Arkansas Nursing Continuing Education: Requirements, Steps & Official Links

Direct answer

LPN, RN and APRN renewal generally requires 15 contact hours during each two-year cycle, or another accepted competency option described by the Board.

Arkansas State Board of Nursing ↗License verification ↗Renewal of Arkansas license ↗Continuing education FAQ ↗

Arkansas factual snapshot for this workflow

Reviewed item	Jurisdiction-specific 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

For Arkansas, 7 primary official source records and 11 labeled official destinations support this jurisdiction guide. Source verification dates are shown separately from editorial release dates.

Core requirementLPN, RN and APRN renewal generally requires 15 contact hours during each two-year cycle, or another accepted competency option described by the Board.

Audit practiceRetain original completion evidence and follow the current Board audit instructions.

CredentialsRN, LPN, APRN, RNP, LPTN

Renewal cycleEvery two years

Continuing education or continuing competence rule

LPN, RN and APRN renewal generally requires 15 contact hours during each two-year cycle, or another accepted competency option described by the Board.

Mandatory topics, pathways and conditions

Use Board-accepted providers or alternatives.
Keep completion documentation available for audit.
Credential-specific requirements can apply in addition to the general nursing requirement.

Credential-specific checks

Credential note

Arkansas routing note: 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.

Credential note

For Arkansas, rN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.

Credential note

For Arkansas, lPN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.

Credential note

For Arkansas, aPRN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.

Credential note

RNP: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.

Credential note

LPTN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.

Credential note

Arkansas RN: verify that the Arkansas State Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Arkansas credentials.

Credential note

Arkansas LPN: verify that the Arkansas State Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Arkansas credentials.

Credential note

Arkansas APRN: verify that the Arkansas State Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Arkansas credentials.

Credential note

Arkansas RNP: verify that the Arkansas State Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Arkansas credentials.

Credential note

Arkansas LPTN: verify that the Arkansas State Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Arkansas credentials.

Keep evidence for an audit

Retain original completion evidence and follow the current Board audit instructions.

Keep certificates and provider details for the published retention period.
Confirm course completion falls inside the correct renewal period.
Do not assume RN and APRN requirements are identical.
Check whether the provider reports electronically or whether you must upload documentation.

Common CE problems

CE or competence is not accepted

Compare the course, provider, date, credential and documentation with the exact Arkansas rule: LPN, RN and APRN renewal generally requires 15 contact hours during each two-year cycle, or another accepted competency option described by the Board. Retain evidence and use the authority’s upload or audit instructions.

Wrong credential rule

Return to the official source and match RN, LPN/LVN, APRN, first-renewal, certificate or assistant requirements before purchasing additional coursework.

Course not accepted

Confirm provider approval, topic, completion date and documentation against the authority instructions. A generic completion certificate does not prove acceptance.

Fraud and privacy safety

Begin every Arkansas transaction from a reviewed authority domain (healthy.arkansas.gov) or a source-reviewed link on this guide.
Do not give a caller payment-card details, a password or a one-time code merely because the caller claims to represent Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
If threatened with immediate suspension or arrest, end the call and verify the issue through (501) 686-2700 or the secure Arkansas account.
Use ASBN License Verification to confirm current status rather than a private lookup page or emailed screenshot.
Upload identity, background, education or legal documents only through a secure method explicitly named by Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
Before paying, verify the credential, transaction and amount against the current Arkansas instructions; save the receipt and then verify the public record.
For Arkansas, report a suspected licensing impersonation or phishing attempt to the authority and the relevant consumer-protection or law-enforcement channel.

Frequently asked questions

How much continuing education is required in Arkansas?

LPN, RN and APRN renewal generally requires 15 contact hours during each two-year cycle, or another accepted competency option described by the Board.

Are there mandatory topics?

Use Board-accepted providers or alternatives. Keep completion documentation available for audit. Credential-specific requirements can apply in addition to the general nursing requirement.

Should I keep completion records?

Retain original completion evidence and follow the current Board audit instructions.

Can CE rules differ by credential?

Yes. RN, LPN/LVN, APRN, first-renewal, assistant and certificate-specific rules can differ.

What if CE does not appear in my account?

Can I use any online course?

No. Confirm accepted providers, course categories, mandatory topics and completion dates before purchasing a course.

Is CE always required for every renewal?

Not necessarily. Some jurisdictions use practice hours, competency pathways, exemptions or credential-specific requirements. Use the exact official rule.

Where do I verify CE information?

Use the official continuing education or competence source listed in the official-resource directory.