Direct answer
The responsible authority is Arkansas State Board of Nursing. Use the verified contact details and task-specific official links on this page.
Arkansas source-reviewed jurisdiction snapshot
| Item | Reviewed detail |
|---|---|
| Authority | Arkansas State Board of Nursing |
| Public verification | ASBN Registry Search or Nursys |
| Renewal cycle | Every two years |
| Renewal deadline | Renew according to the expiration date and renewal window shown in the Arkansas Nurse Portal. |
| Continuing competence | LPN, RN and APRN renewal generally requires 15 contact hours during each two-year cycle, or another accepted competency option described by the Board. |
| Fees | Use the current ASBN fee schedule; amounts vary by credential and transaction. |
| Compact status | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Credentials | RN, LPN, APRN, RNP, LPTN |
| Phone | (501) 686-2700 |
| Physical location | 1123 S. University Ave., Suite 800, Little Rock, AR 72204 |
| Mailing address | 1123 S. University Ave., Suite 800, Little Rock, AR 72204 |
| Primary official domains | healthy.arkansas.gov |
For Arkansas, 7 primary official source records and 11 labeled official destinations support this jurisdiction guide.
Responsible licensing authority
The Arkansas State Board of Nursing regulates nursing licenses and certificates. Public verification may use the ASBN Registry Search or Nursys depending on credential type; the Board specifically routes RNP and LPTN verification to its registry.
1123 S. University Ave., Suite 800, Little Rock, AR 72204Open map ↗
Confirm current service hours and walk-in availability before visiting.
Which office or system should you use?
| Goal | Route | Why and what to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Verify current license status | ASBN License Verification | Use the reviewed Arkansas primary-source route to confirm legal name, credential, status, expiration and public restrictions. Search by license number when available and document the live Arkansas result date. |
| Renew or reactivate a license | Renew Arkansas License or Certificate | Arkansas renewal eligibility, declarations and payments belong in the official account or renewal system. Follow this published timing: Renew according to the expiration date and renewal window shown in the Arkansas Nurse Portal. |
| Check CE or continuing competence | ASBN Continuing Education FAQ | Arkansas rules can differ by credential, first renewal, practice hours, mandatory topics or national certification. Review the exact requirement before buying coursework: LPN, RN and APRN renewal generally requires 15 contact hours during each two-year cycle, or another accepted competency option described by the Board. |
| Apply by endorsement | RN Endorsement | The Arkansas destination authority decides application eligibility, documents, fingerprints, fees and any temporary authority. Use Nursys where the original jurisdiction participates; otherwise follow the Board’s direct verification instructions. |
| Use the account or transaction portal | Renew Arkansas License or Certificate | Authenticated Arkansas transactions and messages should occur only in the authority-named system. Confirm the browser domain is one of the reviewed official domains: healthy.arkansas.gov. |
| Check complaints or public discipline | official complaint and discipline resource | License status and public discipline are separate questions in Arkansas. For Arkansas, open any public order or restriction linked by the authority; do not rely on social posts or an old screenshot. |
| Contact the licensing authority | Arkansas State Board of Nursing | For Arkansas, use the responsible office for a missing document, status discrepancy, credential routing or application message. Call (501) 686-2700 with the credential, license or application number available; do not email sensitive documents unless given a secure route. |
| Use national verification or monitoring | Nursys QuickConfirm / e-Notify when accepted | Nursys can support participating-board national verification, endorsement verification and monitoring, but the Arkansas authority remains the source for local requirements. Arkansas is recorded as an operational Nurse Licensure Compact jurisdiction in this dataset. Verify that the individual public record is actually designated multistate and that the nurse maintains Arkansas or another qualifying compact state as the primary state of residence. |
Complete official task destinations
License verification ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Renew Arkansas License or Certificate ↗
Official renewal instructions and Nurse Portal route
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Continuing education FAQ ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026RN endorsement ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026ASBN fee schedule ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Arkansas NLC information ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Arkansas State Board of Nursing ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Nurse Licensure Compact ↗
National compact resource used with the Arkansas status recorded as NLC member jurisdiction; individual eligibility depends on the actual license designation and primary state of residence.
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026NCLEX Official Website ↗
Official NCLEX information for examination candidates applying through Arkansas State Board of Nursing; passing the exam does not itself create an Arkansas license.
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026NCSBN License Verification Guidance ↗
National licensing guidance used to interpret verification categories; the local Arkansas source remains ASBN Registry Search or Nursys.
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026Nursys QuickConfirm and e-Notify ↗
National participating-board service used alongside ASBN Registry Search or Nursys for Arkansas; follow Arkansas State Board of Nursing instructions for endorsement or monitoring.
National official service · reviewed July 28, 2026Before contacting the authority
- Confirm which credential and authority apply, especially in split-board jurisdictions.
- Have the application type, license number or transaction reference available.
- Ask a specific question about a missing item, renewal eligibility, status or credential assignment.
- Do not email Social Security numbers, payment-card details or background documents unless the authority explicitly instructs a secure method.
- Record the date, office or unit contacted and the response.
- Verify final license status in the public lookup system.
Frequently asked questions
Which office handles nursing licenses in Arkansas?
Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
What is the published phone number?
(501) 686-2700
Is there a separate mailing address?
1123 S. University Ave., Suite 800, Little Rock, AR 72204
What should I prepare before contacting the authority?
Have the credential, application type, license number or transaction reference ready, but do not send sensitive records to an unverified address.
Is phone guidance proof of licensure?
No. Verify the final license status in the official public lookup system.
Should I visit the office without checking first?
No. Confirm office hours, walk-in availability and the correct unit before traveling.