Title 17 — Professions, Occupations, and Businesses

(a) In all examinations held by any and all state boards, commissions, or bureaus for the purpose of examining applicants for any license or permit to engage in any profession, trade, or employment, all applicants for such examinations who are veterans of the United States Army, …

(a) There shall be no monetary liability on the part of, and no cause of action for damages shall arise against, members of the following organizations for any act or proceeding undertaken or performed within the scope of the functions of any such committee which is formed to mai…

(a) (1) It is the policy of the State of Arkansas to encourage and contribute to the rehabilitation of criminal offenders and to assist them in the assumption of the responsibilities of citizenship.(2) The public is best protected when offenders are given the opportunity to secur…

(a) On and after July 1, 1997, all persons, agencies, boards, commissions, or other licensing entities issuing any occupational, professional, or business license pursuant to Titles 2-6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 17, 20, 22, 23, and 27 of the Arkansas Code Annotated shall record the name, ad…

Each board, commission, or other entity that licenses mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect shall provide notice to each licensee concerning the online and web-based child abuse reporting program required under § 16-10-138 [repealed].

A.C.A. § 17-1-106Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

(a) An occupational licensing entity shall by rule adopt reduced requirements for reinstatement of a license, registration, permit, or certification for a person who:(1) Demonstrates that he or she:(A) Was previously licensed, registered, permitted, or certified to practice in th…

(a) (1) It is the intent of the General Assembly to ensure that an individual may be credentialed to work in Arkansas if he or she generally demonstrates the skills and ethics required by state law based on the individual's experience and credentials in another state.(2) It is no…

(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Workforce Freedom Act of 2021”. (b) Unless specifically authorized by the General Assembly, cities, counties, or other political subdivisions of the state shall not enact a requirement for licensing, certification, or regis…

(a) As used in this section:(1) “Occupational or professional license” means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other form of authorization required by law or rule for an individual to engage in a particular occupation or profession; and(2) “Occupational or professi…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Keep Arkansans Working Act of 2019”.

It is the purpose of this chapter to ensure that hard-working Arkansans maintain occupational licenses while trying to maintain debt-free lives and trying not to be impoverished.

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “Default” means the failure to:(A) Repay a student loan according to the terms agreed upon in a promissory note; or(B) Satisfy the requirements and conditions of a work-conditional scholarship for repayment;(2) “Delinquent” means the failure to:(A)…

(1) Except as provided for rural medical practice student loans and scholarships under § 6-81-701 et seq., a state authority shall not suspend or revoke a license that has been issued to an individual solely on the basis of that individual's being:(1) In default on the repayment …

(1) Except as provided for rural medical practice student loans and scholarships under § 6-81-701 et seq., a state authority shall not suspend or revoke a license that has been issued to an individual solely on the basis of that individual's being:(1) In default on the satisfacti…

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “Criminal record” means any type of felony or misdemeanor conviction;(2) “License” means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other form of authorization required by law or rule that is required for an individual to engage in a particul…

(a) An individual is not eligible to receive or hold a license issued by a licensing entity if that individual has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or been found guilty of any of the following offenses by any court in the State of Arkansas or of any similar offense by a court…

(a) (1) An individual with a criminal record may petition a licensing entity at any time for a determination of whether the criminal record of the individual will disqualify the individual from licensure and whether or not he or she could obtain a waiver under § 17-3-102(b).(2) T…

(a) A licensing entity shall adopt or amend rules necessary for the implementation of this chapter. (b) (1) When adopting or amending rules to implement this chapter, the final rule shall be filed with the Secretary of State for adoption under § 25-15-204(f):(A) On or before Janu…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Arkansas Occupational Licensing of Uniformed Service Members, Veterans, and Spouses Act of 2021”.

(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) Arkansas sets the bar as a national leader in addressing employment barriers faced by uniformed service members, uniformed service veterans, and their spouses in attaining occupational licensure;(2) Arkansas is one (1) of only four (4) stat…

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “Automatic occupational licensure” means the granting of occupational licensure without an individual's having met occupational licensure requirements provided under this title or by the rules of the relevant occupational licensing entity;(2) “Occu…

(1) Unless otherwise stated in this chapter, this chapter applies to:(1) A uniformed service member stationed in the State of Arkansas;(2) A uniformed service veteran who resides in or establishes residency in the State of Arkansas; and(3) The spouse of:(A) A person listed in sub…

(1) An occupational licensing entity shall grant automatic occupational licensure to engage in an occupation or profession to an individual who is:(1) Listed in § 17-4-104; and(2) The holder in good standing of occupational licensure with similar scope of practice issued by anoth…

(a) (1) An occupational licensing entity may submit proposed rules recommending an expedited process for the attainment of occupational licensure instead of automatic occupational licensure as provided under § 17-4-105 to the Administrative Rules Subcommittee of the Legislative C…

An occupational licensing entity shall accept relevant and applicable uniformed service education, training, national certification, or service-issued credential toward occupational licensure qualifications or requirements when considering an application for initial licensure of …

(a) An occupational licensing entity shall extend the expiration date of an occupational licensure for a deployed uniformed service member or his or her spouse for one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the uniformed service member's return from deployment. (b) (1) A…

(a) The Administrative Rules Subcommittee of the Legislative Council shall:(1) Review the proposed rules of an occupational licensing entity as submitted for public comment at least thirty (30) days before the public comment period ends under the Arkansas Administrative Procedure…

(1) An occupational licensing entity shall:(1) Submit proposed rules authorized under § 17-4-106 to the Administrative Rules Subcommittee of the Legislative Council for review and approval before the proposed rules are promulgated under the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, …

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Workforce Expansion Act of 2021”.

(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) Entrepreneurs and workers must pay various fees in order to work in a government-regulated profession or occupation or to start a small business in Arkansas;(2) Families trying to break the cycle of government dependency should not have to …

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “License” means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other form of authorization required by law or rule that is required for an individual to engage in a particular occupation or profession; and(2) (A) “Licensing entity” means an offic…

(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a licensing entity shall not require an initial fee for individuals who are seeking to receive a license in this state if the applicant:(1) Is receiving assistance through the Arkansas Medicaid Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assis…

(1) A licensing entity shall:(1) Publish notice of the fee waiver on:(A) The website maintained by the licensing entity; and(B) Any relevant forms that an applicant is required to complete; and(2) Promulgate any necessary rules to implement this chapter. (1) Publish notice of the…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Earn and Learn Act”.

(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) Apprenticeships prioritize on-the-job training and provide workers the opportunity to earn a paycheck while working towards industry-recognized credentials;(2) Apprenticeships allow employers to build a skilled workforce according to indust…

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “Apprenticeship” means a program that meets the federal guidelines set out in 29 C.F.R. Part 29, as existing on March 1, 2021, and existing programs currently implementing work requirements as approved by the United States Office of Apprenticeship …

(a) A licensing entity shall grant a license to an applicant who:(1) Completes an apprenticeship in the licensed occupation or profession;(2) Passes an examination, if deemed to be necessary by the licensing entity;(3) Pays any fees deemed necessary by the licensing entity;(4) Do…

(1) This chapter does not apply to:(1) A licensing entity that does not license individual workers for which there is an apprenticeship program established under 29 C.F.R. Part 29, as existing on March 1, 2021;(2) A license that requires the educational equivalent of a bachelor's…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Automatic Occupational Licensure for Out-of-State Licensure Act”.

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “Automatic occupational licensure” means the granting of occupational licensure to an individual who establishes residency in this state without the individual's having met occupational licensure requirements provided under this title or by the rul…

(a) Unless otherwise stated in this chapter, this chapter applies to an individual who has occupational licensure in another state, territory, or district of the United States and has established a residence in this state. (b) This chapter applies to physician assistants licensed…

(a) If the individual does not have a disqualifying criminal offense under § 17-3-102 or any additional state law relating to the occupational licensure and does not have a complaint, allegation, or investigation pending for his or her occupational activity, an occupational licen…

(1) An occupational licensing entity shall:(1) Provide automatic occupational licensure to an individual listed in § 17-7-104;(2) Post prominently on the occupational licensing entity's website a link entitled “Out-of-State Licensure” that leads directly to information applicable…

(a) This chapter does not apply to licensure or certification of:(1) Except as provided in § 17-7-103(b), medical professions under Title 17, Subtitle 3;(2) Legal professionals; or(3) Individuals under reciprocity agreements. (1) Except as provided in § 17-7-103(b), medical profe…

(a) As used in this section:(1) “Agent” means any licensee as defined under § 17-42-103 or any appraiser;(2) “Appraiser” means any appraiser, state-certified appraiser, state-certified residential appraiser, state-licensed appraiser, or state-registered appraiser, as those terms …

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Abstracters' Licensing Law of 1969”.

(1) As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Abstract of title” means a compilation in orderly arrangement of the materials and facts of record affecting the title to a specific piece of land, issued under a certificate certifying to the matters therein…

(a) Any person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100) f…

(a) Every person, firm, or private corporation engaged in the business of abstracting shall be or have in its employ a registered abstracter. (b) No person shall execute an abstract certificate or otherwise attest to the accuracy of abstracts unless the person is a registered abs…