Getting a Arkansas nursing license by endorsement

Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse

Endorsement timeline, fees & requirements · Verified 2026-06-18

Not published.

Arkansas endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Arkansas grants licensure by endorsement to a nurse licensed in another jurisdiction; the application is valid one year.
Processing time: Not published.
Work while waiting: Yes. A one-time temporary permit may be issued to a qualified applicant holding an unencumbered active license elsewhere, for an additional fee. The validity period is not published.
Requirements: Nursys verification from the original state (or the paper ASBN form for non-Nursys states). State and federal criminal background check. Applicants inactive more than five years complete a board-approved refresher within a year. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $125 license by endorsement, plus $30 for the temporary permit.
Compact rules: Arkansas is a compact state. The board states that if your primary residence is a compact state and you hold an active multistate license there, you cannot be issued an Arkansas license, because that multistate license already authorizes Arkansas practice. Make Arkansas your primary residence, or hold only a single-state license, and you must endorse.

Under state law certain criminal convictions make an applicant ineligible, though waivers may be available.

Source: Arkansas State Board of Nursing, RN endorsement and fees, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Arkansas

1Check whether you even need Arkansas endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.
2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).
3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.
4Submit the Arkansas State Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.
5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Start at the source: Arkansas State Board of Nursing or the online licensing portal. Not sure if you even need to endorse? The compact eligibility quiz sorts compact privilege from a required license in two minutes.

Arkansas endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Arkansas nursing license by endorsement?: Not published.
Can I work in Arkansas while my endorsement application is processing?: Yes. A one-time temporary permit may be issued to a qualified applicant holding an unencumbered active license elsewhere, for an additional fee. The validity period is not published.
Do I need a Arkansas license if I already hold a compact multistate license?: Arkansas is a compact state. The board states that if your primary residence is a compact state and you hold an active multistate license there, you cannot be issued an Arkansas license, because that multistate license already authorizes Arkansas practice. Make Arkansas your primary residence, or hold only a single-state license, and you must endorse.
How much does Arkansas endorsement cost?: $125 license by endorsement, plus $30 for the temporary permit.

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Arkansas endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Arkansas grants licensure by endorsement to a nurse licensed in another jurisdiction; the application is valid one year.
Processing time: Not published.
Work while waiting: Yes. A one-time temporary permit may be issued to a qualified applicant holding an unencumbered active license elsewhere, for an additional fee. The validity period is not published.
Requirements: Nursys verification from the original state (or the paper ASBN form for non-Nursys states). State and federal criminal background check. Applicants inactive more than five years complete a board-approved refresher within a year. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $125 license by endorsement, plus $30 for the temporary permit.
Compact rules: Arkansas is a compact state. The board states that if your primary residence is a compact state and you hold an active multistate license there, you cannot be issued an Arkansas license, because that multistate license already authorizes Arkansas practice. Make Arkansas your primary residence, or hold only a single-state license, and you must endorse.

Under state law certain criminal convictions make an applicant ineligible, though waivers may be available.

Source: Arkansas State Board of Nursing, RN endorsement and fees, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Arkansas

1Check whether you even need Arkansas endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.

2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).

3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.

4Submit the Arkansas State Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.

5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Arkansas endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Arkansas nursing license by endorsement?

Not published.

Can I work in Arkansas while my endorsement application is processing?

Yes. A one-time temporary permit may be issued to a qualified applicant holding an unencumbered active license elsewhere, for an additional fee. The validity period is not published.

Do I need a Arkansas license if I already hold a compact multistate license?

Arkansas is a compact state. The board states that if your primary residence is a compact state and you hold an active multistate license there, you cannot be issued an Arkansas license, because that multistate license already authorizes Arkansas practice. Make Arkansas your primary residence, or hold only a single-state license, and you must endorse.

How much does Arkansas endorsement cost?

$125 license by endorsement, plus $30 for the temporary permit.