How to Become a CNA in Arkansas (2026)

By Athena KanUpdated Jun 11, 2026

See if you qualify for Certified Nursing Assistant programs

Answer a few questions in 2 minutes. Free, no commitment.

To become a CNA in Arkansas, you need to complete a state-approved nursing assistant training program, pass the Arkansas nurse aide competency exam, and be listed on the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry. Arkansas-approved CNA training is built around a 90-hour requirement, and the exam includes both a knowledge test and a skills test. After you pass both exam parts and meet state or federal requirements, your name can be added to the registry so employers can verify your eligibility to work as a nurse aide. In Arkansas, people often search for a CNA license, but the process is mainly about completing approved training, passing the exam, and getting listed on the registry. Arkansas CNAs have a median wage of $31,990 per year, based on the wage data provided for this update.

Programs for you

Southern New Hampshire University

BA Psychology with concentration in Mental Health

Online

Complete your degree at your own pace
24/7 online accessibility

Financial aid (may be available)

Southern New Hampshire University

BS Healthcare Administration

Online

Complete your degree at your own pace
24/7 online accessibility

Financial aid (may be available)

Walden University

BS in Psychology

Online

Online program from an HLC- accredited institution.
Develop creative thinking skills to address behavioral & mental processes.

Financial aid (may be available)

CCI Training Center

Pharmacy Technician certification

Online

100% Online Job Training Program
Quick Training: Full program takes only a few short months

Financial aid (may be available)

Key Points

CNAs help patients with daily care tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, moving safely, and reporting changes to nurses.
Arkansas CNA training must come from a state-approved nursing assistant program and generally includes classroom, lab, and clinical instruction.
The Arkansas nurse aide competency exam includes a knowledge exam and a skills test, and both parts must be passed for registry listing.
The standard Arkansas exam cost is listed as $125 in the current Arkansas Candidate Handbook, while training tuition and related costs vary by provider.
Arkansas CNAs have a median wage of $31,990 per year, with higher median wages reported in Little Rock and Fayetteville-area metro data.

What Does a CNA Do in Arkansas?

A Certified Nursing Assistant, or CNA, provides basic patient care under the supervision of licensed nurses. CNAs are often called nursing assistants or nurse aides, especially in state registry and exam documents.

Common CNA duties include:

Helping patients bathe, dress, eat, and use the restroom
Measuring and reporting vital signs
Turning, repositioning, and transferring patients safely
Helping patients move with wheelchairs, walkers, or gait belts
Reporting patient concerns or condition changes to nurses
Supporting infection control, privacy, and basic comfort care

CNAs often work in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, home health settings, and long-term care facilities. The role can be physically active, so training usually includes body mechanics, resident safety, communication, and infection control.

CNA Requirements in Arkansas

Arkansas CNA requirements center on approved training, competency testing, and Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry listing. The most direct path is to complete a program approved for Arkansas nurse aide training, pass both parts of the exam, and confirm that your name appears on the registry.

The core requirements include:

Complete an Arkansas-approved nursing assistant training program.
Finish the required training hours, which Arkansas rules describe as 90 hours of nursing assistant training.
Create or complete your Arkansas TMU account when directed by your training program or testing system.
Pass the Arkansas nurse aide competency exam.
Get listed on the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry.
Renew registry eligibility every 24 months if you continue working as a nurse aide.

The Arkansas Department of Human Services nursing assistant training rules are the best source for state training requirements. Individual programs or employers may also require a background check, TB test, immunization records, CPR training, or a physical exam before clinical training or work.

How to Become a CNA in Arkansas

Becoming a CNA in Arkansas is a shorter training pathway than many healthcare roles, but you still need to follow the state’s training and testing steps in the right order.

Complete a state-approved CNA training program

Start with an Arkansas-approved nursing assistant training program. CNA programs usually combine classroom lessons, lab practice, and supervised clinical experience.

Training may cover:

Basic nursing skills
Infection control
Resident rights
Communication
Nutrition and hydration
Personal care
Mobility and transfers
Vital signs
Safety and emergency procedures
Dementia and long-term care basics

Before choosing a program, confirm that it prepares students for the Arkansas nurse aide competency exam. A low-cost or convenient class is not enough if it is not approved for Arkansas CNA testing.

Pass the Arkansas nurse aide competency exam

After training, you need to pass the Arkansas nurse aide competency exam. The current Arkansas Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook identifies D&S Diversified Technologies LLP and Headmaster LLP as the approved testing provider for Arkansas nurse aide testing.

The exam includes two parts:

A knowledge exam, which may be written, oral, or remotely proctored when available
A skills test, where you demonstrate nurse aide tasks in front of an evaluator

The handbook states that candidates have three attempts to pass the knowledge and skills portions within one year from completing nurse aide training. If you do not finish testing within that period, you may need to complete another Arkansas DHS-approved training program before testing again.

Get listed on the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry

Passing both exam parts and meeting applicable state or federal requirements are the main steps toward being added to the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry. This registry listing is what employers use to verify that you are eligible to work as a nursing assistant in Arkansas.

You should check your registry information through your Arkansas TMU account and make sure your name, contact information, and status are correct. Keep copies of your training completion records, test results, and registry information for your own files.

Keep your Arkansas registry listing active

Arkansas nurse aides must renew eligibility every 24 months. The current Arkansas candidate handbook says nurse aides must have worked for pay as a nurse aide performing nursing or nursing-related services for at least eight consecutive hours during the previous 24 months.

If you do not meet the work requirement, your eligibility may lapse. In that case, you may need to pass both components of the Arkansas nurse aide competency exam again to reestablish employment eligibility.

How Long Does It Take to Become a CNA in Arkansas?

Many CNA programs in Arkansas can be completed in about four to 10 weeks, depending on the class schedule, clinical schedule, and testing availability. The training requirement itself is based on 90 hours, but your total timeline can be longer if classes are part time or if the next exam date is not immediately available.

A realistic timeline may look like this:

Choose and apply to a state-approved program.
Complete the 90-hour training requirement.
Schedule the Arkansas CNA exam through the required testing process.
Pass the knowledge exam and skills test.
Confirm your Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry listing.

A faster route is often a full-time or accelerated program with prompt exam scheduling. Part-time, evening, or weekend programs may be easier to manage with work or family responsibilities, but they can take longer from start to registry listing.

How Much Does CNA Training Cost in Arkansas?

CNA training cost in Arkansas varies by provider, location, schedule, and what the program includes. Some programs list tuition separately from books, uniforms, supplies, background checks, TB testing, immunizations, and exam fees, so ask for the full out-of-pocket cost before choosing a program.

Arkansas DHS says the Department does not require an initial fee for the CNA occupational license, but there is a fee to take the state examination.

The current Arkansas Candidate Handbook lists the exam fee as:

$30 for the knowledge exam or retake
$95 for the skills test or retake
$40 for the audio version of the knowledge exam when selected

That makes the standard knowledge plus skills exam cost $125 before optional audio testing or retesting fees.

Some candidates may not have to pay the exam fee themselves. The handbook says Arkansas DHS is responsible for paying the test fee for individuals employed by a Medicaid-certified nursing facility or those with a commitment letter to be employed by a Medicaid-certified nursing facility. Independent candidates without that connection are responsible for their own test fee.

CNA Salary and Job Outlook in Arkansas

Arkansas CNAs have a median wage of $31,990 per year, or $15.38 per hour, based on the state wage data provided for this article. Local wages vary by metro area, employer type, shift, experience, and facility needs.

The provided Arkansas metro wage data shows:

Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers: $35,620 per year, or $17.13 per hour
Fort Smith: $31,250 per year, or $15.02 per hour
Jonesboro: $33,270 per year, or $16.00 per hour
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway: $35,630 per year, or $17.13 per hour

For national context, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nursing assistants had a median annual wage of $39,530 in May 2024. BLS also projects overall employment of nursing assistants and orderlies to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than the average for all occupations, but still projects about 211,800 openings each year on average because of worker replacement needs.

You can also review state and local wage data through the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics area tool. Treat these figures as labor-market data, not a guarantee of what any one employer will pay.

Where Can You Find CNA Classes in Arkansas?

You can find CNA classes through community colleges, technical schools, healthcare training providers, adult education providers, and some long-term care facilities. The most important step is confirming that the program is approved for Arkansas nurse aide training.

Before choosing a CNA class, ask:

Is this program approved for Arkansas CNA training?
How many total training hours are included?
How are classroom, lab, and clinical hours scheduled?
What is included in the tuition?
Are books, uniforms, testing, background checks, or health screenings separate costs?
Does the program help students understand the Arkansas TMU testing process?
Where does clinical training take place?
What happens if you need to retest?

Dreambound helps students compare vocational training options, including healthcare programs, in one place. You can use Dreambound to compare program details, but still confirm state approval and total costs directly before you start training.

Career Paths After Becoming a CNA

For Arkansas students, CNA training can be a short entry point into patient care before deciding whether to pursue a longer healthcare program. Some CNAs stay in long-term care, home health, or hospital support roles, while others use the experience to explore nursing or healthcare operations.

Possible next steps may include:

Licensed Practical Nurse, if you want more nursing responsibility and complete additional education. You can learn more about that route in Dreambound’s guide on how to become an LPN in Arkansas.
Registered Nurse, if you later decide to complete a nursing degree and meet Arkansas nursing licensure requirements.
Medication assistant or similar add-on roles, if allowed by Arkansas rules and employer requirements.
Healthcare administration, if you are interested in operations, scheduling, compliance, or facility support. Dreambound also has a guide on how to become a healthcare administrator in Arkansas.

A CNA role does not guarantee advancement, but it can give you direct patient care experience before you commit to a longer healthcare program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements to be a CNA in Arkansas?

To become a CNA in Arkansas, you generally need to complete an Arkansas-approved nursing assistant training program, pass the nurse aide competency exam, and be listed on the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry. Programs or employers may also require items such as a background check, TB test, immunization records, or clinical clearance.

How long does it take to get a CNA license in Arkansas?

Many Arkansas CNA programs take about four to 10 weeks, depending on whether the schedule is full time, part time, evening, or weekend-based. The training requirement is based on 90 hours, but your total timeline also depends on exam scheduling, passing both exam parts, and registry processing.

How much does it cost to get a CNA license in Arkansas?

People often search for a CNA license cost, but in Arkansas the main costs to plan for are training, testing, screenings, and supplies rather than a separate standalone CNA license fee. The standard Arkansas exam cost is currently $125 for the knowledge and skills tests, while tuition and other program costs vary by provider.

How much is a CNA paid in Arkansas?

Arkansas CNAs have a median wage of $31,990 per year, or $15.38 per hour, based on the wage data provided for this article. The provided metro data is higher in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway at $35,630 per year and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers at $35,620 per year.

Start Your CNA Path in Arkansas With the Right Program

A CNA career path in Arkansas is fairly direct: choose a state-approved program, complete the required training, pass both parts of the exam, and keep your registry status active. The key is checking the details before you pay for a class, especially approval status, total cost, schedule, and what support the program gives for testing.

If you are comparing CNA programs, focus on the full picture rather than tuition alone. A program that clearly explains its clinical hours, exam process, and extra costs can make your next step easier to plan.

Dreambound can help you compare training options and decide which program structure fits your schedule, budget, and healthcare goals.