Arkansas offers 36 LPN programs with admission cycles that vary from single annual cohorts to multiple start dates throughout the year. Most Arkansas community colleges follow a twice-yearly admission pattern. Black River Technical College in Pocahontas accepts applications until October 31 for January enrollment and April 1 for August enrollment. This six-month cycle gives you two opportunities annually to enter the program. Black River's reported NCLEX-PN pass rate is 96.7% and ranked #2 statewide (2025). It requires a 2.0 cumulative GPA and nursing entrance exam for admission.
North Arkansas College in Harrison uses similar timing with deadlines of April 15 for August start and October 15 for January start. The slightly later spring deadline compared to Black River might matter if you need extra weeks to complete prerequisites or retake an entrance exam. NAC's NCLEX-PN pass rate is 95.8% and ranked #3 (2025).
Some schools operate on different cycles entirely. National Park College in Hot Springs runs a single annual cohort beginning in July. NPC requires all application materials and ATI TEAS registration by the first Monday in March, giving you roughly four months between application and program start. This timeline works well if you're planning ahead but creates problems if you're trying to start quickly. Missing the March deadline means waiting a full year for the next cohort. NPC structures the program as 11 months of full-time study running Monday through Friday from July through May, reporting a 94.6% NCLEX-PN pass rate and #4 ranking (2025).
Schools offering January and August starts typically organize content across traditional fall and spring semesters, potentially with summer coursework. Single-cohort programs like National Park compress everything into one intensive year, which accelerates your path to licensure but requires sustained full-time commitment.
Entrance exam scheduling adds another layer to timeline planning. Schools requiring the ATI TEAS or other nursing entrance exams recommend taking the test several months before application deadlines. This buffer lets you retake the exam if needed and still meet admission deadlines. Some schools limit how frequently you can retest, so early exam attempts are strategic. Programs accepting ACT scores eliminate this variable if you already have scores on file from previous college applications.
For students who miss a deadline or don't gain admission to their first-choice program, understanding the statewide calendar helps with backup planning. If you miss Black River's October 31 deadline for January start, you might still catch North Arkansas College's October 15 deadline for January entry. If both pass, you can pivot to spring application cycles targeting August starts at multiple schools.
After graduating from any Arkansas LPN program, licensure through the Arkansas State Board of Nursing requires applications to both ASBN and Pearson VUE for NCLEX registration, plus state and federal criminal background checks.
Compare Arkansas's all 36 LPN programs below by mapping admission deadlines to your preparation timeline, confirming entrance exam requirements align with tests you've taken or can schedule, and evaluating whether program start dates match your work and family obligations.
Updated: February 21, 2026
