Arkansas Registered Nurse (RN) License Renewal Requirements

Arkansas registered nurse licenses are regulated by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN). Arkansas is a member of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), having joined the original compact in 1999 and the enhanced version in 2018.

At a Glance

Detail	Information
Regulatory Body	Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN)
Renewal Cycle	Every 2 years (staggered biennial, based on birth date)
Renewal Deadline	Last day of your birth month
CE Hours Required	15 contact hours (or alternative methods)
Renewal Fee	$100 (RN)
Compact State (NLC)	Yes (eNLC member)
Online Renewal	Yes — Arkansas Nurse Portal

Continuing Education Requirements

Arkansas requires you to meet one of the following CE methods during each 2-year renewal period:

1. 15 practice-focused contact hours from a nationally recognized or ASBN-approved continuing education provider
2. Current nationally recognized certification or recertification obtained during the renewal period (e.g., ANCC, AACN, or other recognized certifying body)
3. One college credit hour (minimum) in a nursing or related course with a grade of C or better during the licensure period

APRN Requirements

In addition to the RN renewal requirements:

• Prescriptive authority holders: 5 hours of pharmacotherapeutics CE in your APRN specialty within the past 2 years
  • 2 of those hours must cover professional boundaries and Arkansas APRN prescribing rules
• Must hold a valid, active RN license (Arkansas or compact multistate) before APRN renewal
• Renew RN first, then the APRN renewal link becomes available

Arkansas-Specific Notes

• Birth-date-based renewal. Your license expires on the last day of your birth month, every 2 years. Your initial license period may be as short as 3 months or as long as 27 months depending on when you were first licensed.
• Compact state implications: If another compact state is your primary state of residence and you have an active multistate license there, your Arkansas license will not be renewed. You must declare your primary state of residence during renewal.
• No CE course listing required. When using contact hours for compliance, you attest that you have completed them — you no longer need to list each course individually. Do not upload certificates unless audited.
• Random audits. The ASBN conducts random audits. If audited and non-compliant, you have 90 days to meet the CE requirement. Failure results in a late fee and a letter of reprimand reported to a national disciplinary data bank. Subsequent non-compliance may result in additional disciplinary action.
• First renewal exemption: If your initial license was valid for less than 2 years due to birth-date timing, you are exempt from CE for the first renewal.
• All fees are non-refundable. Payment by Visa, Mastercard, or Discover only.

How to Renew

1. Complete one of the three CE methods during your renewal period
2. Log in to the Arkansas Nurse Portal
3. Complete the online renewal application and declare your primary state of residence
4. Attest to CE compliance
5. Pay the $100 renewal fee
6. Retain CE documentation for at least 4 years

Fees

Fee Type	Amount
RN Renewal	$100
RN Renewal (Post-Expiration)	Check ASBN for current late fees
Payment Method	Visa, Mastercard, or Discover only

Contact Information

Arkansas State Board of Nursing

• Website: healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/nursing-arkansas-state-board
• Nurse Portal: asbn.arkansas.gov
• Phone: (501) 686-2700
• Address: 1123 S. University Avenue, Suite 800, Little Rock, AR 72204

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This page is for informational purposes only. Requirements may change — always verify current requirements with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing before renewing. Last reviewed March 2026.

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