Transfer Your Nursing License to Arkansas: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Arkansas?
Arkansas honors multistate licenses under the Nurse Licensure Compact — compact nurses who live in another member state need no Arkansas application, while those relocating here apply by endorsement. From a non-compact state such as California or New York, the path is licensure by endorsement through the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, without retaking the NCLEX.
Moving to Arkansas from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
NLC member — multistate license honored
Whether you need to do anything at all depends on the license in your pocket. If you hold a multistate license and your primary residence stays in another compact state — a travel contract, a border commute, telehealth — Arkansas requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to Arkansas, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — an RN holding an active multistate license from a compact home state practices in Arkansas without endorsing; endorsement is for nurses declaring Arkansas residence or arriving from non-compact states.
Arkansas requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $125 (endorsement application; + state/FBI background-check fee paid in the separate CBC system plus Live Scan vendor fee (amounts not published on board pages); optional $30 temporary permit) |
| Processing time | no processing timeframe stated by the board; temporary permit available while the application is pending |
Comparing Arkansas with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas State Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- State and FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check, requested and paid through a separate CBC system.
- Request license verification via Nursys from your original state of licensure (ASBN verification form if that state is not in Nursys).
- Declare your primary state of residence — an active multistate license from a compact home state bars a separate Arkansas license.
- Sign and upload the CBC Challenge & Privacy Notifications form.
- If you have not actively practiced nursing for more than 5 years, complete an Arkansas board-approved refresher course (or graduate from an approved nursing program) within 1 year before applying.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Arkansas:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering Arkansas:
Arkansas for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in Arkansas
- Real Estate in Arkansas
- Contractor in Arkansas
- Teaching in Arkansas
- CPA / Accounting in Arkansas
- Electrician in Arkansas
- Plumber in Arkansas
- Engineering in Arkansas
- Pharmacy in Arkansas
- Physical Therapy in Arkansas
- Psychology in Arkansas
- Counseling in Arkansas
- Social Work in Arkansas
- Occupational Therapy in Arkansas
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Arkansas?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Arkansas in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — Arkansas is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in Arkansas without any application, as long as your primary residence stays in a member state.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Arkansas SBN — RN Endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Arkansas SBN — Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Arkansas SBN — Criminal Background Check Instructions (PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com