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Arkansas LEOSA qualification

What the state requires, who can administer it, and how to stay current.

REVIEWED 18 OCT 2026 M. Alvarez, Sgt. (ret.) TCOLE-certified firearms instructor
Flag of Arkansas State of Arkansas
NARRATIVE · 01

How qualification works in Arkansas

Arkansas has a statewide standard. The CLEST (Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training)-approved course of fire for handguns requires a passing score of 80% based on 50 rounds, and all active law enforcement officers must complete it annually (CLEST Rule 1026). Retired officers use the same CLEST-approved course and certification process — as of a February 2018 process change, the retiree's firearms instructor (rather than the CLEST Standards office directly) is authorized to issue the retired-officer qualification card, using the officer's CLEST ID and the course's approval number; CLEST's Standards office retains the official training record.

NARRATIVE · 02

What to carry afterward

Agency photo ID From the agency you separated from.
Proficiency certificate Dated within the past 12 months.1
NARRATIVE · 03

Where LEOSA doesn't apply

Private property where the owner prohibits firearms.
State & local government property buildings, parks and installations that restrict firearms.
Federal facilities courthouses, federal buildings and military installations.
School zones under the Gun-Free School Zones Act, unless separately licensed by your state.
Commercial aircraft LEOSA does not change federal aviation rules.
SOURCES
  1. 18 U.S.C. § 926C(d), identification required to carry
  2. Arkansas's primary source

Not legal advice. Confirm with Arkansas's POST commission or your former agency.

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