Credential(s) Offered
Industry certification, Apprenticeship certification, Employment, Measurable Skill Gain Leading to a Credential, Measurable Skill Gain Leading to Employment
Method of Delivery
Hybrid or blended
When offered
Daytime Hours
Instructional Program (CIP)
Description
Arkansas Act 435 of 2025 established statewide certification standards for Community Health Workers (CHWs), placing oversight with the Arkansas Community Health Worker Association (ARCHWA) and authorizing Medicaid and other health benefit plans to reimburse for services delivered by certified CHWs. These statutory changes are expected to significantly increase demand for certified CHWs across Arkansas’s health care and community-based service systems, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
To respond to this demand, the CHW Core Competency Training provides ARCHWA-aligned, certification-ready training for individuals entering the CHW workforce and for incumbent workers transitioning into certified roles. Training is delivered through ARCHWA-approved modalities, including classroom instruction, experiential learning, and apprenticeship pathways, and prepares CHWs to function effectively within multidisciplinary, reimbursable care models. Core instruction focuses on the CHW role and scope of practice, ethical and professional standards, community engagement, care coordination and navigation, and documentation and reporting requirements necessary for reimbursement.
The Arkansas Rural Health Partnership (ARHP) and its training affiliate, the Arkansas Rural Health Academy, are one of only two ARCHWA-certified providers statewide authorized to deliver this core competency training, positioning ARHP as a critical partner in rapidly scaling a compliant, high-quality CHW workforce. Through this program, Arkansas can proactively align workforce development, reimbursement-readiness, and health-outcome goals while strengthening care-delivery capacity across rural communities.
The program is a 120-hour training designed for both new and incumbent workers that includes a combination of lecture-based and didactic training, hands-on skills development, and supervised clinical and community-based experiences.
Details
Program Length (Weeks)
4
Hours
120
Entrance Requirements
High School Diploma or Equivalent
School
WIOA Approved Program
Yes
Training Location(s)
4747 Dusty Lake Dr, First Floor, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Local WIB
5045 - Southeast
Name of Credential
Certified Community Health Worker
Type of financial aid offered or have access to
A combination of public, private, and self-pay options are available to students.
Refund Policy
The refund shall be based on the cost and the length of the program. All tuition beyond the current enrollment period shall be refunded when the student terminates.
Is the proposed curriculum currently certified by an accrediting agency or similar national standardization program?
Yes - Arkansas Community Health Worker Association (ARCHWA)
Is this proposed curriculum considered a nontraditional program of training services for women?
No
Is this proposed curriculum considered a nontraditional program of training services for men?
No
Cost Items
In-State Tuition
$3,500.00 This charge covers all costs to the student, including instruction, books, instructional supplies, as well as the certification costs for the Community Health Worker, BLS Certification, and Mental Health First Aid training, which are part of the overall instruction.
Total In-State Program Cost
$3,500.00
