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Arkansas · Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner CE requirements in Arkansas

Medium confidenceLast verified June 4, 2026

Requirements at a glance

Licensing board
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years (birth month)
Total CE hours
15 contact hours OR current national certification OR 1 college nursing credit
Pharmacology hours
5 hrs pharmacotherapeutics/2 yrs for prescribers; 2 of those on boundaries + AR prescribing rules
Accepts AANP or ANCC in lieu
Yes — national certification satisfies base CE

State-mandated CE topics

Arkansas lists no profession-specific mandated CE topics for nurse practitioners beyond the general hour requirement and federal rules such as the DEA MATE Act one-time 8-hour training.

Sources

Every figure on this page is compiled from the primary board and national certification sources below, cross-checked against reputable aggregators. Requirements change often and some boards publish only in PDFs or login-walled portals — confirm current rules directly before relying on them for renewal.

Arkansas licensing boardArkansas State Board of Nursing
AANP certification (national)aanpcert.org/recert
ANCC certification (national)nursingworld.org/globalassets/certification/renewals/ancc-certrenewalrequirements.pdf
DEA MATE Act (federal)samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/statutes-regulations-guidelines/mate-act
DEA MATE Act (federal)dea.gov
Verify with Arkansas State Board of Nursing

How this fits the national picture

Independent of Arkansas, every NP maintains national certification through AANP (100 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacology, plus 1,000 practice hours) or ANCC (75 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacotherapeutics). State CE sits on top of that.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do nurse practitioners need in Arkansas?

15 contact hours OR current national certification OR 1 college nursing credit. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years (birth month).

Does Arkansas accept AANP or ANCC certification in lieu of state CE?

Yes — national certification satisfies base CE.

What topic-specific CE does Arkansas require for nurse practitioners?

Arkansas lists no profession-specific mandated CE topics for nurse practitioners beyond the general hour requirement and federal rules such as the DEA MATE Act 8-hour training.

How many pharmacology hours do nurse practitioners need in Arkansas?

5 hrs pharmacotherapeutics/2 yrs for prescribers; 2 of those on boundaries + AR prescribing rules.

Informational only, not legal or compliance advice. Continuing education rules change frequently. Confirm current requirements with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and your certifying body before relying on any figure here.