Arkansas

Arkansas credentials three levels of addiction counselors. A licensed alcoholism and drug abuse counselor requires a master’s degree, 270 education hours related to drug and alcohol counseling and 6,000 hours of supervised experience. A licensed associate alcoholism and drug abuse counselor requires a bachelor’s degree, 270 education hours related to drug and alcohol counseling and 6,000 hours of supervised experience. A certified alcoholism and drug abuse technician requires no post-secondary degree but the individual must have 270 education hours directly related to alcoholism or drug counseling, 6,000 hours of supervised experience. Ark. Stat. Ann. §17-27-401 to 416 and Arkansas State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors

Licensed professional counselors may render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public any service involving the application of principles, methods, or procedures of the counseling profession. LPCs may assist individuals or groups to develop understandings of personal problems, to define goals, and to develop an action plan. Diagnostic ability is not directly outlined in statute. Ark. Stat. Ann. §17-27-102(9)

As of August 2018, nine NPs in Arkansas have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. Consistent with their prescriptive authority, an NP with proper training or appropriate experience an NP can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the collaborating physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. Ark. Code Ann. §17-87-310

As of August 2018, 2 PAs in Arkansas have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. In Arkansas, Schedule III-V controlled substances may be prescribed by a PA as delegated by a supervising physician. An Arkansas PA with proper training or appropriate experience can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the collaborating or supervising physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. Ark. Code Ann. §17-105-108

The Arkansas Peer Specialist Program (APSP) is a three-tiered credentialing process that allows an individual the opportunity to progress through the core, advanced and supervision levels of The Arkansas Model. This is a collaborative effort between the state of Arkansas, the NAADAC and the Association for Addiction Professionals. This program credentials Core Peer Recovery Specialists, Advanced Peer Recovery Specialist, and Peer Recovery Peer Supervisors (PRPS).

Full independent practice authority.

CNMs may evaluate patients, diagnose medical conditions, order and interpret diagnostic tests and initiate and manage treatment and care plans, including appropriate co-management or transfer of high-risk patients to other healthcare professionals as needed.

CNMs may also prescribe and administer drugs listed in Schedules III-V without a collaborative practice agreement or supervision by another healthcare professional. Schedule II authority requires a collaborative practice agreement. Ark. Code Ann. §17-87-315

Transition to independent practice and prescribing period required.

An NP may practice without a collaborative agreement who applies for and is granted a certificate of full independent practice authority from the Full Independent Practice Credentialing Committee. NPs must practice and prescribe under a collaborative practice agreement with a physician for 6,240 before earning the certificate. The certificate must be renewed every three years. Ark. Code Ann. §17-87-314

An NP who has obtained a certificate for full independent practice authority may independently prescribe drugs, medicines, or therapeutic devices in accordance with their scope of practice. Ark. Code Ann. §17-87-314

Only physicians are authorized to sign POLST forms. Ark. Stat. Ann. §20-6-304

Nurse practitioners are recognized as a primary care providers. Ark. Code Ann. §20-77-140

Optometrists may perform all procedures included in their full scope of practice, including surgical procedures and laser privileges specified in statute. Ark. Code Ann. §17-90-101

Optometrists may perform injections, excluding intravenous or intraocular injections. Ark. Code Ann. §17-90-101

Optometrists may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and also Schedule II hydrocodone or hydrocodone combination medications. Ark. Stat. Ann. §17-90-101(a)(3)

Dental hygienists who work in dental clinics, community health centers, or government sponsored dental facilities and who have at least 1 year of full-time services may operate under general supervision of a dentist, meaning the dentist is not required to be in the treatment facility while procedures are being performed. Arkansas law also provides for a dental hygienist collaborative care program, in which dental hygienists are able to provide services in certain settings to children, senior citizens, and people with developmental disabilities without the presence of or prior examination by a dentist. Ark. Stat. Ann. §17-82-7

Statute does not identify dental therapists as an oral health provider.

Arkansas does not explicitly allow for the practice of teledentistry.

Arkansas has not enacted legislation allowing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the federal PREP Act does allow pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine through the duration of the public health emergency.

Arkansas does not allow pharmacists to modify prescriptions.

In order to prescribe oral contraceptives, a pharmacist must complete a training program related to oral contraceptives that has been approved by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy, make a standardized fact sheet available to the recipient of the drug or device and shall only initiate therapy and administer or dispense, or both, oral contraceptives under a statewide protocol to an individual who is eighteen (18) years of age or older. Arkansas Code §17-92-115

A written protocol for tobacco cessation drug therapy must be approved by the Board of Pharmacy. Arkansas Code §17-92-101

A physician assistant may work under the delegation agreement with a physician. A physician assistant may provide medical services delegated by a supervising physician when the service is within the skills of the physician assistant, forms a component of the supervising physician’s scope of practice, and is conducted under the supervision of the supervising physician. Ark. Code Ann. §17-105-101, Ark. Code Ann. §17-105-107

A PA may prescribe drugs and Schedules II-V controlled substances with delegation from the supervising physician. Ark. Code Ann. §17-105-108

The PA may perform duties in any setting that are delegated by the supervising physician and are also in accordance with all facility policies. Ark. Code Ann. §17-105-107