Arkansas State Board of Nursing · NP

15 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Below is exactly what Arkansas State Board of Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from ASBN~3 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

Arkansas has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 15-hour total.

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Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalPharmacology[1]
5 hrs
Biennial

APRNs applying for Full Independent Practice in Arkansas must provide recent pharmacology CE

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Evidence of five (5) advanced pharmacology continuing education hours obtained within the last two (2) years.”
ASBN Advanced Practice — Full Independent Practice (Act 412 of 2021) application instructions, required-documents listSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Arkansas Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
ANCC contact hours from approved providers. National certification maintenance may fulfill CE requirements.
Board-approved credit
Arkansas State Board of Nursing-approved continuing education activities.
Documentation & audit

Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

First-time renewal applicants may be exempt from the CE requirement for the initial renewal period.

FAQ
Do Arkansas NPs have independent prescriptive authority?
No. Arkansas NPs exercise prescriptive authority under a Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA) with a supervising or collaborating physician. Arkansas is a restricted-practice state for NP scope of practice.
Do Arkansas NPs need to maintain national certification?
Yes. National APRN certification from a board-recognized certifying body (ANCC, AANP, or equivalent) is required for APRN recognition in Arkansas. Maintenance of current national certification is a renewal requirement.
Is Arkansas a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Arkansas is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The multistate license privilege applies to the RN component of licensure. APRN practice requires state-specific authorization.

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Other roles in Arkansas

Nurse Practitioners CME requirements in other states

Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. https://healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/nursing-arkansas-state-board/advanced-practice/
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “Evidence of five (5) advanced pharmacology continuing education hours obtained within the last two (2) years.”ASBN Advanced Practice — Full Independent Practice (Act 412 of 2021) application instructions, required-documents list

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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