Arkansas Radiologic Technologist License — Requirements & Application

Arkansas requires an individual state license for radiologic technologists — see the At-a-Glance table above for the credential name, governing agency, and fee. Licensure is administered by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) through its Radiologic Technology Licensure Program, with rules adopted by the Arkansas State Board of Health and advisory input from the Medical Ionizing Radiation Licensure Committee (MIRLC). Once licensed, see our Arkansas Radiologic Technologist License Renewal Guide for how to keep your license active.

Like most licensed states, Arkansas relies on ARRT (or an equivalent national registry) certification rather than a separate state competency exam for the full Radiologic Technologist license. A distinct state-recognized exam — the Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography Examination — applies only to the Limited Licensed Technologist category, a narrower scope-of-practice credential covering specific body regions.

What Makes Arkansas Different

Arkansas offers an unusually wide range of licensure pathways beyond the standard exam route. Licensure based on a substantially equivalent out-of-state license is available for applicants meeting Arkansas’s reciprocity criteria, alongside a 6-month provisional license that can be issued immediately upon partial documentation while the rest of the application is completed. Arkansas also runs an apprenticeship-based “Earn and Learn” pathway to the Limited Licensed Technologist category for applicants who complete a qualifying apprenticeship program rather than a traditional accredited educational program, and offers an initial-licensure fee waiver for applicants receiving certain public assistance, recently unemployed, or with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline.

Arkansas’s initial application is also notably paper-only — there is no online initial application portal, though renewals are processed online. Applicants mail a completed paper application with a check or money order; the state does not accept credit cards or cash for initial licensure.

Interstate Portability

Arkansas is not a member of any interstate compact for radiologic technologists, and no such compact currently exists for this profession nationally — so Arkansas isn’t unusual in lacking one. What Arkansas does offer is a genuinely broad set of state-specific portability provisions: licensure based on a substantially equivalent out-of-state license, a 6-month provisional license issued quickly while full documentation is assembled, a pathway for applicants coming from states that don’t license RTs at all (provided they’re ARRT-registered and pass the applicable exam), and automatic licensure for uniformed service members, veterans, and their spouses under Act 137 of 2023. None of these are a multi-state compact — each is a unilateral Arkansas provision — but together they cover more ground than many states’ single endorsement pathway.

Requirements for Arkansas RT Licensure

• Education: Graduation from an approved/accredited educational program appropriate to the license category; Limited Licensed Technologist applicants may alternatively qualify through a documented apprenticeship meeting federal guidelines
• National certification: Active registry with ARRT, NMTCB, ASCP, ACRRT, or CCI, depending on category; Limited Licensed Technologist applicants instead pass the Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography Examination
• General qualifications: At least 18 years old, high school diploma or GED, and meeting the character and disciplinary requirements established by Arkansas law
• Application fee: $45 for one category or $65 for more than one, non-refundable; a fee waiver is available for qualifying applicants under Act 725 of 2021

Applicants who have completed the educational requirements and otherwise qualify under the temporary-license provisions — including those awaiting ARRT, NMTCB, or Limited Scope exam results — can apply for a temporary license, valid for up to 180 days and renewable once for a maximum total of one year. Only temporary license holders who’ve graduated from an accredited program and are awaiting examination may perform fluoroscopy or administer contrast media; Limited Scope temporary holders may only perform the specific procedures they’re preparing to be examined on.

How to Apply for an Arkansas RT License

1. Complete an approved/accredited educational program appropriate to your license category (or a qualifying apprenticeship for Limited Licensed Technologist) and pass the applicable national registry or Limited Scope exam
2. Download and complete the paper Application for Licensure from ADH’s Radiologic Technology Licensure Program forms page — Arkansas does not offer an online initial application
3. Attach primary source verification of your active national credential
4. Include a check or money order payable to the Arkansas Department of Health for $45 or $65, depending on how many categories you’re applying for — credit cards and cash are not accepted for initial applications
5. Mail the completed packet to the Radiologic Technology Licensure Program, 5800 W. 10th Street, Suite 401, Little Rock, AR 72204
6. Await ADH’s licensing decision — no standard processing time is published for initial applications, so build in buffer before a planned start date and contact the program directly for a current estimate

Practical Notes for Arkansas Licensing

• There’s no online initial application — plan your mailing time accordingly. Unlike renewal, which is processed online, Arkansas’s initial licensure application is a paper packet mailed with a check or money order. Factor in mail transit time on top of ADH’s processing time.
• Processing time isn’t published for initial applications. ADH does confirm that renewed licenses typically arrive within 10–14 days of online payment, but that figure is specific to renewals — it doesn’t tell you how long a first-time application takes. Contact the program directly for a current initial-application estimate.
• If you’re coming from another state, check the reciprocity and provisional-license options before assuming you need the standard exam pathway. Arkansas’s reciprocity provisions are more developed than many states’ — a 6-month provisional license can often get you working sooner while the rest of your paperwork is verified.
• Watch for the fee waiver if it applies to you. Arkansas is one of the few states with a documented initial-licensure fee waiver program for applicants meeting certain income or public-assistance criteria — worth checking before you pay the standard fee.

Relevant Statutes

• Rules Pertaining to Radiologic Technology Licensure — Arkansas State Board of Health, effective February 10, 2024
• ADH Licensing Information — Radiologic Technology

Related Pages

• Arkansas Radiologic Technologist License Renewal — Requirements and Process
• Radiologic Technologist Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Arkansas require a state license for radiologic technologists?

Yes. Arkansas’s Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act requires individuals who administer ionizing radiation to humans for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes to hold an Arkansas radiologic technology license, unless specifically exempted. Source: Rules Pertaining to Radiologic Technology Licensure

Can I apply for an Arkansas RT license online?

No, not for an initial application. Arkansas’s initial licensure application is a paper packet mailed with a check or money order. Online functionality is available for license renewal, but not for first-time applications. Source: ADH

Does Arkansas offer reciprocity for out-of-state RT licenses?

Yes. Arkansas offers licensure based on a substantially equivalent out-of-state license for qualifying applicants, as well as a 6-month provisional license that can be issued while the rest of an applicant’s documentation is verified. Source: Rules Pertaining to Radiologic Technology Licensure, Sections VIII–IX

How much does an Arkansas RT license application cost?

The license fee is $45 for one category or $65 for more than one category, non-refundable. A fee waiver is available for qualifying applicants under Act 725 of 2021. Source: Rules Pertaining to Radiologic Technology Licensure, Section XV

Is there an interstate compact for radiologic technologists that includes Arkansas?

No. Arkansas is not a member of any interstate compact for radiologic technologists, and no such compact currently exists for this profession in the United States. Arkansas does offer its own reciprocity, provisional-license, and military automatic-licensure provisions, but these are unilateral state provisions, not a multi-state compact. Source: Rules Pertaining to Radiologic Technology Licensure

Can I start working in Arkansas before I pass my ARRT exam?

Yes, through a temporary license. Arkansas issues temporary licenses valid for up to 180 days, renewable once, for a maximum total of one year, to applicants who have completed the educational requirements and otherwise qualify under the temporary-license provisions — including those awaiting ARRT, NMTCB, or Limited Scope exam results. Source: Rules Pertaining to Radiologic Technology Licensure, Section VI(E)