Medical Assistant / Arkansas
2026 data Arkansas board official source

Arkansas Medical Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Performs clinical and administrative tasks in medical offices.

What the Arkansas data shows for Medical Assistants

Arkansas's path to medical assistant licensure runs through 1,000 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a criminal history screening. Arkansas folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

Upfront cost is $100 on a 2-year cycle. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in Arkansas, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

Arkansas evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Medical Assistant · Arkansas

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training D
1,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Arkansas

Education / Training Hours
Certificate/Degree
1,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Medical Assistant All Arkansas licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Arkansas licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Medical Assistant in Arkansas? ▼
Arkansas requires 1000 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $100. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Medical Assistant in Arkansas? ▼
Arkansas licenses medical assistants who complete its requirements (1000 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Arkansas licensing board.
Can I transfer my Medical Assistant license to Arkansas from another state? ▼
There's no published blanket reciprocity rule for medical assistants in Arkansas - applications from other states are reviewed individually. Interstate licensing compacts cover many occupations and may still apply. Reach out to the Arkansas licensing board for the current process.
Does Arkansas require a background check for Medical Assistant licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for medical assistant licensing in Arkansas. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

Related Guides

What to do with this medical assistant license

Medical Assistant in Arkansas is one requirement row in a medical assistant-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Arkansas licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.