Nurses · Arkansas · Continuing education
Arkansas Nursing CE Requirements & License Renewal (2026)
01 In short
- RN15 contact hours every 2 years; renewal by the end of your birth month.
- LPN15 contact hours every 2 years; renewal by the end of your birth month.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
02 Calculator
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03 Requirements
Arkansas RN CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 15contact hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- Birth month
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- By the end of your birth month
- Accepted credit
- Practice-focused contact hours accredited by a national or state CE approval body recognized by ASBN (list of accrediting organizations on the board site); ACLS/PALS/NRP/PEARS count 10 hours; CPR/BLS not accepted
- Renewal fee
- $100
- Carryover
- Hours above the requirement cannot be carried over to the next period.
- New licensees
- No CE needed for the first renewal if the first renewal period is shorter than 24 months.
- Audits & records
- Random audits; licensee keeps certificates for two renewal periods or 4 years; if short at audit, 90 days to comply, then late fee and reprimand.
- Renew online
- arsbn.boardsofnursing.org ↗
Alternatives & exemptions. Instead of 15 contact hours: a current national certification or recertification recognized by ASBN, or at least one college credit hour in a nursing course with grade C or better during the licensure period.
Good to know. Nurses affirm CE on the renewal application and do not upload certificates. CE Broker is the board's optional free tracking tool, not mandatory. Inactive licenses need no CE; reinstatement/late renewal under 5 years needs 20 hours.
Source: healthy.arkansas.gov · 17 CAR Part 121, Subpart 7 (Continuing Education) · checked Oct 28, 2026
Arkansas LPN CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 15contact hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- Birth month
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- By the end of your birth month
- Accepted credit
- Practice-focused contact hours accredited by a national or state CE approval body recognized by ASBN (list of accrediting organizations on the board site); ACLS/PALS/NRP/PEARS count 10 hours; CPR/BLS not accepted
- Renewal fee
- $90
- Carryover
- Hours above the requirement cannot be carried over to the next period.
- New licensees
- No CE needed for the first renewal if the first renewal period is shorter than 24 months.
- Audits & records
- Random audits; licensee keeps certificates for two renewal periods or 4 years; if short at audit, 90 days to comply, then late fee and reprimand.
- Renew online
- arsbn.boardsofnursing.org ↗
Alternatives & exemptions. Instead of 15 contact hours: a current national certification or recertification recognized by ASBN, or at least one college credit hour in a nursing course with grade C or better during the licensure period.
Good to know. Nurses affirm CE on the renewal application and do not upload certificates. CE Broker is the board's optional free tracking tool, not mandatory. Inactive licenses need no CE; reinstatement/late renewal under 5 years needs 20 hours.
Source: healthy.arkansas.gov · 17 CAR Part 121, Subpart 7 (Continuing Education) · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in Arkansas
05 Questions
How do I verify a nurse license in Arkansas?
Use the license lookup of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/nursing-arkansas-state-board); the board's own record is the primary source. CE status itself is checked by the board at renewal.
How many CE hours do nurses need in Arkansas?
RN: 15 contact hours every 2 years. LPN: 15 contact hours every 2 years.
Which CE courses count for nurses in Arkansas?
RN: Practice-focused contact hours accredited by a national or state CE approval body recognized by ASBN (list of accrediting organizations on the board site); ACLS/PALS/NRP/PEARS count 10 hours; CPR/BLS not accepted. LPN: Practice-focused contact hours accredited by a national or state CE approval body recognized by ASBN (list of accrediting organizations on the board site); ACLS/PALS/NRP/PEARS count 10 hours; CPR/BLS not accepted.
How much does a nurse license renewal cost in Arkansas?
RN: $100 per renewal, as listed by the board. LPN: $90 per renewal, as listed by the board.
When is the renewal deadline for nurses in Arkansas?
RN: Licenses renew by the end of your birth month (2 years cycle). LPN: Licenses renew by the end of your birth month (2 years cycle).
How do nurses report CE in Arkansas?
RN: By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit. LPN: By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit.