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CNA programs in Arkansas are regulated and controlled by the Arkansas Department of Human Services’ Office of Long Term Care (OLTC). The nurse aide profession has become a popular entry-level position since its training requirements are relatively low and easy to fulfill and the job itself provides amazing opportunities for interaction and growth in to with other medical field jobs.

Locate the Best CNA Classes in Arkansas Today

How to become a CNA in Arkansas

The Arkanas Department of Human Services’ Office of Long-Term Care (OLTC) is responsible for regulating Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in the state. In order to become eligible to work as a nurse assistant in the state, it is mandatory that the CNA’s name is listed on the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry.

Step 1 – Check out the CNA Requirements for Training Below

Common requirements for CNA classes in Arkansas are the ones detailed below.

Receive minimum scores on assessment test for math/reading, as set by the respective nurse aide program
HS transcript/GED
Pass drug test
Pass health screening
Pass background check
Show proof of a CPR certification (unless it is in your program)

Step 2 – Enroll in an OLTC-approved CNA training program

Nurse assisting programs in Arkansas are required by state law to be accredited by the OTLC. Only those students who complete their classes at a program approved by this organization are able to challenge for certification in the state.

Picking out the best training for your specific circumstances always involves a few considerations. You should think about the following as you compare training programs:

  • Choose a program approved by the OTLC
  • Ensure that at least 70% of program graduates passed the Arkansas Nurse Aide Exam
  • See if available courses fit your schedule
  • Find out what the course costs, and be sure you can afford it

Select From Approved Arkansas Nurse Aide Schools

The following list below reflects all CNA programs in Arkansas currently recognized by the OTLC. See the link above to get information on training and regulations from the state of Arkansas.

Complete List of all OLTC Approved Arkansas Nurse Aide Schools

County/Program Name/City/Phone Number

Arkansas County Phillips Community College of the U of A Dewitt (870) 946-3506

Arkansas County M & M Education, Inc Stuttgart (870) 673-1657

Arkansas County AANA (501) 658-1446

Baxter County Arkansas State University Mountain Home (870) 508-6154

Baxter County Pine Lane Therapy and Living Mountain Home (870) 425-6316

Benton County Northwest Arkansas Community College Bentonville (479) 986-6790

Benton County AR Career Training of the Ozarks Fort Smith (479) 831-2221

Benton County Pea Ridge Manufacturing and Business Academy Pea Ridge (479) 451-8182

Boone County AHEC – Northwest Harrison (870) 391-3140

Bradley County Chapel Woods Health & Rehab Warren (870) 226-6766

Clark County PHCTA Arkadelphia (501) 304-1909

Clark County Clark County CNA School Arkadelphia (870) 245-6693

Clay County RSB NATP – Northeast (870) 926-9496

Cleburne County PHCTA (501) 304-1909

Conway County River Chase Rehabilitation and Care Center Morrilton (501) 354-4647

Conway County UACCM Nursing Assistant Training Program Morrilton (501) 354-7583

Craighead County Schmieding Jonesboro (870) 207-7600

Craighead County Arkansas State University Newport Jonesboro (870) 512-7833

Craighead County Northeast Arkansas Career & Tech Center Jonesboro (870) 933-5891

Craighead County RSB Nursing Assistant Training Program Jonesboro (870) 926-9496

Crawford County PHCTA (501) 304-1909

Crittenden County Arkansas State University Mid-South West Memphis (870) 733-6062

Desha County UAM College of Technology McGehee (870) 222-5360

Desha County New Educational Beginnings McGehee (870) 222-6442

Deshay County Renaissance Healthcare (870) 536-2300

Drew County Monticello Occupational Education Center Monticello (870) 367-4060

Faulkner County Conway High School Conway (501) 450-4888

Faulkner County PHCTA Conway (501) 304-1909

Franklin County Arkansas Tech University Ozark (479) 508-3327

Fulton County Ozarka College Mammoth Springs (870) 368-2079

Fulton County Southfork River Therapy and Living Salem (870) 895-3817

Garland County PHCTA Hot Springs (501) 304-1909

Garland County Petra Allied Health Hot Springs (501) 627-1906

Garland County Schmieding Hot Springs (501) 276-3520

Greene County Arkansas Northeastern College Paragould (870) 239-3200

Hempstead County UA Hope Texarkana Hope (870) 722-8224

Hot Spring County PHCTA Malvern (501) 304-1909

Hot Spring County College of the Ouachitas Malvern (501) 332-0304

Independence County UAMS – North Central Batesville (870) 698-1023

Independence County University of Arkansas Community College Batesville (870) 612-2141

Izard County Ozarka Technical College Melbourne (870) 368-2079

Izard County AANA Melbourne (501) 658-1446

Jackson County Arkansas State University Newport (870) 512-7833

Jackson County Lindley Healthcare & Rehab Center Newport (870) 523-6539

Jackson County Newport High School NATP Newport (870) 523-1311

Jackson County Tuckerman High School Tuckerman (870) 349-2657

Jefferson County Schmieding Pine Bluff (870) 879-1440

Jefferson County Renaissance Healthcare Pine Bluff (870) 536-2300

Jefferson County Southeast Arkansas College Pine Bluff (870) 543-5917

Jefferson County PHCTA (501) 304-1909

Lincoln County Central Arkansas NA Training (501) 940-1914

Logan County PRN Medical Services (479) 785-9222

Lonoke County Arkansas Career Training Ozarks (479) 616-6138

Lonoke County Central Arkansas NA Training (501) 940-1914

Miller County Texarkana Nursing Academy Texarkana (870) 772-6860

Miller County Schmieding Texarkana (870) 773-2030

Miller County Texarkana Arkansas Career & Tech Center Texarkana (870) 772-3662

Mississippi County Arkansas Northeastern College Blytheville (870) 762-1020

Mississippi County Arkansas Northeastern College Burdette (870) 780-1200

Monroe County M & M Education, Inc Clarendon (870) 673-1657

Ouachita County Southern Arkansas University Tech Camden (870) 574-4585

Ouachita County PHCTA (501) 304-1909

Ouachita County SAU Tech Career Academy (870) 904-0517

Ouachita County RSB NATP – Central (870) 926-9496

Perry County Perry County CNA Training Center Perryville (501) 889-2400

Phillips County VYDAINC Helena (870) 816-0157

Poinsett County Arkansas State University Newport Marked Tree (870) 512-7833

Polk County Rich Mountain Community College Mena (479) 394-7622

Pope County River Valley NATP Russellville (479) 858-2290

Pope County Arkansas Career Training Ozarks (479) 616-6138

Prairie County Central Arkansas NA Training (501) 940-1914

Pulaski County PHCTA Little Rock (501) 304-1909

Pulaski County Dr. Emma Kelly Rhodes Education Center Little Rock (501) 372-0281

Pulaski County Schmieding Little Rock (501) 526-6500

Pulaski County AR Nursing Assistant Academy LLC Little Rock (501) 666-1825

Pulaski County Medlinc, Inc Little Rock (501) 492-7200

Pulaski County Capstone Elite Medical Training Maumelle (501) 954-0322

Pulaski County North Little Rock High School-West NATP North Little Rock (501) 771-8100

Pulaski County Central Arkansas NA Training (501) 940-1914

Randolph County Black River Technical College Pocahontas (870) 248-4000

Saline County PAL CNA Training Academy Benton (501) 776-8422

Saline County Arkansas State Hospital Benton (501) 860-0675

Saline County PHCTA (501) 304-1909

Scott County University of Arkansas Fort Smith – Waldron High School Waldron (479) 788-7715

Sebastian County Petra Allied Health Fort Smith (479) 750-9876

Sebastian County University of Arkansas Fort Smith (479) 788-7715

Sebastian County Schmieding Fort Smith (479) 424-0053

Sebastian County PRN Medical Services Fort Smith (479) 785-9222

Sharp County Ash Flat Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center Ash Flat (870) 994-2341

Sharp County Ozarka College Ash Flat (870) 368-2079

St. Francis County Crowley’s Ridge Technical Institute Forrest City (870) 633-5411

St. Francis County Golden Years Training Program Forrest City (870) 633-4260

St. Francis County St. Cross Health Care Education LLC (870) 588-5772

Stone County Ozarka Tech College Mountain View (870) 368-2079

Stone County RSB NATP – North Central Paragould (870) 926-9496

Union County Schmieding El Dorado (870) 639-1744

Van Buren County OZARK CNA Clinton (501) 745-5322

Van Buren County Central Arkansas NA Training (501) 940-1914

Washington County Petra Allied Health Springdale (479) 750-9876

Washington County Schmieding Springdale (479) 751-3043

Washington County NWACC Early College Experience Springdale (479) 725-4680

Washington County Northwest Technical Institute CNAP Springdale (479) 751-8824

Washington County PRN Medical Services Springdale (479) 785-9222

Washington County PHCTA (501) 304-1909

White County Arkansas State University Searcy (501) 278-3189

Woodruff County AANA McCrory (479) 365-7228

Step 3 – Complete the state’s required training hours

Finishing an authorized course is required to become a CNA. Training courses in Arkansas require you to finish the state’s required minimum of 16 hours in a hands-on clinical environment, as well as 90 hours in class.

The mandated hours have to be satisfied before you are permitted to sit for the Arkansas Nurse Aide Exam.

Step 4 – Pass the Arkansas Nurse Aide Exam

The state nurse aide certification exam used in Arkansas is the Arkansas Nurse Aide Exam. The assessment contains a written part and a clinical part.

On the written portion of the test, you’ll be asked to answer multiple-choice problems about what you learned in your classes. A test giver will direct you through the clinical portion of the test, during which you’ll have to show the patient competencies you will need while on the job. Completing your certification will require a passing score on both sections of the exam.

The company that administers the exam is a national assessment service called Prometric. The towns and cities in Arkansas where the test is normally administered have been listed below. To learn when the upcoming test times are at each location, you need to talk to the service directly.

 

  • Batesville
  • Blytheville
  • Fort Smith
  • Harrison
  • Little Rock
  • Malvern
  • Mena
  • Monticello
  • Pine Bluff
  • Texarkana

The state of Arkansas will in fact actually pay the testing fees for all candidates that are employed or or offered employment in nursing homes.

It is important to know that the state of Arkansas does not pay any rescheduling fees.

Candidates not covered by the state for their testing fees have to pay $10 for initial eligibility screening and $79 for the full assessment. It will cost $45 to take the clinical skills exam and the fee is $34 to take the written or oral exams. Fees may be paid by either a money order, a certified check, or by debit/ credit card. Cash is not accepted.

Step 5 – Get listed on the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry

After passing the certification exam, the final step you will need to take to begin working as a nursing assistant in Arkansas is getting your name added on the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry. The registry is a list maintained by the OTLC which shows the names of all of the certified nursing assistants in the state. State regulations mandate that you need to be on this list before becoming employed. Fortunately, you generally will not need to do anything at all for this to happen.

The registry is usually notified by the exam company right after you have passed the Arkansas Nurse Aide Exam. The typical waiting time to have your name included on the list is 10 days or less in Arkansas.

For solutions to all other questions you have, we suggest that you get in touch with the registry using the information provided.

Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry
Arkansas Department of Human Services
Office of Long Term Care
Donaghey Plaza, 7th and Main Streets
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1437

CNA salary and jobs in Arkansas

With a 15% increase in new jobs for nursing assistants across the state, it is a great time to become a CNA. The following listing reflects specifics on CNA wages across Arkansas by city and region.

LocationPay TypeLowMedianHigh
United StatesHourly$9.64$12.78$18.22
Yearly$20,040$26,590$37,900
ArkansasHourly$8.67$10.73$13.79
Yearly$18,030$22,310$28,670
Memphis, TN-MS-ARHourly$9.18$12.26$15.83
Yearly$19,090$25,500$32,940
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, ARHourly$9.71$11.43$14.92
Yearly$20,200$23,780$31,030
Hot Springs, ARHourly$8.91$10.79$13.12
Yearly$18,530$22,440$27,290
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MOHourly$8.79$10.77$13.75
Yearly$18,290$22,400$28,600
Central ArkansasHourly$8.89$10.72$12.83
Yearly$18,490$22,290$26,690
Fort Smith, AR-OKHourly$8.68$10.69$13.08
Yearly$18,050$22,240$27,200
Jonesboro, ARHourly$8.60$10.51$12.44
Yearly$17,890$21,870$25,880
Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, ARHourly$8.30$10.46$13.37
Yearly$17,260$21,750$27,810
Pine Bluff, ARHourly$8.49$10.30$12.31
Yearly$17,660$21,410$25,600
East ArkansasHourly$8.41$10.17$14.66
Yearly$17,500$21,150$30,490
West ArkansasHourly$8.37$10.07$12.20
Yearly$17,410$20,950$25,370
South ArkansasHourly$8.36$9.78$12.40
Yearly$17,380$20,340$25,790

Top CNA Programs in AR Near You