Arkansas CNA Registry
Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry (ARNAR).
Visit Official Registry24 months
Renewal Period
At least 8 hours of paid nurse aide work under the supervision of a licensed nurse within every 24-month period
Work Requirement
Yes
Accepts Reciprocity
Free
Online Lookup
How to Look Up Your Arkansas CNA License
Go to the Arkansas TMU registry search page
Open the official public Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry search at ar.tmutest.com/search. This page is operated by D&SDT-Headmaster on behalf of the Arkansas Office of Long Term Care and is the only authoritative ARNAR verification tool.
Search by name or registry number
Enter the CNA's last name and first name, or, if you have it, the registry number. You can also narrow the search by date of birth to disambiguate common names. Click Search to display the matching record.
Review the certification status
The result page shows the CNA's name, certification status (active or expired), original certification date, expiration date, and any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. Print or screenshot the record if you need it for hiring or employer documentation.
Call Headmaster or OLTC if you need additional verification
For phone verification or questions about an unusual record, call Headmaster's Arkansas registry line at (888) 401-0465 (Monday-Friday, 7 AM-7 PM Central). For policy or investigation questions, contact the Arkansas Office of Long Term Care at the Department of Human Services.
About the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry (ARNAR)
The Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry (ARNAR) is the official state record of CNAs eligible to work in Arkansas long-term care, hospital-based skilled, ICF/IID, and home health settings. It is regulated by the Office of Long Term Care (OLTC), a division of the Arkansas Department of Human Services. While OLTC owns the registry, day-to-day operations — application processing, exam scheduling, status updates, and the public lookup — are operated under contract by D&SDT-Headmaster through the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform.
The public registry lookup is available 24/7 at ar.tmutest.com/search, where employers, families, and the public can verify any CNA's certification status, expiration date, and whether any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation appear on record. Phone verification is available through Headmaster at (888) 401-0465 between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM Central, Monday through Friday.
Because Arkansas requires 90 hours of training (15 hours above the federal minimum) and gives candidates only 12 months to pass the competency exam after training, the registry tightly enforces both the testing window and the 24-month paid-work renewal requirement. Reciprocity applicants from other state registries can be added through the OLTC's Out-of-State Reciprocity Form 9110AR with a $25 processing fee.
Contact Information
Official Website
https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/provider-services-quality-assurance/occupational-licensing/cna-nha-training-program/Phone Number
(888) 401-0465Mailing Address
Arkansas Department of Human Services\nOffice of Long Term Care\nP.O. Box 8059, Slot S409\nLittle Rock, AR 72203-8059
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Central Time (Headmaster registry line)
Arkansas CNA Testing Information
Testing Vendor
Arkansas uses D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU) to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.
Visit D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU)Training Requirements
Arkansas requires 90 hours minimum, including 16 hours of supervised clinical instruction. Training programs must be approved by the state.
Find Arkansas CNA ClassesArkansas CNA Renewal Requirements
Renewal Period
Arkansas CNA certification is valid for 24 months from the date of initial certification or last renewal.
Work Requirement
You must perform at least At least 8 hours of paid nurse aide work under the supervision of a licensed nurse within every 24-month period during your certification period to be eligible for renewal.
Employer Verification
Your employer verifies your work hours directly through the registry system. Keep your contact information current with your employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I look up an Arkansas CNA?
Use the official Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry public search at ar.tmutest.com/search. The system is operated by D&SDT-Headmaster on behalf of the Arkansas Office of Long Term Care. You can search by name or registry number. The lookup is free, available 24/7, and is the authoritative record for verifying a CNA's certification status, expiration date, and any reported findings.
What does an active Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry entry show?
An active ARNAR listing displays the CNA's name, registry number, original certification date, renewal expiration date, training program of record, and any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation under federal OBRA-87 rules. Inactive or expired entries show the same data with an expired status flag.
How does Arkansas's registry differ from other states?
Two key differences: Arkansas requires 90 hours of training instead of the federal 75-hour floor, and the entire registry plus testing system is operated by D&SDT-Headmaster's TMU platform rather than Prometric or Credentia. Many Arkansas CNAs interact with the registry only through Headmaster's ar.tmuniverse.com candidate portal and the public ar.tmutest.com/search verification site.
How quickly will I appear on the Arkansas registry after passing the exam?
Headmaster reports passing exam scores to the Office of Long Term Care electronically, and newly certified aides typically appear on the public Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry within a few business days of testing. No separate application is required after passing — your name is added automatically. If your status has not appeared within two weeks, contact Headmaster's registry line at (888) 401-0465.
What happens if my Arkansas CNA registry status expires?
If you do not document at least 8 hours of paid nurse aide work during a 24-month period, your ARNAR status moves to expired. To regain active status you must retake the full 90-hour OLTC-approved training program and pass the Headmaster competency exam again. Arkansas does not offer a refresher-only pathway. If you have an active certification in another state, you may instead apply for reciprocity through Form 9110AR.
How do I transfer an out-of-state CNA license into the Arkansas registry?
Submit the Office of Long Term Care's Out-of-State Reciprocity Form 9110AR along with verification of your active out-of-state CNA certification, proof of at least 90 hours of original training, and a $25 processing fee. Your record must show no substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. The OLTC verifies your status at all listed registries before placing you on ARNAR; processing typically takes 2-4 weeks.
Arkansas CNA Refresher Topics
Whether you are preparing to renew your Arkansas certification, brushing up before returning to work, or studying for the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry (ARNAR) reinstatement exam, these free guides cover the topics most commonly tested:
Patient Rights & HIPAA
OBRA '87 resident rights, mandatory reporting, advance directives — essential for any Arkansas CNA returning to active status.
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE protocols, and transmission-based precautions for Arkansas nurse aides working with vulnerable residents.
Safety & Emergencies
Fall prevention, RACE/PASS fire response, choking, and CPR — heavily tested on Arkansas CNA reinstatement exams.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, toileting, and incontinence management procedures used daily by Arkansas CNAs in long-term care.
Dementia & Cognitive Care
Validation therapy, sundowning, and de-escalation techniques for working with cognitively impaired residents in Arkansas.
Body Systems & Conditions
Recognizing strokes (FAST), hypoglycemia, pressure injuries, and CHF — essential clinical knowledge for active Arkansas CNAs.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, negligence, mandatory reporting, and professional boundaries — review essentials for any Arkansas CNA renewing certification.
Communication & SBAR
SBAR handoff, therapeutic responses, and adaptations for hearing- or vision-impaired residents — practical refreshers for Arkansas CNAs.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective documentation, pain scales, and what to report immediately — refresh the rules used daily by Arkansas CNAs.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, recognizing signs of approaching death, and postmortem care — for Arkansas CNAs in long-term care settings.
Becoming a CNA in Arkansas?
See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in Arkansas, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.