Returning to Nursing in Arkansas

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Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the Arkansas State Board of Nursing · 2026-07-13

The Arkansas RN reinstatement fee is $100, plus any back renewal fees. What else your return takes depends on how long the license has been lapsed: short lapses are paperwork and CE, long ones can add a refresher course.

Grace period: No grace period. Extensions of expiration dates are not permitted. A late fee and additional CE hours are required for post-expiration renewal. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.

What your lapse length means in Arkansas

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Arkansas: $100) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Arkansas: $100) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (Arkansas: $100) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in Arkansas.

Refresher course rules in Arkansas

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: Lapsed under 5 years: 20 contact hours of CE. At 5 or more years since the license was active, a board-approved refresher course (or an equivalent pathway, below) is required.
What it takes: At 5+ years: one of 1,000 practice hours within the prior 2 years, a board-approved refresher within the prior year, or graduation from an approved program within the prior year, PLUS a competency item such as 20 practice-focused CE hours or current national certification.
Re-examination: Arkansas publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the refresher and practice-hour pathways govern.

Source: Arkansas State Board of Nursing, post-expiration renewal, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in Arkansas

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.
2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.
3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.
4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.
5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).
6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Start at the source: Arkansas State Board of Nursing or the online renewal portal.

Arkansas reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in Arkansas?: The Arkansas RN reinstatement fee is $100, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing before applying.
Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my Arkansas nursing license?: Lapsed under 5 years: 20 contact hours of CE. At 5 or more years since the license was active, a board-approved refresher course (or an equivalent pathway, below) is required. At 5+ years: one of 1,000 practice hours within the prior 2 years, a board-approved refresher within the prior year, or graduation from an approved program within the prior year, PLUS a competency item such as 20 practice-focused CE hours or current national certification.
Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my Arkansas license back?: Arkansas publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the refresher and practice-hour pathways govern.
Is there a grace period after my Arkansas license expires?: Arkansas's published rule: No grace period. Extensions of expiration dates are not permitted. A late fee and additional CE hours are required for post-expiration renewal. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.
How long does Arkansas license reinstatement take?: Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The Arkansas State Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

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Returning to Nursing in Arkansas

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the Arkansas State Board of Nursing · 2026-07-13

What your lapse length means in Arkansas

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Arkansas: $100) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Arkansas: $100) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (Arkansas: $100) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in Arkansas.

Refresher course rules in Arkansas

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: Lapsed under 5 years: 20 contact hours of CE. At 5 or more years since the license was active, a board-approved refresher course (or an equivalent pathway, below) is required.
What it takes: At 5+ years: one of 1,000 practice hours within the prior 2 years, a board-approved refresher within the prior year, or graduation from an approved program within the prior year, PLUS a competency item such as 20 practice-focused CE hours or current national certification.
Re-examination: Arkansas publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the refresher and practice-hour pathways govern.

Source: Arkansas State Board of Nursing, post-expiration renewal, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in Arkansas

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.

2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.

3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.

4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.

5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).

6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Arkansas reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in Arkansas?

The Arkansas RN reinstatement fee is $100, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing before applying.

Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my Arkansas nursing license?

Lapsed under 5 years: 20 contact hours of CE. At 5 or more years since the license was active, a board-approved refresher course (or an equivalent pathway, below) is required. At 5+ years: one of 1,000 practice hours within the prior 2 years, a board-approved refresher within the prior year, or graduation from an approved program within the prior year, PLUS a competency item such as 20 practice-focused CE hours or current national certification.

Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my Arkansas license back?

Arkansas publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the refresher and practice-hour pathways govern.

Is there a grace period after my Arkansas license expires?

Arkansas's published rule: No grace period. Extensions of expiration dates are not permitted. A late fee and additional CE hours are required for post-expiration renewal. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.

How long does Arkansas license reinstatement take?

Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The Arkansas State Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

Returning to Nursing in Arkansas

What your lapse length means in Arkansas

Refresher course rules in Arkansas

Steps to reinstate in Arkansas

Arkansas reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for Arkansas nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free

Returning to Nursing in Arkansas

What your lapse length means in Arkansas

Refresher course rules in Arkansas

Steps to reinstate in Arkansas

Arkansas reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for Arkansas nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free