2026 · School entry
Arkansas school & kindergarten vaccine requirements
To enter kindergarten in Arkansas, children generally need 6 vaccines — DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB, HepA. Below is what each one protects against, how exemptions and provisional enrollment work, and the official Arkansas source. Note that this jurisdiction also requires hepatitis A.
Key takeaways
- To enter kindergarten in Arkansas, children generally need 6 vaccines: DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB, HepA.
- Yes. Arkansas requires the hepatitis A (HepA) vaccine for school entry. Confirm the exact grades and dose timing on the official source, as HepA rules vary the most between states.
- Arkansas exemptions: medical available; religious available; personal belief available. Confirm on the official source.
- HepA required for grades K-1 (2-dose series, since 2014).
Which vaccines does Arkansas require for kindergarten?
Each card links to a full guide for that vaccine — brands, ingredients, and how a delayed schedule changes the dose count.
Arkansas specifics
HepA required for grades K-1 (2-dose series, since 2014).
What does Arkansas say about exemptions?
- Medical Available
- Religious Available
- Personal belief Available
How does the process work?
Exemptions (medical, religious or philosophical) are granted only by the Arkansas Department of Health. Board of Health rules require an annual application, a notarized statement from the requester, and completion of a state-developed educational component. A medical exemption also needs a Medical Director letter. The application is filed online or with the ADH Immunization Section.
Arkansas Department of Health - Immunizations ↗ (opens in a new tab) Official form ↗ (opens in a new tab)
This summarizes what the state's own pages say, reviewed September 30, 2026. It is not advice for or against any option. Laws and forms change; confirm with your school or health department. Compare all states in the exemptions overview, or see glossary definitions.
What is provisional enrollment?
Many states permit provisional or conditional enrollment, which lets a child start school while still catching up on a series that has already been started. Rules and time limits vary, so ask your school. The catch-up guide explains how remaining doses are counted.
Where are Arkansas's official requirements?
The authoritative reference for Arkansas is the state's own published requirements. Always verify dose counts, grade ranges, and exemptions there — those details change and are not all captured here.
immunize.org — HepA school requirements (2025) →
More questions about Arkansas school vaccines
Which vaccines does Arkansas require for kindergarten?
For kindergarten entry, Arkansas requires 6 vaccines: DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB, HepA. These protect against diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis); polio; measles, mumps, rubella. Dose counts and grade ranges can vary — always confirm on the official Arkansas source.
Does Arkansas require the hepatitis A vaccine for school?
Yes. Arkansas requires the hepatitis A (HepA) vaccine for school entry. Confirm the exact grades and dose timing on the official source, as HepA rules vary the most between states.
Can my child start school in Arkansas on a delayed vaccine schedule?
Often it can. A slower, spaced-out schedule can still satisfy Arkansas's rules as long as the required series (DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB, HepA) are finished — or, in many districts, in progress under provisional/conditional enrollment — by the first day of school. The free planner builds a plan that finishes every required vaccine in time. Confirm the specifics with your school district and your child's healthcare practitioner.
Does Arkansas allow vaccine exemptions?
Arkansas: Medical exemptions are available, religious exemptions are available, and personal-belief exemptions are available. Exemptions (medical, religious or philosophical) are granted only by the Arkansas Department of Health. Board of Health rules require an annual application, a notarized statement from the requester, and completion of a state-developed educational component. A medical exemption also needs a Medical Director letter. The application is filed online or with the ADH Immunization Section. Rules and forms change, so confirm with Arkansas Department of Health - Immunizations or your school.
Plan Arkansas-ready vaccinations on a slower schedule
Want to space shots out but still finish every required vaccine before the first day of school? Build a spaced-out, minimum-dose plan you can review with your child's healthcare practitioner.
Build my plan →Sources
The state's own page is the authority; the others are cross-checks.