Healthcare Recruiting
Arkansas PA License 2026: Physician Assistant Requirements, Process, and Salary
Arkansas physician assistants are licensed through the Arkansas State Medical Board (ASMB). The state requires a formal supervision agreement with a licensed supervising physician — a document that must be approved by the ASMB before the PA can practice. Arkansas is a lower-cost-of-living state with growing healthcare demand, particularly in rural counties and the Mississippi Delta region, where NHSC Loan Repayment eligibility is extensive.
Practice Model: Supervision Required
Arkansas PAs must have an ASMB-approved written supervision agreement with a licensed Arkansas physician. The agreement defines scope of practice, prescriptive authority, and supervisory oversight requirements. There is no required on-site physician presence for most PA practice settings, but the supervising physician must be accessible by phone or telemedicine.
- Supervision agreement: Required and must be ASMB-approved before practice begins
- Prescriptive authority: Schedule III–V controlled substances allowed; Schedule II requires additional documentation and physician co-signature in most settings
- Practice locations: Up to 4 sites may be covered under one supervision agreement with ASMB approval
Application Requirements
- Active NCCPA certification
- Graduation from ARC-PA accredited PA program
- ASMB application and $150 fee
- Written supervision agreement with licensed Arkansas physician
- Background check
- DEA registration (separate, $888 fee)
Processing Timeline
The ASMB typically processes complete PA applications in 6–8 weeks. Supervision agreement review adds 1–2 weeks. Total time to practice-ready: approximately 8–10 weeks.
PA Salary in Arkansas (2026)
| Setting | Median Base | Typical Sign-On |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital / Inpatient | $112,000 | $5,000–$15,000 |
| Surgical First-Assist | $120,000 | $8,000–$18,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $118,000 | $5,000–$15,000 |
| Primary Care / Outpatient | $106,000 | $5,000–$12,000 |
| Rural / Delta Region | $112,000 | $10,000–$22,000 |
Top PA Employers in Arkansas
UAMS Medical Center (Little Rock) is the state's academic flagship and largest PA employer. UAMS offers subspecialty rotations, strong benefits, and a research-affiliated practice environment. Baptist Health (Little Rock, Fort Smith, North Little Rock) recruits across the state for hospital medicine, ER, and surgical PA roles. Mercy Health (Fort Smith, Rogers/Bentonville) covers northwest Arkansas, the state's fastest-growing market. CHI St. Vincent (Little Rock) rounds out the capital region employers. Rural delta counties — particularly Crittenden, Lee, and St. Francis — have NHSC-designated sites with up to $50,000 in loan-repayment eligibility.
What We See at Ava Health
Arkansas PA candidates should plan the supervision agreement negotiation in parallel with the ASMB application — it's the most common source of delays. Large systems like UAMS and Baptist Health have standardized agreements ready to file; smaller practices may need 2–3 weeks to execute and submit their agreement. The Bentonville/Rogers corridor (Walmart HQ region) has driven rapid healthcare market growth and increasingly competitive PA salaries in northwest Arkansas.
Related: NP License Arkansas 2026, PA Salary by State 2026, Healthcare Recruiting in Arkansas 2026.
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