How to register for the NCLEX in Arkansas

To work as an RN in Arkansas you license with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing through the Arkansas Nurse Portal, applying about 60 days before graduation (US$100). Register with Pearson VUE before or with the application, order the state and federal background checks, and have your program director confirm graduation. A US$30 temporary permit is available within 90 days of completion once the background checks are clear. Arkansas is a Nurse Licensure Compact state.

✓ Checked against ASBN's official pages on October 7, 2026

At a glance

BoardArkansas State Board of Nursing (Department of Health)

ExamNCLEX-RN, through Pearson VUE (US$200)

Application feeUS$100 (US$200 for international nurses), non-refundable

Temporary permitUS$30; within 90 days of program completion; 90 days or until first results

Background checksstate and federal, results required before the licence

CompactYes, since January 19, 2018

Steps Educated outside the US Documents Fees How long it takes Questions Official links

The steps, in order (graduates of a Arkansas program)

Tick each step as you finish it; your progress is saved on this device.

7 steps

Apply in the Arkansas Nurse Portal about 60 days before graduation (US$100)Pay by Visa, MasterCard or Discover; all fees are non-refundable. Declare your primary state of residence: if it is another compact state you must apply there. A Social Security number is required for both the state and Pearson applications.ASBN: RN initial by exam →
Register with Pearson VUE before or with the state application (US$200)The Board asks you to complete the Pearson registration before or at the same time as the state application.NCSBN: NCLEX application and registration →
Order the state and federal criminal background checksFollow the Board's CBC instructions; the fees are yours to pay. Results must be received by the Board before a licence is issued, and the temporary permit is issued only when they are clear.ASBN: criminal background check instructions (PDF) →
Your program director files the Affidavit of GraduationArkansas programs confirm completion electronically; out-of-state graduates use the paper Out-of-State Graduation Affidavit. The official transcript must also arrive directly from the program before the licence issues.ASBN: out-of-state graduation affidavit (PDF) →
Optional: temporary permit (US$30)Issued only within 90 days of program completion, only if you are registered with Pearson and your state and federal background checks are clear. It is valid 90 days or until you are notified of the results of the first exam you are eligible to take, whichever comes first.
Write the NCLEX-RNPearson VUE emails the ATT once the Board makes you eligible; Pearson VUE requires 45 days between attempts. Completed applications are valid for one year.What to bring on exam day →
Licence issued at no extra charge after the passYour first licence may run from 91 days to two years depending on your birth date. Renewal is US$100.ASBN: fees →

If you were educated outside the United States

The exam is the same; the path to being allowed to write it is longer. These are the extra steps.

2 steps

Use the international nurse exam application (US$200)The Board lists a separate licence-by-examination fee of US$200 for international nurses and a separate application type covering credential evaluation and English proficiency.ASBN: examination →
Background checks, Pearson VUE, Social Security numberState and federal checks must be received before licensure; an SSN is required for both applications. Pearson VUE: US$200, plus US$150 to test outside the US.ASBN: criminal background check instructions (PDF) →

Documents to have ready

Arkansas Nurse Portal application and US$100
Pearson VUE registration (US$200) before or with the application
State and federal criminal background checks per the Board's instructions
Affidavit of Graduation from your program director (electronic in Arkansas, paper form out of state) and the official transcript
Social Security number
Temporary permit request and US$30, if wanted

Fees

Licence by examinationnon-refundable; US$200 for international nurses	US$100
Temporary permit	US$30
State and federal criminal background checkspaid by the applicant	varies
NCLEX-RN registration (Pearson VUE)per attempt, non-refundable. US$350 from Feb 1, 2027.	US$200
Renewal	US$100

How long it takes

Apply about 60 days before graduation.
Temporary permit: only within 90 days of completion; valid 90 days or until first results.
Completed applications valid one year.
Retake after 45 days (Pearson VUE rule).
First licence runs 91 days to 2 years depending on your birth date.

Mistakes that cost people time or money

Sixty days before graduation is the Board's own timing; later applications push the temporary permit past its 90-day window.
Order the background checks early; the permit cannot issue until they are clear.
The US$30 permit ends at your first result, so schedule the exam early inside the 90 days.
If your first licence is short (birth-date based), budget for an early US$100 renewal.

Questions people ask about Arkansas

How do I register for the NCLEX in Arkansas?

Apply in the Arkansas Nurse Portal about 60 days before graduation (US$100), register with Pearson VUE before or with the application (US$200), order the state and federal background checks and have your program director file the Affidavit of Graduation. The Board makes you eligible and Pearson VUE emails the Authorization to Test.

How much does an Arkansas RN licence cost?

US$100 to the Board (US$200 for international nurses), the background check fees, US$200 to Pearson VUE and US$30 if you want the temporary permit. The first licence is issued at no extra charge after the pass.

Can I work in Arkansas before I pass the NCLEX-RN?

Yes, on a US$30 temporary permit issued within 90 days of program completion once you are registered with Pearson and your background checks are clear; it lasts 90 days or until you are notified of your first result.

Is Arkansas a compact state?

Yes, since January 19, 2018. Declare your primary state of residence in the application; if it is another compact state you must apply there instead.

How long is an Arkansas nursing application valid?

One year from the date of submission.

Why might my first Arkansas licence be short?

Arkansas licences renew on a birth-date cycle, so a first licence may be valid anywhere from 91 days to two years.

Official links and sources

Rules and fees change. Everything on this page was read on ASBN's and NCSBN's own pages on October 7, 2026; when a detail matters to you, confirm it there:

This guide explains the process; it is not legal or immigration advice. Decisions about your eligibility are made by Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

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