Arkansas Registered Nurse License Exam

To obtain licensure in Arkansas, Registered Nurses are required to take a nursing exam known as the National Council for Licensure Exam-RN (NCLEX-RN) which ensures the candidate is prepared for entry level nursing practice.

Need for a Registered Nurse License: A Registered Nurse is required to be licensed to practice nursing in the state of Arkansas.

Who Grants a Registered Nurse License: Licenses are granted by the Arkansas Board of Nursing.

Qualifications to receive a License: Applicants must graduate from an approved and accredited nursing program and pass the NCLEX-RN exam.

Applying for State Licensure and the NCLEX-RN Exam: The application process consists of two parts which are completed together: 1) applying for Arkansas Licensure and 2) registering for the NCLEX-RN exam.

1. First, complete and submit an Application for Licensure by Examination with the Arkansas Board of Nursing. The application must be completed online via the Arkansas Board of Nursing website.
   1. All applicants must submit to a state and federal criminal background check within the past 12 months. The background check includes completion of fingerprints, which will be submitted to the Arkansas Police Department. Fingerprint cards can be requested within the online application, and must be completed according to the provided instructions. The forms for the background check are also completed within the online application.
   2. Request an official transcript from your nursing school to be sent to the Arkansas Board of Nursing (unofficial and/or electronic copies are not accepted). The address is Attn: Education Department 1123 S. University Ave., Suite 800 Little Rock, AR72204.
2. Second, the NCLEX exam is administered by Pearson VUE. You must register to take the NCLEX exam, in addition to applying for Licensure. Registration can be done online via the Pearson VUE website. Alternatively, you may call Pearson VUE NCLEX Candidate services (toll-free) at1.866.49NCLEX (1.866.496.2539), Monday-Friday, 7 am to 7 pm, Central Standard Time.
3. Once the Arkansas Board of Nursing provides clearance to Pearson VUE, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) notice from Pearson VUE. This allows you to schedule your exam at a convenient Pearson VUE location, typically within 90 days from receipt of the ATT.

Fees: There are fees for both an Arkansas RN license and the NCLEX exam.

NCLEX-RN Exam Content: The NCLEX-RN exam is a computerized test which utilizes “adaptive testing.” This means that the computer will determine your level of competency throughout the exam and the number of questions will vary based upon your competency level. A minimum of 75 questions and a maximum of 265 questions are administered. At a minimum, 60 questions will be scored and 15 questions will be practice questions. The test taker will not know which are scored and which are not. You will have a maximum of 6 hours to complete the exam.

There are two optional breaks after 2.5 and 3.5 hours, respectively.

There are four subject categories and several sub-categories for the NCLEX-RN exam. They are as follows:

• Safe, effective care environment
  • Management of care
  • Safety and infection control
• Psychosocial integrity
• Physiological integrity
• Health promotion and maintenance
  • Basic care and comfort
  • Pharmacologic and parenteral therapies
  • Reduction of risk potential
  • Physiological adaptation

The percentage of questions per subject area and difficulty levels will depend upon each individual candidate.

The NCLEX-RN results are pass/fail. Results from the NCLEX-RN exam are delivered by the respective Board of Nursing within 2-4 weeks from the exam date. If you do not pass the exam, you will receive a diagnostic profile which outlines your performance on the exam. You will need to retake the exam at a later date.

Who Administers the Exam: The NCLEX-RN exam is developed and approved by the National Council for State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The test is administered at Pearson VUE testing locations.

License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements: In order to renew an Arkansas nursing license, you must have completed one of the following in the past two years: 15 practice-focused contact hours, certification or recertification by national certifying body, academic course in nursing or related field, or further evidence as requested by the board. Additional license renewal information can be found here.

Special Notice: Arkansas is a Compact State. The Compact State agreement allows nurses who practice in specific states to have License reciprocity in those other participating states. Therefore, if your primary residence is within another Compact State, you need not apply for additional Licensure from the Arkansas Board of Nursing.