Arkansas Code Title 17. Professions, Occupations, and Businesses § 17-87-402. Challenge and validation examinations

(1) “Challenge examination” means a test designed to determine the level of knowledge of the person being tested in the subject area of the test. Challenge examinations may cover any area of academic pursuit; and

(2) “Validation examination” means an evaluation of prior knowledge, experience, or skills. Validation examinations are administered to determine the proper placement of the examinee within a nurse training program.

(1) Encourage and supervise the development of methods of validation of nursing knowledge and skills through written and clinical testing mechanisms;

(2) Review and approve validation and challenge examinations for fairness and relevant content;

(3) Set uniform passing scores to be used by institutions of higher education in this state for passing standardized validation and challenge examinations when the passing scores are not determined at the national level; and

(4) Require schools using individual school-made tests to select one (1) standard passing score for each test which any level of student must achieve to receive credit.

(e)(1) Licensed practical nurses and licensed psychiatric technician nurses may transfer or challenge by test, or validate, up to thirty (30) semester credit hours from the total nursing program curriculum upon entering diploma, associate degree, or baccalaureate degree programs in nursing in Arkansas. This does not include other hours they may have earned which may also be transferred.

(2) Registered nurses may transfer or challenge by test, or validate, up to sixty (60) semester credit hours from the total nursing program curriculum upon entering a baccalaureate degree program in nursing in Arkansas. This does not include other hours they may have earned which may also be transferred.