50-State Guide
Arkansas
Last updated June 2026
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| IMLC Member | Yes |
| FCVS | Accepted |
| NP Independent Practice | Yes (6,240h) |
| PA Independent Practice | No |
| Physician-Owned PC Allowed | No |
| Max NPs per Physician | No Limit |
| Max PAs per Physician | 3 |
Licensure
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial License | $220 |
| Renewal Fee | $300 |
| Renewal Cycle | Biennial |
| Annualized Cost | $150.00 |
| Controlled Substance Registration | No |
In-State Physician Requirement
Ready availability; no strict residency.
APC Supervision
Nurse Practitioners
NPs can practice independently after 6,240h of supervised practice in Arkansas.
- Maximum NPs per physician: No Limit
Physician Assistants
PAs require physician supervision in Arkansas.
- Maximum PAs per physician: 3
Additional Notes
Board policy generally restricts to 3.
CME & Training Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CME | Contact board |
| Category 1 Minimum | See board |
| Cycle | Biennial |
| Opioid/Pain Mgmt | Not required |
| Human Trafficking | Not required |
| Implicit Bias | Not required |
| Suicide Prevention | Not required |
| DEA MATE Act | 8 hrs one-time (federal) |
| Jurisprudence Exam | Required |
Fingerprint Requirements
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Required | Yes |
| FBI Check | Yes |
| Method | Ink cards (FD-258) |
| Out-of-State Options | Mail-in ink cards available |
| Timing | After application submitted |
Quirks & Gotchas
Application Requirements
- FCVS (Federation Credentials Verification Service) is accepted but not sufficient — you still must complete the full ASMB application separately. No shortcut.
- An MPA & Rules Affidavit is required: applicants must read the entire Arkansas Medical Practices Act and Rules in full and sign an attestation confirming they did.
- Source verification covers only the last 10 years of work/hospital history, but you must disclose all history since graduation — a mismatch trap.
- One physician reference is required.
- AMA or AOA profile required.
- FSMB Board Action Report required.
- U.S. grads need at minimum 1 year ACGME-approved internship/residency. IMGs need 3 years of U.S. training (exception: currently enrolled in a UAMS postgraduate program, where 1 year suffices).
- USMLE attempts are capped at 3 attempts per Step — hard cutoff, no exceptions noted.
Jurisprudence Exam
- Arkansas does not require a formal separate jurisprudence exam. The substitute is the MPA & Rules Affidavit — a signed attestation that you have read the full Medical Practices Act and Rules. This is mandatory and built into the application packet. Do not skip or treat it as boilerplate.
Fees
| Item | Fee | | Application fee | $400 | | Criminal background check (CCVS Assessment) | $100 | | Total initial | $500 | | Biennial renewal (MD/DO) | $200 | | Temporary license | $50 | | Board certification order | $15 |
- No other published fees were found, but the fee schedule PDF was not publicly accessible at time of research. Worth calling to confirm nothing has been added.
Fingerprints & Background Check
- A criminal background check is mandatory and baked into the $100 CCVS fee at application.
- Fingerprint cards are not sent until after the application is received — this is a deliberate sequencing step that adds time. You cannot submit fingerprints in advance.
- As of September 1, 2021, paper FD-258 fingerprint cards are no longer accepted for Arkansas residents. Background checks must be submitted electronically only (via Arkansas State Police). Out-of-state applicants may have different instructions — confirm with the board.
- FBI + state processing typically takes 2–6 weeks once submitted.
CME & Mandatory Training
- 20 hours annually** (measured birth month to birth month, not calendar year — this trips people up).
- 50% must be Category 1 and in the physician’s primary area of practice**.
- 1 of the 20 annual hours must specifically address opioid and/or benzodiazepine prescribing** — this is mandatory, not optional.
- Renewal is biennial (license expires on birth month), but CME is tracked and attested annually.
- Random monthly audits are conducted; if selected, you must produce CME completion certificates. Keep all certificates.
CME & Mandatory Training
- Opioid/benzodiazepine prescribing**: 1 CME credit per year, mandatory.
- HAI (Healthcare-Associated Infection) certification training** is listed as a board resource — confirm at renewal whether this is required or merely recommended.
- Pain management and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) resources are prominently noted — likely tied to prescribing privileges, worth confirming if mandatory at application or renewal.
Timeline
- Average processing time: 3–4 months** for a standard complete application.
- If the file is complete and no board appearance is needed, a temporary permit can be issued within approximately 1 week of file completion — but temporary permits are not guaranteed and are at the Board Chairman’s discretion. Do not count on one.
- Expedited processing is available “as quick as two months” per one source, but not guaranteed.
- Military spouses** get expedited processing by state law.
- Active duty military members** receive fee waivers.
Other Gotchas
- Board appearance**: Certain applicants may be required to appear before the board in person before a license is issued. No published criteria for who triggers this — it is discretionary.
- Expired licenses: If a license has been expired for more than 3 years**, a full new application (with fees) is required — no reinstatement path.
- Telehealth providers** must maintain full Arkansas licensure — no telehealth-only or limited license category exists.
- IMG USMLE time limit: IMGs must pass all USMLE steps within 7 years** of completing Steps 1 and 2 — stricter than many states.
- The board website has migrated to
armedicalboard.adh.arkansas.gov— the oldarmedicalboard.orgdomain redirects but many direct PDF and page links currently return errors. If you cannot access a form, call the board directly at (501) 296-1802. - The application portal uses a FileID system — new applicants must register to receive a FileID before they can access the online application. Budget time for this account setup step.
Researched from state board websites and regulatory sources. Verify with the board directly before applying.
Resources
Sources
Data compiled from state medical board websites, FSMB, and regulatory filings. Last updated June 2026.
Have a correction or update? Let us know.