Act 435 of 2025, the Community Health Worker Certification Act, gave authority to the Arkansas Department of Health to certify individuals as Community Health Workers to provide specified services within a scope of practice and to receive compensation for such services.
A Certified Community Health Worker (CHW) may:
- Provide the following type of services
- Cultural mediation among individuals, communities, and health service systems or social services systems, or both;
- Culturally appropriate health education and information;
- Care coordination, including without limitation medication compliance under a patient care plan as directed by a healthcare provider or healthcare professional;
- Case management;
- Health service system navigation or social services navigation, or both;
- Coaching and social support; and
- Direct services that are not met by a personal care attendant or do not require a professional license or specialized training such as first aid or diabetic foot checks;
- Advocate for individuals and communities;
- Build individual and community capacity;
- Implement individual and community assessments, such as basic home environmental assessments and basic health screening and tests
- Conduct outreach, such as health literacy services; and
- Participate in evaluation and research, including without limitation health education and community research activities.
Certified Community Health Workers do not act as a physician, nurse, certified nurse midwife, other healthcare professional, or licensed lay midwife for their clients though they may have received education in such areas that aid in their ability to provide support.
For questions regarding Community Health Worker Certification, please call 501-661-2079 or 800-462-0599 ext. 2079.
Community Health Worker Certification Rules
- Arkansas State Legislature Act 435 (HB1258 as engrossed on 03-18-2025 14:06:30)
- Community Health Worker Certification Rules (coming soon)
Community Health Worker Certification Forms
- CHW Pathways
- CHW Pathway A Application
- CHW Pathway B Application
- CHW Pathway C Application
- CHW Pathway D Application
- CHW Renewal Application—coming soon
- CHW Reciprocal Certification Application—coming soon
- CHW Automatic Certification Application
- CHW Applicant Affidavit (Pathway A, B, and C; Automatic & Reciprocal)
- CHW Supervisor/Director Affidavit (Pathway B and D)
- CHW Supervisor Affidavit (Pathway C)
- CHW Mentor Affidavit (Pathway C)