AR-A form (Arkansas): the workers' comp owner exemption
Application for Certificate of Non-Coverage. Who can file it, where to get it, how to file, the fee, when it takes effect, and how often it renews — from Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission.
AR-A filing snapshot
FormAR-A — Application for Certificate of Non-Coverage
Issuing bodyArkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission
Filing methodSubmit the notarized application/affidavit package to AWCC; current materials also provide online payment options.
Fee$50
Common mistakeThe certificate is personal to qualifying applicants and does not excuse coverage for hired employees. Current AWCC materials say applications are generally processed within 10 working days.
When it takes effectOn AWCC issuance/approval of the Certificate of Non-Coverage.
RenewalNo universal duration was located on the current application page; use the expiration shown on the issued certificate and refile as required.
Watch out forForm AR-A does not cover hired employees, and AWCC says corporate-officer exclusions are handled through the carrier.
Which Arkansas owners can use the AR-A
Sole proprietorA sole proprietor may apply for an Arkansas Certificate of Non-Coverage to exclude the proprietor personally. The certificate does not exclude any employees and does not prevent the person from being treated as an employee under a different work relationship if the facts support employee status.
LLC memberAn LLC member may use Form AR-A and the notarized affidavit to seek a Certificate of Non-Coverage for the member personally. If an uninsured LLC has multiple working owners, the Commission's joint bulletin explains that each owner who relies on this route needs the owner's own certificate.
PartnerA partner may apply for a Certificate of Non-Coverage to exclude the partner personally. Full-time partners can still be counted for the threshold analysis stated on Form AR-A, so the certificate and the employer-level coverage question must be analyzed separately.
Corporate officerForm AR-A is not the corporate-officer exclusion route. Arkansas guidance treats a corporate officer's personal exclusion through the workers' compensation insurance contract/carrier rather than the Certificate of Non-Coverage application used by sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members.
Employee threshold: Current Form AR-A states that Arkansas generally requires workers' compensation for employment with three or more employees; two or more employees engaged in building or building-repair work; one or more employee of a contractor who subcontracts any part of the contract; or one or more employee of a subcontractor. The form says the count can include an owner, sole proprietor, full-time partner, full-time or part-time employee, and volunteer. In construction: Construction-related triggers are stricter than the ordinary three-person rule: two or more workers in building/building repair can trigger coverage, and contractor/subcontractor arrangements can trigger the Act with one employee. Arkansas also expects construction parties to obtain current proof of insurance or Certificates of Non-Coverage at the start of the project.
Read the full context in the Arkansas workers' comp exemption guide, or run the eligibility screener to check your entity type first.
AR-A form (Arkansas): frequently asked questions
- Where do I get the AR-A form in Arkansas?
- The AR-A (Application for Certificate of Non-Coverage) is issued by Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission. Submit the notarized application/affidavit package to AWCC; current materials also provide online payment options. Use the official link on this page rather than a third-party copy, which may be out of date.
- Is there a fee to file the AR-A in Arkansas?
- $50
- How often does the AR-A exemption renew in Arkansas?
- No universal duration was located on the current application page; use the expiration shown on the issued certificate and refile as required. Watch out: Form AR-A does not cover hired employees, and AWCC says corporate-officer exclusions are handled through the carrier.
Where this comes from
The AR-A entry is anchored to Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission — the state agency that issues and processes the form — not a generalized summary. Source-checked 2026-09-10.