Elementary School Teacher / Arkansas
2026 data Arkansas board official source

Arkansas Elementary School Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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Instructs students in grades K-6. Requires state teaching certificate.

What the Arkansas data shows for Elementary School Teachers

Arkansas's path to elementary school teacher licensure runs through board-approved instruction and a passing score on State Teaching Certification Exam (Praxis or equivalent), plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Arkansas folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree in Education".

Budget $87 to get started, plus $63 at each renewal on a 5-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 150 hours of continuing education are due every 5-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

On reciprocity, elementary school teachers should know: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states.

Licensing Ease Score

C+
Licensing Ease Score
62/100
Elementary School 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 N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C+
$87
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A+
$13/yr
$63 every 5 years
Continuing Education F
30.0 hrs/yr
150 hours every 5 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Arkansas

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree in Education
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State Teaching Certification Exam (Praxis or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$87
Renewal Fee
$63
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
150 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Elementary School 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 Elementary School Teacher in Arkansas? ▼
Arkansas requires, passing an exam (State Teaching Certification Exam (Praxis or equivalent)), and an initial fee of $87. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as an Elementary School Teacher in Arkansas? ▼
Arkansas licenses elementary school teachers who complete its requirements and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Arkansas licensing board.
Can I transfer my Elementary School Teacher license to Arkansas from another state? ▼
For elementary school teachers, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the Arkansas licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Arkansas require a background check for Elementary School Teacher licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for elementary school teacher licensing in Arkansas. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Elementary School Teacher in Arkansas? ▼
Licensed elementary school teachers in Arkansas must complete 150 hours of continuing education every 5 years. The renewal fee is $63.

Related Guides

What to do with this elementary school teacher license

Elementary School Teacher in Arkansas, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in an elementary school teacher-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Arkansas's elementary school teacher requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Elementary School Teacher in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state elementary school teacher license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Arkansas's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Arkansas overview

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.