Arkansas Administrative Code

17 CAR § 123-1102. Dosage. (a) When opioids are started, the lowest effective dosage should be prescribed. (b) APRNs should use caution when prescribing opioids at any dosage and carefully reassess evidence of individual benefits and risks when considering increasing dosage to gr…

17 CAR § 123-1103. Patient treatment and evaluation. (a) The patient shall be evaluated through an in-person examination at least: (1) Every three (3) months by the APRN; and (2) One (1) time every six (6) months by a physician who is licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board.…

17 CAR § 123-1104. Exceptions. The requirements of this subpart shall not apply to a patient: (1) Whose pain medications are being prescribed for a malignant condition: (2) With a terminal condition; (3) Who is a resident of a licensed healthcare facility; (4) Who is enrolled in …

17 CAR § 123-1201. Minimum standards for establishing a patient relationship. (a) The APRN shall establish a proper APRN–patient relationship prior to providing any patient care. (b) A proper APRN–patient relationship at a minimum requires that: (1) The APRN perform a history and…

17 CAR § 123-1202. Telemedicine — Requirement for all services provided by APRNs providing care via telemedicine. (a)(1) An APRN–patient relationship shall be established in accordance with 17 CAR § 123-1201 before the delivery of services via telemedicine. (2) A patient completi…

17 CAR § 123-1203. Licensure for uniformed service members, veterans, and spouses. (a) Automatic licensure. (1) Temporary permits for individuals listed in subdivision (a)(2) of this section shall be issued within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of all required documents. (2) T…

17 CAR § 123-201. Qualifications for licensure. (a) Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licensure shall be designated in one (1) of the four (4) roles below and at least one (1) population focus: (1) Family/individual across the lifespan; (2) Adult-gerontology; (3) Neonatal…

17 CAR § 123-202. Eligibility. The applicant shall meet the licensure requirements of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, including a valid United States Social Security number or has been issued a federal Form I-766 United States Citizenship and Immigration Services-issued Empl…

17 CAR § 123-203. Application for licensure by examination. In addition to a current registered nurse license to practice in Arkansas, the information submitted to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing shall include: (1) A completed board application form; (2) Verification of activ…

17 CAR § 123-204. Application for licensure by endorsement. (a) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing may issue a license by endorsement to an APRN licensed under the laws of another state if, in the opinion of the board, the applicant meets the qualifications for licensure in this…

17 CAR § 123-205. Application for an internationally educated APRN (educated outside the United States). An internationally educated applicant for licensure in this state as an APRN shall: (1) Graduate from a graduate-level APRN program equivalent to an APRN educational program i…

17 CAR § 123-206. Temporary permits. (a) Upon application and payment of the required fee, the Arkansas State Board of Nursing shall issue a nonrenewable temporary permit to practice in an advanced practice nursing category to a qualified applicant who has no violations as listed…

17 CAR § 123-207. Renewals. (a) The date for renewal of licensure to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse shall coincide with renewal of the applicant's registered nurse license. (b) An applicant for renewal of an advanced practice registered nurse license shall subm…

17 CAR § 123-208. Lapsed APRN license. (a) The license is lapsed if not renewed or placed on inactive status by the expiration date. (b) The license is lapsed if the RN license or privilege to practice in Arkansas is not current. (c) The license is lapsed when the national certif…

17 CAR § 123-209. Reinstatement of APRN license. (a) An individual who applies for licensure reinstatement who has been out of practice for more than two (2) years shall provide evidence of passing an APRN refresher course approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing or an ext…

17 CAR § 123-210. Inactive status. (a) Any licensee who desires to temporarily inactivate their advanced practice registered nurse license in this state shall submit a request to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. (b) The APRN license may immediately be placed on inactive statu…

17 CAR § 123-211. Retired advanced practice registered nurse. (a) Any advanced practice registered nurse in good standing who desires to retire for any length of time from the practice of nursing in this state shall submit a request, and their APRN license shall be placed on reti…

17 CAR § 123-212. Additional certifications. (a) An APRN who has completed post-master’s education for an additional nursing specialty shall: (1) Submit a request for permission to practice in the new certification area; (2) Submit evidence of eligibility to sit for the new certi…

17 CAR § 123-301. Criminal background check. (a) No application for issuance of an initial license will be considered without state and federal criminal background checks by the Division of Arkansas State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (b) Federal background chec…

17 CAR § 123-302. Name or address change. (a) A licensee whose name is legally changed shall submit: (1) A name change request; (2) A copy of marriage license or court action; and (3) The required fee. (b) A licensee whose address changes from the address on file with the Arkansa…

17 CAR § 123-401. Purpose. (a) To establish standards essential for safe practice by the advanced practice registered nurse. (b) To serve as a guide for evaluation of advanced nursing practice.

17 CAR § 123-402. Standards for all categories of advanced practice registered nursing. (a) The advanced practice registered nurse shall: (1) Assess clients at an advanced level; (2) Identify health status, including abnormal conditions; (3) Establish a diagnosis; (4) Develop and…

17 CAR § 123-403. National certifying body standards. (a) In addition to the standards, the advanced practice registered nurse shall practice in accordance with the standards established by the national certifying body from which the APRN holds his or her certification required f…

17 CAR § 123-404. Additional standards for CRNAs. (a) The CRNA, acting in the normal course of his or her professional practice, may be authorized by a hospital or institution to act as their agent or employee to order the administration of controlled substances under the Drug En…

17 CAR § 123-501. Professional certification programs. (a) A national certification program that meets the following criteria shall be recognized by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing to satisfy 17 CAR § 123-201. (b) The national certification program: (1) Is national in the sco…

17 CAR § 123-601. Initial applicant. An applicant for an initial certificate of prescriptive authority shall: (1) Be currently licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse in Arkansas; (2) Provide evidence from the national certifying body that differential diagnosis and pre…

17 CAR § 123-602. Endorsement applicant. (a) An applicant for endorsement of prescriptive authority shall: (1) Provide documentation of a: (A) Three (3) graduate credit hour pharmacology course offered by an accredited college or university; or (B) Forty-five (45) contact hour (a…

17 CAR § 123-603. Protocols for prescriptive authority. (a) Protocols are required for all APRNs practicing under a collaborative practice agreement. (b) Protocols shall be made available upon request of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. (c) Such protocols shall, at a minimum,…

17 CAR § 123-604. Prescribing privileges. (a) The APRN, applying for a certificate of prescriptive authority, shall: (1) Acknowledge in the application that he or she is familiar with all state and federal laws and rules regarding prescribing; and (2) Agree to comply with these l…

17 CAR § 123-605. Prescription format. (a) All prescriptions issued by the APRN shall: (1) Contain the name of the client and the APRN’s: (A) Name; (B) Title; (C) Address; (D) Telephone number; and (E) Signature with the initials “APRN”; and (2) Include information contained in 1…

17 CAR § 123-606. Receiving prepackaged drug samples. (a) APRNs who have an active prescriptive authority certificate may receive legend drug samples and therapeutic devices appropriate to their area of practice, including controlled substances contained in Schedules III – V and …

17 CAR § 123-607. Termination of prescriptive authority. (a) Prescriptive authority may be terminated by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing when the prescriber: (1) Fails to maintain current active licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse; (2) Violates provisions of th…

17 CAR § 123-608. Lapsed certificate of prescriptive authority. (a) The certificate of prescriptive authority is lapsed if: (1) The licensee’s active advanced practice registered nurse license is not renewed by the expiration date; (2) The national certification upon which licens…

17 CAR § 123-609. Inactive status. (a) A certificate of prescriptive authority will automatically be considered lapsed and subject to the requirements of this part when a licensee places his or her advanced practice registered nurse license on inactive status. (b) While the certi…

17 CAR § 123-610. Reactivation of prescriptive authority. (a) APRNs whose prescriptive authority is inactive shall complete five (5) contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics continuing education in the APRN’s area of certification for each twelve (12) months of nonprescribing activi…

17 CAR § 123-611. Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. (a) APRNs may delegate access to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program for running requested reports. (b) APRNs with prescriptive authority shall review the report from the program prior to prescribing: (1) An opioid from…

17 CAR § 123-701. Certified nurse midwife. (a) A collaborative practice agreement is not required unless the certified nurse midwife prescribes Schedule II controlled substances. (b)(1) If delivering infants outside an accredited facility, the certified nurse midwife shall have a…

17 CAR § 123-702. Certified nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. (a) Qualifications: (1) Currently be licensed as a certified nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist in Arkansas; (2) Have no encumbrance on any nursing license in any jurisdiction; (3) Completed…

17 CAR § 123-801. Requirements for nurses prescribing controlled substances for short-term treatment of obesity. (a) An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) must maintain prescribing medication practices that are within the APRN’s educational preparation and certification. (…

17 CAR § 123-802. Prescribing guidelines. (a)(1) An established APRN–patient relationship shall exist. (2) The patient shall: (A) Be age eighteen (18) or older; or (B) Have written consent from a parent or guardian. (3) The medication shall only be an adjunct to a comprehensive w…

17 CAR § 123-901. Purpose. The purpose of the Prescriptive Authority Advisory Committee shall include functioning in an advisory capacity to assist the Arkansas State Board of Nursing with oversight and implementation of the provisions regarding prescriptive authority.

17 CAR § 123-902. Composition. (a) The Prescriptive Authority Advisory Committee shall be composed of six (6) members appointed by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and approved by the Governor. (b)(1) Four (4) members shall be advanced practice registered nurses with at least …

17 CAR § 123-903. Terms of office. (a) Members shall serve three-year terms and may be reappointed. (b) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing may remove any Prescriptive Authority Advisory Committee member, after notice and hearing, for: (1) Incapacity; (2) Incompetence; (3) Neglec…

17 CAR § 123-904. Compensation. Prescriptive Authority Advisory Committee members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed to the extent special moneys are appropriated therefore for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official Arkansa…

17 CAR § 124-101. Purpose. (a)(1) Licensed nurses, within the parameters of their education and experience, are responsible for all nursing care that a client receives under their direction. (2) Assessment of the nursing needs of a client, the plan of nursing actions, implementat…

17 CAR § 124-102. Criteria for delegation. (a) Delegation of nursing tasks to unlicensed persons shall comply with the following requirements: (1) A licensed nurse delegating the task is responsible for the: (A) Nursing care given to the client; and (B) Final decision regarding w…

17 CAR § 124-103. Specific nursing tasks that may be delegated without prior nursing assessment. By way of example, and not in limitation, the following nursing tasks are ones that are within the scope of sound nursing practice to be delegated, provided the delegation is in compl…

17 CAR § 124-104. Nursing tasks that may not be routinely delegated. (a) Nursing tasks not included in 17 CAR § 124-103: (1) Are not usually within the scope of sound nursing judgment to delegate; and (2) May be delegated only in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. (b…

17 CAR § 124-105. Nursing tasks that shall not be delegated. By way of example and not in limitation, the following are nursing tasks that are not within the scope of sound nursing judgment to delegate: (1) Physical, psychological, and social assessment that requires nursing: (A)…

17 CAR § 124-106. Transference of delegated nursing tasks. (a) It is the responsibility of the licensed nurse to: (1) Assess each client prior to delegation of a nursing task; and (2) Determine that the unlicensed person has the competence to perform the nursing task in that clie…