How to Become A Patient Care Technician in Arkansas
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Arkansas employs approximately 17,260 workers in the related “Nursing Assistants” category (SOC 31-1131), with a median annual wage of $34,430 1. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 1.42x the national average, indicating strong regional demand. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 204,100 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a patient care technician in Arkansas, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.
A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track patient care technician salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131). Actual patient care technician earnings may vary.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Patient Care Technician in Arkansas
How do I become a patient care technician 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 patient care technicians. 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 patient care technicians earn in Arkansas? The BLS does not track patient care technician wages separately. Based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category, the median annual wage in Arkansas is $34,430, with entry-level wages around $28,840 and experienced workers earning $39,020 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): $34,430 per year (based on related “Nursing Assistants” category) 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
Patient Care Technician License Requirements in Arkansas
The Arkansas Department of Human Services - Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance oversees patient care technician 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.
Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas
Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas
Note: The BLS does not track patient care technician wages separately. The data below is based on the closest matching category: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), nursing assistants wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | 5,250 | $35,370 | $35,440 | $29,460 | $44,480 |
| Memphis | 4,930 | $38,010 | $38,520 | $31,660 | $44,540 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | 2,320 | $35,820 | $35,720 | $30,210 | $41,180 |
| Fort Smith | 1,580 | $32,020 | $31,750 | $25,040 | $36,960 |
| Jonesboro | 1,050 | $35,210 | $33,820 | $29,510 | $39,020 |
| Texarkana | 820 | $32,880 | $32,650 | $24,620 | $40,970 |
| Hot Springs | 810 | $29,940 | $32,750 | $29,550 | $37,800 |
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 Patient care technicians in Arkansas
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest patient care technician 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 | 5,250 | $35,370 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | 2,320 | $35,820 |
| Fort Smith | 1,580 | $32,020 |
| Jonesboro | 1,050 | $35,210 |
| Hot Springs | 810 | $29,940 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for patient care technicians in Arkansas? Arkansas employs approximately 17,260 workers in the related “Nursing Assistants” category 1. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as a patient care technician 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 patient care technicians earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for patient care technicians in Arkansas is $34,430 (based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category), which is $5,100 below the national median of $39,530 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) |