Arkansas Registered Nurse

If the first renewal cycle is less than 24 months, no CE is required for that first renewal period. National certification or recertification during the renewal period satisfies the contact-hour requirement; one semester hour of an accredited nursing course equals fifteen contact hours. In-service training, CPR/BLS, and orientation programs do not qualify; ACLS, PALS, NRP, and PEARS each count as ten contact hours; STABLE counts as 9.3 contact hours. Reinstatement to active status within five years requires twenty contact hours within the past two years; reinstatement after five years adds an active-practice or refresher-course requirement (per § 121-704(c)). Records must be retained for two consecutive renewal periods (four years); random audits use a 30-day documentation window and a 90-day correction period for noncompliance. Dual-licensure RN-and-LPN holders satisfy the requirement once for both licenses with the same fifteen contact hours.

CE courses from providers approved by these accreditors count toward your Arkansas Registered Nurse renewal requirements.