Sources reviewed October 27, 2026 · Confirm current rules with the agency
When coverage is required
Most Arkansas employers with three or more employees must carry workers' comp. Some businesses with fewer than three must carry it too, so don't rely only on headcount. The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission suggests you contact them about your situation.
Owners, contractors, and exceptions
Count everyone who does the work, including working owners and subcontracted workers, not just the names on your payroll. Ask the Commission or your agent who counts toward the limit and which owner options you have. Keep their answer with your records and check again when your business changes.
If an employee is injured
Set up a way for workers to report injuries to a supervisor quickly, and for the supervisor to tell the insurer. Get the worker medical care and write down how it happened. Keep treatment and time-off details for the claims adjuster. The Commission's legal advisors can answer questions, but talking to them does not replace the required forms and deadlines.
Operating without coverage
Arkansas says employers who don't follow the law can face state penalties and lose the legal protection coverage gives them. If you are required to have coverage and don't, a hurt worker can file with the Commission or sue you in court. Once insured, display the Commission's Form P poster (and Form H if you use a managed care company). If you don't post it, you can lose some protections.
How to arrange coverage
You can buy a policy or get approval to self-insure. You pay for coverage and cannot take it out of workers' pay. Before you buy, make sure the agent has a full description of your work, that coverage starts before work begins, and that you have the right claim contacts and posters.
Benefits and return-to-work planning
A work injury can lead to medical care, time off work, a lasting disability, or benefits for family members if a worker dies. Who qualifies, waiting periods, how wages are figured, and benefit limits all depend on state law and the facts of the claim. Ask your insurer which benefits it is looking at and what records it needs. Go by the doctor's work limits, not your own guess about what the worker can do. If you can offer lighter work, describe the duties and hours clearly and plan it with the doctor and your insurer.
Preparing an accurate cost estimate
Gather payroll by job and location, a description of each type of work, details on working owners, subcontractor records, and your past claims. Ask the insurer to confirm your job classes, how the rate is figured, any experience modifier, the minimum premium, fees, and audit terms. This site's calculator uses a base rate that you enter. It does not give a state-approved rate or a real quote. Compare offers using the same numbers, and track staff and work changes during the year so the final audit is easier.
Forms, posters, and notices
These links go straight to Arkansas’s official forms. Your insurer can often send a poster with your policy details already filled in.
Weekly benefit limits
These limits cap the wage replacement checks an injured worker can get. Medical care is paid separately. Limits change every year, so check the source for the latest figures.
- Maximum
- $953 a week for total disability
- Minimum
- $20 a week
- Applies to
- Injuries in 2026
The maximum for permanent partial disability is $715 a week.
Check a contractor’s coverage
Arkansas lets you search Certificates of Non-Coverage online. A certificate means the business told the state it has no employees. It is not proof of insurance, so still ask for a certificate of insurance.
Owner exemptions and elections
A sole owner, partnership, or LLC with no employees can apply for a Certificate of Non-Coverage using Form A. General contractors often ask subcontractors for one.
Frequently asked questions
Is workers' comp required in Arkansas?
Most Arkansas employers with three or more employees must carry coverage. Some smaller employers are also covered, so check with the Workers' Compensation Commission before relying on headcount.
Do business owners need workers' comp in Arkansas?
Ask the Commission or your insurer which working owners count toward the minimum and which owner opt-out choices are available for your business type. Keep the answer with your policy records.
How long does an employee have to report a work injury in Arkansas?
Report the injury to the employer right away with written notice of the time, place, and nature of the injury. Claims generally must be filed within two years of the injury or one year from the last benefit payment.
What happens if a Arkansas business doesn't have workers' comp?
Employers that break the rules can face state penalties and lose the protections of the workers' compensation law. An injured worker may file with the Commission or sue the employer in circuit court.
How do I get workers' comp insurance in Arkansas?
Buy a policy from a licensed insurer or apply to self-insure. Display the Commission's Form P poster once coverage is in place.
How much does workers' comp cost in Arkansas?
Cost depends mostly on your job class codes, the payroll in each class, your experience modifier, and the insurer's rates and minimum premium. Ask a licensed insurer or agent for the base rate for your class code in Arkansas, then use this site's calculator for a rough estimate. Your final premium is set at the yearly audit.
Your next steps
Official sources & further reading
Arkansas AWCC: basic facts, coverage, and assistanceArkansas AWCC: workers' compensation questions and answersThis summary is for learning, not legal advice. Exceptions and changes may apply. If anything here differs from the official agency or the law, they are what count.