1. (a) Automatic licensure.

   1. (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. (2) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing will give preference in the order of processing to applications for full licensure filed by the following individuals:

      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:

2. (i) Person under subdivisions (a)(2)(A) and (a)(2)(B) of this section;

   1. (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 Arkansas; or

      1. (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 Arkansas.

3. (b) Extension of licensure expiration date.

   1. (1) Upon written request and submission of appropriate documentation, a deployed uniformed service member or spouse shall be allowed an extension of the expiration date without penalty or assessment of a late fee for renewing the nursing license.

   2. (2) The extension shall be effective for one hundred eighty (180) days after the service member or spouse returns from active deployment.

      1. (c) Consideration of military training and experience. When considering an application for licensure, the board shall:
   3. (1) Consider whether or not the applicant’s military education, training, national certification, service-issued credential, and experience in the practice of nursing is substantially similar to the experience or education required for licensure; and

   4. (2) Accept the applicant’s military education, training, national certification, service-issued credential, and experience in the practice of nursing in lieu of experience or education required for licensure, if the board determines that the military training and experience is a satisfactory substitute for the experience or education required for licensure.

      1. (d) Waiver of continuing education.

   5. (1) Upon written request and submission of appropriate documentation, the continuing education requirements for license renewal shall be waived for:

      1. (A) A uniformed service member who is deployed; or
      2. (B) The spouse of a deployed uniformed service member.
   6. (2) This waiver shall be extended until one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the uniformed service member’s return from deployment.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "History: Adopted December 29, 2018 Amended: May 15, 2022; June 15, 2024"