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Caregiver training requirements in Arkansas
Short answer
Home care agencies in Arkansas must give personal care aides at least 40 hours of training.
The rules, role by role
In Home Assistant
Applies to: All home care agencies
- Training hours
- 40 hours (at least 4 hours must cover Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia; at least 16 hours must cover physical skills and competent demonstration of those skills)
- Competency test
- No
- Yearly training
- Not required
- Certificate
- None
- State registry
- No
CNA, LPN, or RN certification can be substituted for these training requirements.
Personal Care Aide
Applies to: Agencies that receive Medicaid reimbursement
- Training hours
- 40 hours (24 classroom hours; 16 practical training hours)
- Competency test
- Yes
- Yearly training
- 12 hours of training annually
- Certificate
- Certified Personal Care Aide
- State registry
- No
- Who can teach it
- Registered nurse (RN) with at least 2 years of nursing experience, at least one of which must be in home health care
Federal rules that apply in every state
- Home health aides at Medicare-certified agencies need at least 75 hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training (with 16 hours of classroom training first), and must pass a competency evaluation. They also need 12 hours of in-service training every year. 42 CFR 484.80
- Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) complete a state-approved program of at least 75 hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. Many states require more. 42 CFR 483.152
- There is no federal training standard for personal care aides(non-medical caregivers). That's set state by state, and sometimes only for Medicaid-funded work.
Before a new caregiver's first shift
- Keep proof of training — the certificate or sign-off for any training Arkansas or your payer requires.
- Run the background checks your state licensing rules and your contracts require.
- Record expiry dates for CPR, TB tests and licenses, and renew them before they lapse.
Source: PHI, a review of each state's Medicaid rules, waivers and home care licensing regulations (2024–2025 policy). Checked October 2026. Rules change — confirm with your state's licensing agency before you rely on them. This is general information, not legal advice.
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Caregiver training in Arkansas: common questions
How many hours of training does a caregiver need in Arkansas?
Home care agencies in Arkansas must give personal care aides at least 40 hours of training. Home health aides at Medicare-certified agencies need at least 75 hours under federal rules.
Do caregivers need a certificate in Arkansas?
Yes for some roles: Arkansas recognizes the Certified Personal Care Aide credential for personal care aides.
Are home care agencies licensed in Arkansas?
Arkansas doesn't license non-medical home care agencies, according to PHI's review. Medicare-certified home health agencies are still regulated.
Do private-pay agencies in Arkansas have to train caregivers?
Yes. Arkansas's training rules also cover aides at agencies serving private-pay clients.
Hiring in Arkansas? See caregiver pay in Arkansas, or try the free job description generator.