hrs OR national certification OR academic course, per 2-yr renewal
Cycle & deadline
Biennial, staggered by birth date (expires in birth month)
LPN / LVN
15 contact hrs OR cert OR academic course (same as RN)
Reporting
No - attest at renewal, keep records for audit (do not upload unless audited; keep 4 yrs)
Last verified 2026-10-16 · Source: Arkansas board of nursing · Checked against the full official board page
Arkansas CE requirements by license type
| License | Requirement |
|---|---|
| RN | 15 contact hrs OR national certification OR academic course, per 2-yr renewal |
| LPN / LVN | 15 contact hrs OR cert OR academic course (same as RN) |
| APRN | APRNs with prescriptive authority need an extra 5 contact hrs of pharmacotherapeutics each renewal |
Required (mandatory) topics in Arkansas
| Required topic |
|---|
| APRN Rx authority: +5 hrs pharmacotherapeutics |
Arkansas license renewal deadline & cycle
Biennial, staggered by birth date (expires in birth month)
How to renew your Arkansas nursing license
- Check your expiration date on your board portal or Nursys.com.
- Complete your CE: 15 contact hrs OR national certification OR academic course, per 2-yr renewal.
- Report or record CE: No - attest at renewal, keep records for audit (do not upload unless audited; keep 4 yrs).
- Submit the renewal application and fee on the Arkansas board site.
- Keep certificates in case of audit.
Renewal fees & late renewal
RN renewal fee: not yet verified by us. Check your board's renewal page for the current fee.
Late renewal: late fees and lapse rules vary; check your board's renewal page. Don't practice on an expired license.
CE Broker / reporting in Arkansas
No - attest at renewal, keep records for audit (do not upload unless audited; keep 4 yrs)
Is Arkansas a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Arkansas is a full Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, so a multistate license from another compact home state lets you practice here.
Where to take Arkansas-approved CE
Use providers accredited by ANCC or approved by your board, and check that courses cover the required topics above.
Arkansas nursing CE FAQ
How many CE hours does a Arkansas RN need?
15 contact hrs OR national certification OR academic course, per 2-yr renewal.
When does a Arkansas nursing license expire?
Biennial, staggered by birth date (expires in birth month).
What mandatory CE topics does Arkansas require?
Required topics: APRN Rx authority: +5 hrs pharmacotherapeutics.
Does Arkansas use CE Broker or require CE reporting?
No - attest at renewal, keep records for audit (do not upload unless audited; keep 4 yrs).
Do Arkansas LPNs/LVNs need CE?
15 contact hrs OR cert OR academic course (same as RN).
What CE do Arkansas APRNs need?
APRNs with prescriptive authority need an extra 5 contact hrs of pharmacotherapeutics each renewal.
Is Arkansas a compact (NLC) state?
Yes. Arkansas is a full Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, so a multistate license from another compact home state lets you practice here.
Sources & verification
Official source: https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/arsbn-continuing-education
Last verified: 2026-10-16. Re-read official page Oct 16, 2026; values match.
Change log: 2026-10-16: added APRN pharmacotherapeutics requirement