Travel nursing in Arkansas
Stipend ceilings by area, compact license status, and every hospital guide in the state. Real numbers, with sources.
Housing stipend ceilings in Arkansas
The most an agency can pay tax-free for housing is the GSA lodging rate × 7 nights. Cheapest: $791/wk (standard rate, every county not listed below, 71 hospitals). Most expensive: Hot Springs at $805/wk on average.
| Area (county) | Housing /wk | Meals /wk | Hosp. |
|---|---|---|---|
Hot Springs Garland | $805 flat all year | $476 | 4 |
Everywhere else Standard CONUS rate | $791 | $476 | 71 |
Got an offer? Decode it against the ceiling for your work ZIP and dates →
Arkansas nursing license
Arkansas is a compact state. If your primary state of residence is another compact state and you hold a multistate license, you can work here without a new license. If you live in Arkansas, your multistate license comes from the Arkansas board.
If you don't have a multistate license: typical endorsement steps
- Apply for licensure by endorsement on the Arkansas board of nursing's site.
- Verify your current license through Nursys (or your original board if it doesn't use Nursys).
- Complete the criminal background check and fingerprints if the board requires them.
- Ask whether a temporary license is available while the full application processes, and how long processing takes now.
Requirements and timelines vary. Arkansas board contact details (NCSBN) →
Where can your license take you?
Source: NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact map, checked 2026-10-11. Covers RN/LPN compact licensure for the 50 states and DC. Confirm with the state board before you accept an assignment.
Charting systems in Arkansas
Certified EHR reported to CMS by 68 of 75 hospitals (7 not reported, including VA hospitals). Know the system before day one.
- Epic21 · 31%
- MEDITECH16 · 24%
- TruBridge13 · 19%
- Oracle Health8 · 12%
- MEDHOST6 · 9%
- Altera2 · 3%
- Azalea1 · 1%
- athenaOne1 · 1%
No hospital living guides in Arkansas yet; guides cover the top 100 travel-nurse housing markets. Use the offer checker for any of the 75 hospitals here.
Questions
- What is the maximum tax-free housing stipend in Arkansas?
- Under GSA FY2027 rates it ranges from $791/week (the standard rate for counties not listed) to $805/week in Hot Springs at peak season. The meals and incidentals ceiling is $476/week or more depending on the area.
- Is Arkansas a compact nursing license state?
- Compact state (Enacted NLC), per the NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact map checked 2026-10-11.
- How many hospitals are in Arkansas?
- CMS lists 75 acute care, critical access, children's and VA/DoD hospitals in Arkansas. TravelNurseMap has living guides for 0 of them in the top travel-nurse markets.
- What EHR do hospitals in Arkansas use?
- Of the 68 Arkansas hospitals that reported a certified EHR to CMS for 2023–2024, 31% use Epic, 24% use MEDITECH, 19% use TruBridge. Each hospital guide shows its own system.