Arkansas Childcare Background Check Requirements (2026)

Arkansas childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check via DHS Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) — required for owners/operators at application and every 2 years; staff prior to employment and every 2 years; volunteers/therapists/student observers and administrative staff/board members with routine contact (MLR Section 109).

Arkansas childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Statewide criminal records check by the Arkansas State Police, Identification Bureau, including the Arkansas Sexual Offender Registry (MLR Sections 109/110).

Arkansas childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Nationwide fingerprint-based FBI criminal history records check submitted through the Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau, plus a National Sex Offender Registry check (MLR Sections 109/110).

Arkansas childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Required for owners/operators, directors, all staff, volunteers, therapists, student observers, and administrative/board members with routine contact with children; statutory basis Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-606 (Criminal history records checks required) and § 20-38-101 et seq. (NOTE: the older § 20-78-601–605, including § 20-78-602, were REPEALED by Act 762 of 2009).

What background checks does Arkansas require for childcare staff?

Arkansas requires the following screenings: Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check via DHS Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) — required for owners/operators at application and every 2 years; staff prior to employment and every 2 years; volunteers/therapists/student observers and administrative staff/board members with routine contact (MLR Section 109); Statewide criminal records check by the Arkansas State Police, Identification Bureau, including the Arkansas Sexual Offender Registry (MLR Sections 109/110); Nationwide fingerprint-based FBI criminal history records check submitted through the Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau, plus a National Sex Offender Registry check (MLR Sections 109/110); Required for owners/operators, directors, all staff, volunteers, therapists, student observers, and administrative/board members with routine contact with children; statutory basis Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-606 (Criminal history records checks required) and § 20-38-101 et seq. (NOTE: the older § 20-78-601–605, including § 20-78-602, were REPEALED by Act 762 of 2009).

Do background checks need to be repeated in Arkansas?

Many states require periodic re-screening (often every 5 years) in addition to the initial check. Confirm the current Arkansas re-screening interval with the Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Child Care Licensing Unit (functions formerly administered by the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education / DCCECE).

Who must be screened at a Arkansas center?

Any staff member, substitute, or volunteer with unsupervised access to children must clear the required Arkansas screenings before working with children.