Credentialing by state / Arkansas
Therapist Credentialing in Arkansas
Enrollments are billed 50% at the start and 50% at submission; everything else 100% at the start.
Arkansas belongs to all three behavioral health licensure compacts, which decides how easily LPCs, LCSWs, LMFTs and psychologists in Little Rock, Fayetteville and Fort Smith can treat clients across state lines. It does not change payer enrollment: Arkansas Medicaid, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Medicare each credential you on their own, whatever your license route.
| PSYPACT (psychologists) | Effective, since November 18, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Counseling Compact (LPC/LMHC) | Member, issuing privileges since July 30, 2026 |
| Social Work Compact (LCSW) | Member, not yet operational |
| LMFTs | No interstate compact; license in each state |
| Medicare contractor | Novitas Solutions, jurisdiction JH |
| Medicaid | Arkansas Medicaid, 4 managed-care plans |
| Commercial decision deadline | 60 days (Ark. Code Ann. § 23-99-411) |
Licensure Compacts in Arkansas
PSYPACT for psychologists
Arkansas's PSYPACT law took effect on November 18, 2021. A psychologist whose home state is Arkansas can apply through ASPPB for the E.Passport, which supports the Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT), and for the IPC, which supports temporary in-person practice (TAP) in other PSYPACT states. Both depend on holding an unrestricted Arkansas license, and both are separate from payer enrollment.
Across the border, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas also participate; Louisiana does not, so telepsychology with clients located there still needs that state's own license.
Counseling Compact for LPCs
Arkansas is one of the 40 jurisdictions that have passed the Counseling Compact, and it is live: the Commission began issuing privileges for Arkansas on July 30, 2026, making it the seventh state to go live. A counselor whose home state is Arkansas can apply through CompactConnect for a privilege to practice in another live state; as of October 2026 those are Arizona, Minnesota, Ohio, Louisiana, Georgia, Indiana, Wyoming, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Louisiana, Oklahoma and Tennessee, on Arkansas's border, are among them.
Social Work Licensure Compact for LCSWs
Arkansas is one of the 33 jurisdictions listed as members of the Social Work Licensure Compact. The compact will offer a multistate license rather than a per-state privilege, but the Commission's July 2026 update says multistate licenses are not yet available and puts completion of the data system at spring 2027, so Arkansas LCSWs still need each state's license today.
Compacts Grant a License Route, Not a Network Seat
A compact privilege is permission to practice; it is not enrollment. An Arkansas therapist who adds clients in another state through a compact still needs that state's Medicaid enrollment, a practice location the plans accept there, and a separate application to each commercial plan or behavioral health network in that state. CAQH (DataSpring) carries the extra license or privilege, but every payer decides on its own timeline.
Medicare for Arkansas LMFTs and Counselors
Since January 1, 2024, Medicare pays marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors directly, and an Arkansas LPC qualifies as a mental health counselor when the license and degree meet the federal definition. Enrollment is the CMS-855I in PECOS, reviewed for Arkansas by Novitas Solutions; payment is 75% of the clinical psychologist amount. LCSWs and psychologists were already eligible, so for Arkansas practices this is the first time every licensed therapist on staff can be a Medicare provider.
Arkansas Medicaid and Its Plans
Arkansas Medicaid enrollment is filed with the Arkansas Department of Human Services through the Arkansas Medicaid provider portal (Gainwell). Most members are in managed care, and each plan credentials therapists as its own application once the state enrollment is active. The largest by 2024 enrollment:
- Empower Healthcare Solutions: 15,895 members
- Summit Community Care: 14,657 members, owned by Elevance Health
- Arkansas Total Care: 13,394 members, owned by Centene
See all 4 plans; confirm with each one whether it credentials behavioral health directly or through a vendor.
Arkansas Rules for Commercial Plans
Arkansas law gives commercial plans 60 days to decide, counted from a completed application for physicians (180 days for other providers), paused while the state Centralized Credentials Verification Service works the file (Ark. Code Ann. § 23-99-411). Physician verification runs through the state Centralized Credentials Verification Service. (Ark. Code Ann. § 17-95-107) An approved physician is treated as participating from the date the completed application was submitted. (Ark. Code Ann. § 23-99-411)
Neighboring States
- Louisiana: PSYPACT enacted, later start; Counseling Compact live; Social Work Compact enacted
- Missouri: PSYPACT yes; Counseling Compact enacted; Social Work Compact enacted
- Mississippi: PSYPACT yes; Counseling Compact enacted; Social Work Compact enacted
- Oklahoma: PSYPACT yes; Counseling Compact live; Social Work Compact enacted
- Tennessee: PSYPACT yes; Counseling Compact live; Social Work Compact enacted
- Texas: PSYPACT yes; Counseling Compact no; Social Work Compact no
The full checklist, the carve-out networks and timelines are in our therapist credentialing guide; Medicare, Medicaid and commercial basics for every clinician type are on credentialing in Arkansas.
Questions Arkansas Therapists Ask
Can an Arkansas LPC see clients in another state by telehealth?
Yes, if Arkansas is your home state: Arkansas has been issuing Counseling Compact privileges since July 30, 2026, and privileges can be requested for the other live states (AZ, MN, OH, LA, GA, IN, WY, TN and OK). For any other state you need that state's license.
Is Arkansas a PSYPACT state?
Yes. Arkansas's PSYPACT law took effect on November 18, 2021. Arkansas psychologists can practice telepsychology into other participating states under APIT once ASPPB issues the E.Passport, but each payer still credentials them per state.
How does an Arkansas therapist join Arkansas Medicaid?
Enroll with the Arkansas Department of Human Services through the Arkansas Medicaid provider portal (Gainwell). Arkansas Medicaid enrolls 47,869 people across 4 managed-care plans (2024), and each plan you want, such as Empower Healthcare Solutions, Summit Community Care, Arkansas Total Care, credentials you separately once the state enrollment is active.
Can Arkansas LMFTs and counselors bill Medicare?
Yes, since January 1, 2024. Marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors licensed in Arkansas enroll on the CMS-855I through PECOS, reviewed by Novitas Solutions, and Medicare pays them 75% of the clinical psychologist amount. They need 2 years or 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical experience.
Answers cover PECS services, prices and process. For legal, tax or clinical questions please consult a professional.
Sources: PSYPACT Commission, participating states map and legislation table; Counseling Compact Commission, member states and news and go-live announcements; Social Work Licensure Compact Commission, member jurisdictions and news and status updates; CMS, Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors; KFF, Medicaid MCO Enrollment by Plan and Parent Firm, 2024; Arkansas statute. Compact status as of October 8, 2026; confirm with the Arkansas licensing board before relying on it.