Arkansas State Medical Board

The Arkansas State Medical Board (ASMB) was established in 1955. Its main purpose is to regulate medical practice in the state by ensuring that all practicing physicians, physician assistants, and allied health professionals are properly licensed. This helps to protect public health by ensuring that those practicing medicine have the proper credentials and experience. The state medical board consists of fifteen members who are appointed by the governor and who serve a six-year term.

The first State Board of Health was created in 1879 by the Arkansas Medical Society, which consisted of 225 physicians from across the state. The society later developed the first medical licensing laws in 1893 (revised in 1903) that helped to regulate who could practice medicine.

The ASMB, as a part of the Arkansas Department of Health, operates as its own independent regulatory body for licensing and overseeing physicians. The state medical board is different from other state entities in that the funding for the board is not provided by direct state appropriations; rather, it gets its funding from the licensing fees of its members.

The ASMB oversees all medical regulations for medical doctors, osteopathic doctors, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, radiology assistants, and licensed genetic counselors within the state.

When applying for a medical license, a physician will submit the application and be granted a temporary permit to practice medicine while waiting for the application to be reviewed at the next regularly scheduled board meeting. Once an application has been approved, the physician will receive a permanent license to practice medicine.

For additional information:
Arkansas Medical Board. Arkansas Department of Health. https://armedicalboard.adh.arkansas.gov/Public/BoardMembers.aspx (accessed May 14, 2026).

Arkansas State Medical Board. Arkansas Department of Health. https://healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/arkansas-state-medical-board/ (accessed May 14, 2026).

“Bill Number HR1005—To Congratulate the Arkansas Medical Society; And to Celebrate 2025 as ‘The Year of the Arkansas Physician.” Arkansas State Legislature. https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FHR1005.pdf (accessed May 14, 2026).

Mikaela Bailey
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture