1. (a) Examination/certification.

   1. (1) Applicants who comply with qualifications in accordance with the Arkansas Athletic Trainers Act, Acts 1995, No. 1279, or Arkansas Code § 17-4-104 shall be permitted to sit for an examination approved by the Arkansas State Board of Athletic Training.

   2. (2) Applicants must meet one (1) of the following requirements to sit for the examination:

      1. (A) The applicant must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and meet other curriculum and internship requirements as required by the certifying testing agency as approved by the board;
      2. (B) The applicant must be:

2. (i) Certified; and

   1. (ii) Certified through the grandfathering process by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association on December 31, 1969; or

      1. (C) An applicant must meet the requirements under subdivision (c)(6) of this section.
   2. (3) The examination for athletic trainers will be a reliable, valid, and legally defensible examination approved by the board.
   3. (4) The applicant must complete the application process required by the board.

3. (b) Reciprocity.

   1. (1) A licensed athletic trainer who has been issued a license to practice as an athletic trainer in another state may be registered and issued a license in this state by the board provided that the state or territory in which currently licensed/registered must be at least equal to Arkansas’s requirements.
   2. (2) The applicant may be required to be interviewed by the board if his or her credentials, requirements on licensure in the other state, or current professional capabilities are in question.
   3. (3) An applicant to whom the board refused reciprocity may request a hearing before the board.
   4. (4) The applicant must complete the application process required by the board.

   5. (5) Licensure by reciprocity may only be granted if the state in which the applicant is currently licensed allows athletic trainers licensed in this state to be eligible for reciprocity.

      1. (c) Licensure for uniformed service members, veterans, and spouses.

   6. (1) As used in this subsection:

      1. (A) “Automatic licensure” means the granting of occupational licensure without an individual's having met occupational licensure requirements provided under Title 17 of the Arkansas Code or by this part; and
      2. (B) “Uniformed service veteran” means a former member of the uniformed services of the United States discharged under circumstances other than dishonorable.

   7. (2) The board shall grant automatic licensure to an individual who is the holder in good standing of a license with a similar scope of practice issued by another state, territory, or district of the United States and is:

      1. (A) A uniformed service member stationed in the State of Arkansas;
      2. (B) A uniformed service veteran who resides in or establishes residency in the State of Arkansas; or

      3. (C) The spouse of a:

         1. (i) Person under subdivision (c)(2)(A) or (B) of this section;
         2. (ii) Uniformed service member who is assigned a tour of duty that excludes the uniformed service member’s spouse from accompanying the uniformed service member and the spouse relocates to this state; or
         3. (iii) Uniformed service member who is killed or succumbs to his or her injuries or illness in the line of duty if the spouse establishes residency in the state.

   8. (3) The board shall grant such automatic licensure upon receipt of all of the below:

      1. (A) Payment of the initial licensure fee;
      2. (B) Evidence that the individual holds a license with a similar scope of practice in another state; and
      3. (C) Evidence that the applicant is a qualified applicant under subdivision (c)(2) of this section.
   9. (4) The expiration date of a license for a deployed uniformed service member or spouse will be extended for one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the uniformed service member’s return from deployment.
   10. (5) A full exemption from continuing education requirements will be allowed for a deployed uniformed service member or spouse until one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the uniformed service member’s return from deployment.

   11. (6) An applicant who is identified in subdivision (c)(2)(A), (B), or (C) of this section (Arkansas Code § 17-4-104) and seeks licensure by examination shall be permitted to sit for the examination if the applicant presents proof of relevant and applicable uniformed service education, training, national certification, or service-issued credentials.

       1. (d) The board shall grant a license to an applicant who fulfills the Arkansas requirements for licensure and is a person who holds a federal Form I-766, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services-issued Employment Authorization Document, known popularly as a “work permit”.

Codification Notes: The Arkansas Athletic Trainers Act, Acts 1995, No. 1279, is codified at Arkansas Code § 17-93-401 et seq.