Who is Qualified to Take The NCLEX-RN®
Examination For Arkansas Licensure?

• Arkansas law requires applicants for licensure by examination to submit to criminal background checks.   If an applicant has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to any offense listed in ACA §17-87-312, he/she is not eligible for Arkansas licensure.  (ACA §17-87-312 provides opportunity to request a waiver of eligibility criteria related to a criminal background in certain circumstances.)  The criminal background check shall be completed no earlier than twelve (12) months prior to the application for licensure by examination.
• Persons who have graduated from an approved registered nursing education program.
• Persons who have graduated from the Excelsior College School of Nursing.
• Internationally educated nurses who have graduated from a nursing program in which the curriculum is "substantially similar" to Arkansas nursing programs, have licensure or proof of eligibility for licensure in the country of graduation, and can write, speak, and understand English as evidenced by Certification from The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), -(exception for English speaking countries, e.g., Canada, Australia, England).

 Who is Qualified to Take The NCLEX-PN®
Examination For Arkansas Licensure?

• Arkansas law requires applicants for licensure by examination to submit to criminal background checks.   If an applicant has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to any offense listed in ACA §17-87-312, he/she is not eligible for Arkansas licensure.  (ACA §17-87-312 provides opportunity to request a waiver of eligibility criteria related to a criminal background in certain circumstances.)  The criminal background check shall be completed no earlier than twelve (12) months prior to the application for licensure by examination.
• Persons who have graduated from an approved practical nursing education program.
• Internationally educated nurses as above, with the exception that practical nurses are required to score a 50 or better on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) rather than taking CGFNS.

Equivalencies:

• Persons who have completed a portion of an RN education program, according to specified criteria.
• Persons who graduated from an approved registered nursing education program and have failed the NCLEX-RN® examination.
• Persons who have graduated from Arkansas Board approved LPTN programs after March 18, 1980.

Disclaimer:

The ASBN may deny licensure to candidates who have had a license revoked, suspended, or placed on probation and not reinstated in other jurisdictions. The ASBN may also deny licensure to candidates who have been convicted of a crime.

EXAMINATION RESULTS ARE NOT RELEASED TO CANDIDATES UNTIL AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT IS RECEIVED.

Where is the Examination Given?

• Licensure examinations are given at Pearson Professional Centers around the country. Arkansas has three testing sites – Little Rock, Fort Smith, and Texarkana. The examination may be taken at any Pearson testing location in the country for licensure in Arkansas.

How Often is the Examination Given?

• The testing centers offers the NCLEX® examination up to six days a week, 15 hours per day if the need arises.

How Often Can a Candidate Take the Examination?

• A candidate who has failed the examination can retake the test every 45 days.

How Many Times May a Candidate Take The Examination?

• Candidates for Arkansas licensure may take the examination an unlimited number of times. Certain other states have restrictions on the number of times a candidate may take the examination.

For other information about the NCLEX® visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website at http://www.ncsbn.org/.

For detailed information about licensure fees click here to view the Rules, Chapter 8, Fees.