CNA Classes & Nurse Aide Training Programs in Arkansas

1. State-Approved CNA Schools & Training Providers in Arkansas

All 34 approved regional and county Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Programs (NATCEPs) for Arkansas are consolidated into the interactive directory below. Filter by county (21 counties/regions), program type, or search by city, ZIP code, or school name:

2. Arkansas CNA Curriculum Breakdown, Admission Rules & Tuition Costs

In Arkansas, prospective nurse aides must complete a state-approved 90 Hours (16 Clinical) NATCEP curriculum (consisting of 74 classroom/skills-lab hours and 16 supervised clinical hours), pass both components of the Headmaster D&SDT competency evaluation, and clear state criminal background screening prior to active placement on the Arkansas Department of Human Services - Office of Long Term Care.

• Classroom & Clinical Clock-Hour Split (90 Hours (16 Clinical)): Every accredited Arkansas NATCEP curriculum includes at least 74 hours of classroom theory and mannequin skills-lab instruction (covering infection control, vital signs, medical terminology, resident rights, and body mechanics) followed by 16 hours of supervised hands-on clinical rotations in a licensed Arkansas skilled nursing facility or hospital under a Registered Nurse instructor.
• Pre-Enrollment Screening Requirements in Arkansas: Prior to starting clinical rotations, students must complete state fingerprint criminal background screening, submit a negative two-step TB skin test (PPD) or QuantiFERON blood test, provide immunization records, and pass a physical health clearance.
• Free Nursing Home Training & OBRA Tuition Reimbursement: While community colleges and vocational schools in Arkansas typically charge $550 to $1,450 for tuition, many skilled nursing facilities listed in the table above sponsor tuition-free in-house CNA classes for new hires. Furthermore, under federal OBRA law (42 CFR § 483.152), any Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing facility in Arkansas that hires you within 12 months of certification must reimburse your out-of-pocket course and exam costs.

3. Arkansas CNA Certification Exam, Registry Lookup & Wage Outlook

Upon graduating from an approved Arkansas training program, candidates register with Headmaster D&SDT to complete the two-part state competency examination: a multiple-choice written (or oral audio) knowledge test and a live clinical skills evaluation drawn from the 22 testable CNA clinical skills.

Once you pass both exam components, your active Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential is issued by the Arkansas Department of Human Services - Office of Long Term Care (Official AR Registry Portal ↗). Across Arkansas, certified nurse aides earn a median wage of $16.55 per hour ($34,430 per year), ranging from $28,840 at the 10th percentile to $39,020+ at the 90th percentile in acute care hospitals and metropolitan health systems.

4. Frequently Asked Questions About CNA Classes in Arkansas