Arkansas Nursing License Renewal: Deadlines, CE & How to Renew

Last day of your birth month; Odd birth year → renew odd years; Even birth year → renew even years; Renew within 60 days before expiration.

Last day of your birth month; Odd birth year → renew odd years; Even birth year → renew even years; Renew within 60 days before expiration. Applies to: Arkansas nursing licenses; renewal-year parity follows the nurse's birth year.

Licenses expire: Last day of your birth month Odd birth year → renew odd years Even birth year → renew even years Renew within 60 days before expiration.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Choose one pathway: 15 practice-focused contact hours from a recognized accredited provider, recognized national certification or recertification, or an academic course in nursing or a related field.

Choose one pathway: 15 practice-focused contact hours from a recognized accredited provider, recognized national certification or recertification, or an academic course in nursing or a related field.

Requirements can be met in one of the following three ways: 1. 15 practice-focused contact hours completed from a provider accredited by a national or state continuing education approval body recognized by ASBN. 2. Maintenance of certification or recertification by a national certifying body recognized by ASBN. 3. Completion of an academic course in nursing or related field.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

The contact-hour pathway is 15 hours per two-year renewal cycle for LPNs and RNs, including nurses holding both licenses; it is an alternative to certification or academic coursework.

The contact-hour pathway is 15 hours per two-year renewal cycle for LPNs and RNs, including nurses holding both licenses; it is an alternative to certification or academic coursework.

Whether you are an LPN, RN and/or have advanced practice licensure, if you are meeting the requirement by contact hours, you only need 15 contact hours every renewal cycle (2 years).

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

No CE is required for the first renewal when the first cycle is less than 24 months, whether initially licensed by endorsement or examination.

No CE is required for the first renewal when the first cycle is less than 24 months, whether initially licensed by endorsement or examination.

If the first renewal cycle is less than 24 months, there is no continuing education requirement for that first renewal period. This is true for people who received their initial license by endorsement or examination and the first renewal period is less than two years.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026