Caregiver training requirements in Arkansas

Arkansas requires 40 hours of initial training for non-medical caregivers, plus 12 hours each year. Personal care aides must complete an approved training course of at least 40 hours, with classroom and clinical instruction, supervised by a registered nurse. The course includes 4 hours on Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and a registered nurse must observe each aide's skills.

How many hours of training are required?

What ongoing training is required?

Aides must receive at least 12 hours of in-service training every 12 months on client care topics.

What should you confirm with the state?

The private care agency rule is written for agencies providing Medicaid personal care, so confirm with the Arkansas Department of Health whether a private-pay-only companion agency needs a license. Act 853 of 2025 changed some certification requirements, and the license fee isn't listed in the rule; confirm both with the Department. A fingerprint-based federal check is required only for people who haven't lived in Arkansas continuously for five years.

Is training time paid?

Yes. Required training for caregivers you employ is hours worked, so it is paid and counts toward overtime. Add training hours to each caregiver's weekly total with the overtime calculator and track them on the schedule template.