Substitute Teacher / Arkansas
2026 data Arkansas board official source

Arkansas Substitute Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Fills in for absent teachers. Requirements range from diploma to license.

What the Arkansas data shows for Substitute Teachers

Arkansas sets the entry bar for substitute teachers at 2,000 training hours and a passing score on a state-approved exam. A background check is a standard part of the process. The credential is administered under Arkansas's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Degree".

The initial price tag is $100 every 5 years. Arkansas doesn't require continuing education for this license, so upkeep costs stay confined to the renewal fee itself.

There's no published reciprocity list here - Arkansas reviews out-of-state credentials individually.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
36/100
Substitute Teacher · 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 F
2,000 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
Degree
2,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Substitute Teacher 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 Substitute Teacher in Arkansas? ▼
Arkansas's requirements cover 2000 hours of education or training, a state exam, and an initial fee of $100. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Substitute Teacher in Arkansas? ▼
To become a licensed substitute teacher in Arkansas, you must meet the state's requirements including 2000 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Arkansas licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Substitute Teacher license to Arkansas from another state? ▼
Arkansas doesn't publish a standing reciprocity policy for substitute teachers; each out-of-state application is reviewed on its own merits. Some professions fall under interstate compacts that ease portability regardless. The Arkansas licensing board can confirm what applies to your case.
Does Arkansas require a background check for Substitute Teacher licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the substitute teacher licensing process in Arkansas. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this substitute teacher license

Substitute Teacher in Arkansas is one requirement row in a substitute teacher-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.