Contractor License from Mississippi to Arkansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program ↗
Yes — Arkansas has a reciprocity arrangement covering Mississippi license holders. Apply to the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
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Verdict
Reciprocity agreement
Arkansas has a trade agreement covering Mississippi — but read it at the trade-and-class level before celebrating. The agreement waives Arkansas's exam for the specific trade and class named in the table below; your other licenses may not be covered. What survives for every applicant: Arkansas's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration. Confirm your exact trade and class against the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program listing.
What changes, Mississippi → Arkansas
| Mississippi (current) | Arkansas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Application/reciprocity fees are published in the MSBOC Schedule of Fees on the Forms page; not captured here to avoid an unverified figure. | $100 (ACLB commercial/Residential-Builder license filing fee is $100 per the board's application (Residential Remodeler/Home Improvement $50); electrical, plumbing, and HVAC/R licenses carry separate agency fees not captured.) |
| Processing time | Board does not publish a fixed processing time; varies by application review cycle. | Not stated on official pages. |
| Licensing authority | Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Arkansas sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity application to the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Building trades: hold a current license 1+ year in AL, TN, LA, MS, or NC and file the ACLB reciprocal form, verified by the origin state, in lieu of the Business & Law exam.
- Trade classifications (electrical, plumbing, HVAC/R) must separately meet the requirements of the responsible Arkansas agency.
- Electrical reciprocity accepts only an original (non-reciprocated) license from a listed state; Wyoming requires a USDOL apprenticeship of 576+ classroom hours.
- Pay the fees ($100 (ACLB commercial/Residential-Builder license filing fee is $100 per the board's application (Residential Remodeler/Home Improvement $50); electrical, plumbing, and HVAC/R licenses carry separate agency fees not captured.)) and allow Not stated on official pages..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Arkansas accept a Mississippi contractor license?
Yes — Arkansas has a reciprocity arrangement covering Mississippi license holders. Apply to the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
Arkansas's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the Mississippi-to-Arkansas move cost and how long does it take?
$100 (ACLB commercial/Residential-Builder license filing fee is $100 per the board's application (Residential Remodeler/Home Improvement $50); electrical, plumbing, and HVAC/R licenses carry separate agency fees not captured.); processing Not stated on official pages..
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether Arkansas is one on the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program site.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board — Reciprocal Form (AL, TN, LA, MS, NC; 1 year held; substitutes for Business & Law exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Arkansas Electrical Inspection and Licensing — reciprocal agreements (journeyman 16 states; master IA/ND/OR/TX; original license only) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Arkansas HVAC/R (Dept. of Labor and Licensing) — no reciprocal agreements with any other state ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Arkansas Dept. of Health — Plumbing & Natural Gas (discretionary substantially-similar recognition, no formal reciprocity) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MSBOC - Reciprocity ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MSBOC - Classifications ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]