Getting licensed to practice as a physician assistant in Arkansas means applying through the Arkansas State Medical Board, completing primary source verification of your credentials, and then enrolling with payers so you can bill. Here's how it works — and how Rivon handles Arkansas licensing and credentialing for you.
Official AR boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Arkansas State Medical Board websiteHow to get licensed in Arkansas
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, PANCE / NCCPA certification, current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Arkansas State Medical Board, with all fees and supporting documents.
- 03Primary source verification — the board confirms your education, training, licensure, certification, and background (including the NPDB) directly with each source.
- 04Board review and issuance — once the file is complete and verified, Arkansas issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Arkansas State Medical Board
The AR board sets Arkansas's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$5
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Arkansas State Medical Board. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~60 days
From a complete file to issuance — driven mostly by how fast primary sources respond. A clean, error-free application is the best way to stay near the low end.
Free AR checklist
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Renewing your Arkansas PA license
Once you're licensed, the Arkansas State Medical Board requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every year
- Deadline
- Renews annually on a birth-month cycle (CME period runs from birth month of the previous year through birth month of the current year)
- Renewal fee
- $3 (reduced fee in effect July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2027) (late fee: $25)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 20 CME hours per year (any category), certified on each annual renewal; random monthly audits
- 1 hour per year on prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines (counts toward the 20)
- 5 hours in pain management if authorized to prescribe Schedule II hydrocodone combination products
- How to renew
- Online through the Arkansas State Medical Board Licensee Log In portal ('Renew License'), certifying CME completionOpen the renewal portal
- NoteBoard fee reduction under Act 114 of 2023 ends June 30, 2027; the renewal fee may increase after that
- NoteKeep CME records for at least 3 years; certificates required if selected for audit
- NoteDelegation agreement with the supervising physician must stay on file with the board
- NoteCheck your exact renewal due date within your birth month in the Board portal
- NoteDEA registration renews separately
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Arkansas State Medical Board. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesArkansas State Medical Board - Fee ScheduleArkansas State Medical Board - FAQ (PA CME)17 CAR pt. 140 subpt. 18 - Rules Governing Physician Assistants (incl. 140-1809 CME)Arkansas State Medical Board - Home (Licensee Log In / Renew License)
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Arkansas renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Physician Assistant credentialing & payer enrollment in Arkansas
A Arkansas license lets you practice; credentialing lets you get paid. Before a health plan will reimburse you, it verifies your license, training, and history. Here's what that usually involves:
- 01Keep your NPI record (NPPES) current — your name, practice address, and taxonomy code should match your Arkansas license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Arkansas license and other documents, attest, and authorize each plan to view it. Re-attest every 120 days.
- 03Apply to each commercial health plan you want to join in Arkansas. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Arkansas Medicaid (and any Medicaid managed-care plans you'll work with).
- 05If you'll bill Medicare, enroll through PECOS.
- 06If you'll work in a hospital or surgery center, apply for privileges there — each facility credentials you separately.
New to CAQH? Read our CAQH ProView guide for setup, your CAQH ID, and re-attestation.
How Rivon handles Arkansas licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Arkansas license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Arkansas State Medical Board. Document AI reads each credential and fills the profile without retyping, and licensing & credentialing pipelines run primary source verification and payer enrollment in parallel.
Prefer to hand it off? Rivon's white-glove team manages the entire Arkansas application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Arkansas physician assistant licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a PA license in Arkansas?
Most Arkansas physician assistant applications take about 60 days once the Arkansas State Medical Board has a complete file, though timelines vary with how quickly primary sources (schools, prior boards, the NPDB) respond. Submitting a complete, error-free application is the single biggest way to avoid delays.
Which board licenses physician assistants in Arkansas?
Physician assistants in Arkansas are licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Arkansas physician assistant application fee?
As an estimate, the Arkansas physician assistant application fee is around $5. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Arkansas State Medical Board before you apply.
How do I renew my Arkansas PA license?
In Arkansas, renewals are filed with the Arkansas State Medical Board. How to renew: Online through the Arkansas State Medical Board Licensee Log In portal ('Renew License'), certifying CME completion. Renewal cycle: Every year. Deadline: Renews annually on a birth-month cycle (CME period runs from birth month of the previous year through birth month of the current year). Renewal fee: $3 (reduced fee in effect July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2027) (late fee: $25). Continuing education: 20 CME hours per year (any category), certified on each annual renewal; random monthly audits. Required topics include 1 hour per year on prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines (counts toward the 20); 5 hours in pain management if authorized to prescribe Schedule II hydrocodone combination products. This is as published by the board (last verified October 3, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How many CE hours do I need to renew a PA license in Arkansas?
20 CE hours. The Arkansas State Medical Board publishes the requirement as: 20 CME hours per year (any category), certified on each annual renewal; random monthly audits. Required topics include 1 hour per year on prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines (counts toward the 20); 5 hours in pain management if authorized to prescribe Schedule II hydrocodone combination products. Last verified October 3, 2026; confirm with the board before renewing. Rivon tracks your CE hours against the requirement so you're not caught short.
How do I look up or verify a Arkansas physician assistant license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Arkansas State Medical Board's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician assistant credentialing involve in Arkansas?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Arkansas that usually means an up-to-date NPI record, a complete and attested CAQH ProView profile, an application to each plan you want to join, and — if you'll bill them — Arkansas Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Arkansas license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Arkansas — including by telehealth — you typically need a Arkansas license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Arkansas physician assistant licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Arkansas license and renewal with always-on monitoring and run credentialing with primary source verification. Or hand it to Rivon's white-glove team, which manages the Arkansas application and payer enrollment end to end.