How to Become A Home Health Aide in Arkansas
Arkansas employs approximately 19,840 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $27,660 1. Nationally, home health aide employment is projected to grow 17.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 765,800 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a home health aide in Arkansas, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Home Health Aide in Arkansas
How do I become a home health aide in Arkansas? Arkansas requires credentials such as Nursing Assistant (Certified). The licensing authority is the Arkansas Department of Human Services - Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 90 hours of experience (roughly 0.0 years of full-time work) 3.
Do I need a license in Arkansas? Yes. Arkansas has licensing or registration requirements for home health aides. The Arkansas Department of Human Services - Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do home health aides earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for home health aides in Arkansas is $27,660 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $23,940 and experienced professionals can earn $31,680 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Arkansas Department of Human Services - Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance
- Median wage (Arkansas): $27,660 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
Home Health Aide License Requirements in Arkansas
The Arkansas Department of Human Services - Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance oversees home health aide licensing in Arkansas 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Nursing Assistant (Certified) | Nursing Assistants help care for physically or mentally ill, injured, disabled, or infirm individuals confined to hospitals, nursing care facilities, and mental health settings. |
Additional Requirements
- Exam: State exam required
- Experience: No experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Home Health Aide Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas
Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | 7,280 | $30,900 | $32,110 | $27,800 | $37,720 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | 5,770 | $27,840 | $28,460 | $24,880 | $32,110 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | 2,740 | $29,430 | $29,930 | $26,420 | $35,630 |
| Fort Smith | 2,240 | $28,410 | $28,390 | $24,630 | $30,780 |
| Texarkana | 1,160 | $24,630 | $25,160 | $21,020 | $31,850 |
| Jonesboro | 1,110 | $27,430 | $28,070 | $24,600 | $31,180 |
| Hot Springs | 760 | $25,740 | $26,920 | $23,790 | $31,840 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Top Metros for Home health aides in Arkansas
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest home health aide employment within Arkansas according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | 5,770 | $27,840 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | 2,740 | $29,430 |
| Fort Smith | 2,240 | $28,410 |
| Jonesboro | 1,110 | $27,430 |
| Hot Springs | 760 | $25,740 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for home health aides in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 19,840 home health aides 1. Nationally, home health aide employment is projected to grow 17.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as a home health aide in Arkansas with an out-of-state license? Contact the Arkansas Department of Human Services - Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Arkansas.
How much do home health aides earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in Arkansas is $27,660, which is $7,240 below the national median of $34,900 according to BLS data 1.
Citations
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Arkansas Department of Human Services - Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance - Licensing Information: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/about-dhs/dpsqa ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |