How do you renew an EMS certification in Arkansas?
Arkansas requires NREMT: under the EMS Rules effective October 28, 2024, your National Registry certification must be renewed before an Arkansas license renewal is issued. The hours follow NCCP, 16 for EMR, 40 for EMT, 50 for AEMT and 60 for paramedic, but a quarter of them must be Arkansas-specific topics, for example trauma system, pediatrics, stroke, cardiology, documentation and ethics. CPR is required at every level and ACLS for paramedics.
Open the official Arkansas renewal page
What each level needs
| Level | Requirement |
|---|---|
| EMR | 16 hours: 8 NREMT topics, 4 Arkansas-specific (Trauma System 2, Ethics 2), 4 elective |
| EMT | 40 hours: 20 NREMT topics, 10 Arkansas-specific (Trauma 2, Pediatrics 2, Stroke 2, Cardiology 2, Documentation 1, Ethics 1), 10 elective |
| AEMT | 50 hours: 25 NREMT topics, 12.5 Arkansas-specific, 12.5 elective |
| Paramedic | 60 hours: 30 NREMT topics, 15 Arkansas-specific (Trauma 2, Pediatrics 3, Stroke 4, Cardiology 2, Documentation 2, Ethics 2), 15 elective |
What else Arkansas requires
- CPR required at every level; ACLS for paramedics.
- Governed by the Arkansas EMS Rules, Section VIII.D, effective October 28, 2024.
How this relates to NREMT
Arkansas requires you to hold current National Registry certification, so the NREMT cycle drives your renewal. See the NREMT requirements by level.
Sources
Compiled from these sources, retrieved September 2026. Renewal rules change; confirm with the issuing agency before you rely on any figure here.