How to become a CNA in Arkansas.
Arkansas requires 90 hours of nurse aide training, including 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
- 90
- Training hours
- 16
- Clinical hours
- $125
- Exam fee
- 67
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Arkansas certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
Arkansas requires 90 training hours, including 16 hours of supervised clinical work. Only programs approved by the state qualify you for the exam.
See all 67 approved programs in Arkansas - 3
Pass the state competency exam
The exam has a written or oral knowledge test and a hands on skills test, run by Headmaster. The exam fee is $125. Must pass both knowledge and skills within 1 year of completing the training program; after 1 year, must retrain. 3 attempts to pass the knowledge and skill portions within 1 year of training completion; otherwise retrain.
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry (ARNAR). Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the AR registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Renew every 24 months online at ar.tmutest.com by recording at least 8 consecutive hours of paid nursing or nursing related work in the previous 24 months, verified by the employer. Aides with misconduct restrictions cannot renew. If lapsed (no 8 paid hours in 24 months), must pass both exam components again to regain eligibility.
Online classes
Online classroom allowed, with state conditions. Ask each program how its classroom hours are delivered. Skills lab and clinical hours are always in person.
Moving from another state
Out-of-State Reciprocity Form 9110AR via ar.tmutest.com plus processing fee; must be current and in good standing on another state's registry and have passed a substantially similar exam within 1 year of training. Out-of-state trainees (program of at least 90 hours) who have not tested can use the Out-of-State Training Waiver and must pass the Arkansas exam within 1 year and 3 attempts.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Arkansas.
CNA funding in Arkansas →Arkansas CNA requirements
- Credential
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Training hours
- 90 hours
- Clinical hours
- 16 hours
- Exam provider
- Headmaster
- Exam fee
- $125 ($30 knowledge, $95 skills)
- Fee details
- Headmaster Arkansas Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook Version 10.0, updates effective July 1, 2026: Knowledge exam (English or Spanish) or retake $30; audio version $40 ($30 + $10); Skill test or retake $95. Unchanged from March 2025 handbook (Version 9). Retakes paid per failed portion.
- Deadline to test
- Must pass both knowledge and skills within 1 year of completing the training program; after 1 year, must retrain.
- Retakes
- 3 attempts to pass the knowledge and skill portions within 1 year of training completion; otherwise retrain.
- Online classroom
- Online classroom allowed, with state conditions
- Regulator
- Arkansas Department of Human Services
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: humanservices.arkansas.gov, hdmaster.com, law.cornell.edu. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Arkansas, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Arkansas?
Arkansas requires 90 hours of nurse aide training, including 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
Who gives the CNA exam in Arkansas?
Headmaster runs the Arkansas nurse aide competency exam. The exam fee is $125.
Can you take CNA classes online in Arkansas?
Online classroom allowed, with state conditions. Skills lab and clinical hours are always in person.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in Arkansas?
Out-of-State Reciprocity Form 9110AR via ar.tmutest.com plus processing fee; must be current and in good standing on another state's registry and have passed a substantially similar exam within 1 year of training. Out-of-state trainees (program of at least 90 hours) who have not tested can use the Out-of-State Training Waiver and must pass the Arkansas exam within 1 year and 3 attempts.
How do you renew a CNA certification in Arkansas?
Renew every 24 months online at ar.tmutest.com by recording at least 8 consecutive hours of paid nursing or nursing related work in the previous 24 months, verified by the employer. Aides with misconduct restrictions cannot renew. If lapsed (no 8 paid hours in 24 months), must pass both exam components again to regain eligibility.
How do I pay for CNA training in Arkansas?
Workforce vouchers, employer sponsorship, state grants, and scholarships all pay for nurse aide training. A nursing home that hires you within a year of certification must reimburse your training costs under federal rules.
Start your training in Arkansas.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.