Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry: Lookup, Renewal, and Verification Guide

Checking your Arkansas CNA status should be simple. Three separate portals access the registry, and using the wrong one wastes your time. This guide routes you to the right portal for each task, walks you through renewal step by step, and tells you exactly what happens if your certification lapses.

If you haven’t completed certification yet, start with our guide on how to become a CNA in Arkansas.

Registry Quick Facts	Details
Primary Portal	TMU Portal — ar.tmuniverse.com
Renewal Cycle	Every 2 years (biennial)
Renewal Window	Opens 60 days before expiration
Work Requirement	8 hours of paid nursing assistant work
Renewal Fee	$0 (free)
Lapse Threshold	Over 24 months expired = retrain and retest

What Is the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry?

The Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry is the official state database that confirms your CNA certification status. It is managed by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster LLP) in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Office of Long Term Care. When an employer asks to verify your credentials, this is the record they check.

What the Registry Contains

Your registry record holds more than a simple active/expired status:

Field	What It Shows
Certification status	Active or Expired
Expiration date	When your current certification period ends
Employment eligibility	Whether you are cleared to work in long-term care
Exam results	Knowledge and skills scores on file
Renewal status	Whether your renewal is current
Disciplinary findings	Any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property

That last row matters. A substantiated finding doesn’t just sit on your record passively. It can affect your eligibility to renew and your ability to work.

How You Get Listed

Listing is automatic. After you complete an approved CNA training program and pass both parts of the CNA competency exam — the knowledge exam and the clinical skills evaluation — Headmaster LLP reports your results to the registry automatically. You don’t apply for listing separately.

Three portals access this registry data: the TMU Portal, the ASBN License Lookup, and the Headmaster website. The next section walks you through each one and tells you exactly which to use for each task.

For readers still exploring CNA classes or who haven’t yet begun the certification process, the Arkansas CNA classes and programs page has everything you need to get started.

How to Look Up a CNA License in Arkansas

You can check your Arkansas CNA license status through the TMU Portal at ar.tmuniverse.com or the ASBN License Lookup at arsbn.boardsofnursing.org/licenselookup. Enter your name or certification number to see your current status, expiration date, and any registry findings. The TMU Portal provides the most complete information.

TMU Portal (Primary Registry Search)

The TMU Portal at ar.tmuniverse.com is the main registry interface — the one to use when you need the full picture. Here’s how to run a search:

1. Go to ar.tmuniverse.com
2. Select “Registry Search” or “Check Status”
3. Enter your name or certification number
4. Review your results page

Your results will show: certification status (Active or Expired), your expiration date, exam results on file, employment eligibility, and any disciplinary findings. This is the most complete view of your Arkansas CNA record available online.

ASBN License Lookup (Secondary Verification)

The ASBN License Lookup, operated by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, is faster but more limited:

1. Go to arsbn.boardsofnursing.org/licenselookup
2. Search by name or license number
3. View basic license status and expiration date

ASBN doesn’t show disciplinary findings, employment eligibility, or exam results. It’s best used when an employer just needs a quick active/expired confirmation.

What Each Search Returns

The two portals serve different purposes. Before you run a search, use this routing guide:

Feature	TMU Portal	ASBN License Lookup
Certification status	Yes	Yes
Expiration date	Yes	Yes
Employment eligibility	Yes	No
Exam results on file	Yes	No
Disciplinary findings	Yes	No
Best for	Your own status tracking, renewal prep	Employer quick verification

Use the TMU Portal to check your own status or prepare for renewal. Use ASBN License Lookup when an employer needs quick verification and doesn’t require the full registry view.

How to Renew Your CNA License in Arkansas

Arkansas CNA certifications renew every two years through the TMU Portal at ar.tmuniverse.com. You can start the renewal process up to 60 days before your expiration date, and Arkansas charges no renewal fee.

Renewal Requirements at a Glance

Under Arkansas Code of Rules 20 CAR § 403-603, renewal has four requirements:

Requirement	Details
Renewal cycle	Every 2 years (biennial)
Renewal window	Opens 60 days before expiration
Work requirement	8 hours of paid nursing assistant work in past 2 years
Renewal fee	$0 — completely free

One detail that trips people up: the work requirement is specifically paid nursing assistant work, not volunteer hours or unpaid clinical shifts. Make sure you have documentation from your employer showing at least 8 hours of compensated nursing assistant work during your current certification period before you start the renewal process.

Step-by-Step Online Renewal via TMU Portal

Renewal is completed entirely online through ar.tmuniverse.com. Here are the steps:

1. Go to ar.tmuniverse.com and log in (or create an account)
2. Update your name and address under your profile if anything has changed
3. Look for the renewal option in your account dashboard
4. Enter your employer information — facility name, dates worked, and contact details. Have this ready before you start. Volunteer hours and school clinicals do not count toward the 8 hours.
5. Submit your renewal application
6. Contact your employer immediately. TMU sends an automated verification email to your employer. Your renewal is not complete until your employer logs in and confirms your hours. Call your HR or staffing coordinator the same day to make sure they see the email.
7. Check your TMU account for updated status. You’ll receive a confirmation when your renewal is processed.

Start this process as soon as your 60-day window opens. Waiting until the last week creates unnecessary risk if you run into any technical issues with the portal.

If the renewal process feels unclear, you’re not the only one with that experience.

“does anyone know how to renew your CNA license? i keep getting bounced between different websites and im not sure which one is the actual portal”

(Reddit user)

The step-by-step process above should get you through it in under 10 minutes.

No Renewal Fee in Arkansas

This is genuinely good news: Arkansas has eliminated CNA renewal fees entirely. While Texas charges $24 and Florida charges $40-55 for CNA renewal, Arkansas renewal is completely free through the TMU Portal. This is one of the few states where maintaining your certification costs nothing out of pocket.

Arkansas charges no renewal fee for on-time renewals. If your certification has expired, the TMU Portal will display any required steps or fees during submission. Confirm current late-renewal policy with Headmaster LLP at (800) 393-8664 before assuming costs.

On disqualifications: CNAs with substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property on the registry are not eligible for renewal. CNAs with disqualifying criminal records are also ineligible. Direct questions about eligibility to the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Office of Long Term Care.

What Happens If Your Arkansas CNA Certification Expires

If your Arkansas CNA certification expires, the consequences depend on two things: how long it’s been lapsed, and whether you met the work requirement during the certification period.

Lapsed Less Than 24 Months

If your certification expired less than 24 months ago AND you have 8 hours of documented paid nursing assistant work during the certification period, you can still renew through the TMU Portal. You won’t need to retrain or retest.

Act quickly. This window closes at 24 months with no exceptions.

Lapsed More Than 24 Months

Per Arkansas Code of Rules 20 CAR § 403-603, if your certification has been expired for more than 24 months, you must complete a new training program and pass the competency exam again. There is no shortened path, no waiver, no exception.

The same full retraining consequence applies if your work requirement was NOT met, even if less than 24 months have passed. Both conditions — the 24-month window AND the 8-hour paid work requirement — must be satisfied for late renewal to be an option.

The retraining requirement catches many CNAs off guard.

“just found out my CNA certification lapsed and now I have to retake the whole test AND redo training. i had no idea it would expire if i didnt work enough hours”

(Reddit user)

That’s why tracking your renewal date and work hours matters.

If you find yourself facing retraining, our guide on how to choose a CNA program can help you find an approved Arkansas program quickly. For the testing process, information on retaking the CNA exam will help you prepare. Some CNAs in this situation also use it as a chance to reassess their CNA career in Arkansas and whether the field is still the right fit.

How to Prevent Certification Lapse

You’re in control of this outcome. Four steps protect your certification:

1. Set calendar reminders at 90 days and 60 days before your expiration date
2. Keep a work log with employer names, dates, and hours for each paid nursing assistant shift
3. Check your status periodically through the TMU Portal at ar.tmuniverse.com
4. Renew as soon as the 60-day window opens — don’t wait until the last week

Moving to Arkansas: CNA Reciprocity

If you hold active CNA certification in another state, Arkansas offers reciprocity so you don’t have to retrain. Submit the Out-of-State Reciprocity application (Form 9110AR) to Headmaster LLP.

What you need:
– Completed Form 9110AR
– Proof of active, good-standing certification in your current state
– Government-issued photo ID

Confirm the current processing fee and timeline directly with Headmaster LLP at (800) 393-8664 or through the Arkansas Headmaster page, as these may change. Your original training must meet Arkansas’s minimum hour and competency requirements — Headmaster will evaluate your credentials during processing.

For full details on Arkansas CNA requirements, see our guide on how to become a CNA in Arkansas.

Arkansas CNA Registry for Employers

Before hiring a CNA, Arkansas employers should verify the candidate’s certification status through the TMU Portal at ar.tmuniverse.com.

How to Verify CNA Status

The TMU Portal is the primary verification tool for employers. Search by the candidate’s name or certification number to see:

• Active or expired certification status
• Certification expiration date
• Any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property
• Employment eligibility

For a quick active/expired status check without findings detail, the ASBN License Lookup is a faster option.

Understanding Registry Findings

A CNA with substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property on the registry cannot be employed in a long-term care facility. This is a hard restriction, not a case-by-case judgment call.

Arkansas also maintains an Employee Clearance Registry (ECR) through the DHS Background Check Unit. The ECR tracks substantiated findings under the Adult Protective Services Act and Child Maltreatment Act — these are separate from the CNA Registry findings shown in TMU.

For employers: Facilities licensed by DHS/OLTC should check both the CNA Registry (TMU) and request an ECR check through the DHS Background Check Unit as part of pre-employment screening.

For CNAs: You cannot look yourself up on a public ECR portal. If you believe you may have a record on the ECR, request a background check through the DHS Background Check Unit or call (501) 682-8430.

Contact Information

Use these official sources for registry questions, renewal issues, and credentialing inquiries:

Organization	Role	Phone	Website
Headmaster LLP / D&S Diversified Technologies	Registry operator; competency exams, renewal processing, reciprocity	(800) 393-8664	hdmaster.com/…arkansas
Arkansas DHS, Office of Long Term Care	State oversight; Employee Clearance Registry, eligibility questions	(501) 682-8430	humanservices.arkansas.gov
TMU Portal	Registry lookup, status checking, online renewal	—	ar.tmuniverse.com

For reciprocity forms (Form 9110AR), exam scheduling, and registry operator questions, contact Headmaster LLP directly through the link above. For questions about your renewal eligibility or a disqualifying finding, contact the Arkansas DHS Office of Long Term Care.