Arkansas Registered Nurse license renewal and CE requirements
Arkansas registered nurses must complete 15 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
The registered nurse license expires on the last day of the licensee's birth month every two years: nurses born in an even-numbered year expire in even-numbered years, those born in an odd-numbered year in odd-numbered years. Renew through the Arkansas Nurse Portal within the 60 days before expiration; the renewal link appears 60 days out. The initial license runs 3 to 27 months depending on date of birth.
Summary
Arkansas registered nurses must complete 15 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. The registered nurse license expires on the last day of the licensee's birth month every two years: nurses born in an even-numbered year expire in even-numbered years, those born in an odd-numbered year in odd-numbered years. Renew through the Arkansas Nurse Portal within the 60 days before expiration; the renewal link appears 60 days out. The initial license runs 3 to 27 months depending on date of birth. Hours do not carry over between cycles and the first renewal is exempt.
Arkansas Registered Nurse renewal and continuing education rules
"Not stated" means the board's pages and rules we read do not address it. We do not fill in typical values.
| Renewal cycle | Two-year (24 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Tied to the licensee's birth monthFirst renewal is prorated. |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 15 contact hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | No |
| First renewal exempt | Yes |
| Other accepted activities | Current national certification or re-certification by a national certifying body recognized by the ASBN; One college credit hour nursing course with a grade of C or better (or pass) during the licensure period; Volunteer service as defined in ACA 20-8-801 et seq. (Section VII.F.4) |
ASBN Rules Chapter 2, Section VII.C.1: licensees holding an active license shall document completion of one of the following during each renewal period: (a) fifteen practice-focused contact hours from a nationally recognized or state continuing education approval body recognized by the ASBN; or (b) certification or re-certification during the renewal period by a national certifying body recognized by the ASBN; or (c) an academic course in nursing or related field. The board CE FAQ confirms the same 15 contact hours every two years whether the nurse is an LPN, RN, or holds advanced practice licensure. If the first renewal cycle is less than 24 months there is no CE requirement for that first renewal (late renewals require 20 contact hours). Hours beyond the requirement shall not be carried over (Section VII.C.6). One nursing college semester hour with a grade of C or better equals 15 contact hours; AHA advanced life support courses (ACLS, PALS, NRP, PEARS) count for 10 contact hours each, STABLE for 9.3; CPR/BLS does not count. In-service, orientation, refresher courses, and lay courses are not acceptable. One contact hour equals 0.1 CEU.
Required CE topics for Arkansas registered nurses
The Arkansas State Board of Nursing pages and rules we read do not mandate specific subject areas for this license type. Hours may be in any approved subject.
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | 4 years |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | Provider accredited or approved by a national or state continuing education approval body recognized by the ASBN (for example ANCC); the accreditation statement must appear on the certificate |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Arkansas RN need to renew?
- Arkansas registered nurses must complete 15 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. ASBN Rules Chapter 2, Section VII.C.1: licensees holding an active license shall document completion of one of the following during each renewal period: (a) fifteen practice-focused contact hours from a nationally recognized or state continuing education approval body recognized by the ASBN; or (b) certification or re-certification during the renewal period by a national certifying body recognized by the ASBN; or (c) an academic course in nursing or related field. The board CE FAQ confirms the same 15 contact hours every two years whether the nurse is an LPN, RN, or holds advanced practice licensure. If the first renewal cycle is less than 24 months there is no CE requirement for that first renewal (late renewals require 20 contact hours). Hours beyond the requirement shall not be carried over (Section VII.C.6). One nursing college semester hour with a grade of C or better equals 15 contact hours; AHA advanced life support courses (ACLS, PALS, NRP, PEARS) count for 10 contact hours each, STABLE for 9.3; CPR/BLS does not count. In-service, orientation, refresher courses, and lay courses are not acceptable. One contact hour equals 0.1 CEU.
- How often does a Arkansas RN license need to be renewed?
- Registered Nurse licenses in Arkansas renew every two years. The registered nurse license expires on the last day of the licensee's birth month every two years: nurses born in an even-numbered year expire in even-numbered years, those born in an odd-numbered year in odd-numbered years. Renew through the Arkansas Nurse Portal within the 60 days before expiration; the renewal link appears 60 days out. The initial license runs 3 to 27 months depending on date of birth.
- Does Arkansas require specific CE topics for registered nurses?
- The Arkansas State Board of Nursing does not list mandated subject areas for RN renewal on the pages we verified; the 15 contact hours may be in any approved subject.
- Do Arkansas registered nurses have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Licensees attest to completion at renewal rather than submitting certificates, the board audits a sample of renewals and asks for documentation, and records must be kept for 4 years. Provider accredited or approved by a national or state continuing education approval body recognized by the ASBN (for example ANCC); the accreditation statement must appear on the certificate
- Is the first Arkansas RN renewal exempt from CE?
- Yes. Arkansas does not require continuing education for a RN's first renewal.
Sources
Last verified September 7, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- Continuing Education, Arkansas State Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- RN Renewal Application Information, Arkansas State Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- ASBN Rules Chapter 2, Section VII Continuing EducationStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Continuing Education Frequently Asked Questions (October 2025)State board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Renewal Frequently Asked Questions (2019)State board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Arkansas State Board of Nursing homepageState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
Hours and cycle confirmed against ASBN Rules Chapter 2 Section VII and the board's renewal information and CE pages. Renewal is by attestation; certificates are not uploaded unless the licensee is selected for a random audit, then copies are due within 30 days (Section VII.B). Records must be kept for two consecutive renewal periods or four years (Section VII.D.3). The birth-month expiration and 3 to 27 month initial period come from the board's Renewal FAQ (2019 document still posted). The board homepage returns 403 to curl but loads through other fetch paths; the pages cited were read in full. No RN or LPN mandatory topics exist; the five-hour pharmacotherapeutics requirement applies only to APRNs with prescriptive authority. No em dashes used. exempt_first_renewal is true only when the first renewal cycle is shorter than 24 months, per the board FAQs.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.