Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Arkansas
Behavioral Health Specialist jobs in Arkansas are active across community mental health centers, state-operated psychiatric facilities, and substance use treatment programs, with openings at the entry, mid-career, and senior clinical levels. The heaviest hiring is in Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Jonesboro, where large employers like Arkansas Children's Hospital, Baptist Health, and the Arkansas Department of Human Services maintain ongoing behavioral health teams. The most in-demand specialties are crisis intervention, substance use counseling, and trauma-informed care for underserved rural populations. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 36+ Behavioral Health Specialist jobs
- Night Shift
- 12 hr shifts
- Every other weekend
- Pay Range: $36 - $44.50 per hour (dependent on years of experience and education)
Conway Behavioral Health Hospital near Little Rock, Arkansas treats adults and adolescents with a variety of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and co-occurring addiction. Our goal is to ensure Little Rock’s North Metro community has access to world-class mental health treatment. Each patient receives comprehensive services in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.
At Acadia Healthcare, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, prescription drug plan, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, vision, dental, and voluntary short-term and long-term disability coverage. Additionally, our well-being programs encompass employee assistance programs, financial support, tuition reimbursement, and much more.
- Provide and coordinate care by assessing patients’ physical and behavioral health needs.
- Develop and implement nursing care plans.
- Maintain medical records and educate patients and their families about various physical and behavioral health conditions.
- Provide nursing care and services within the standards and scope of nursing practice as defined within the state Nurse Practice Act regulations, policies, procedures, and protocols, as well as facility and corporate policies and procedures.
- Ensure physicians’ orders are legible if taken verbally and transcribed appropriately per policy and procedure.
- Ensure patients’ status is assessed on an ongoing basis and pertinent information is gathered and documented.
- Notify physicians of significant changes in status such as difficulties with detox, medical emergency, change in medical status regarding response to medications, and related challenges.
- Ensure that initial nursing treatment plans are completed upon admission and that all nursing treatment plans are specific to assessed needs.
- Demonstrate knowledge and utilization of universal precautions in providing direct patient care.
- Accurately administer medications per ordered note.
- Document accurate count of controlled substance medication administration on required documents.
- Complete admission and discharge processing efficiently and accurately as directed.
- Exhibit therapeutic rapport with patients by maintaining professional boundaries, respecting personal space, giving patients direct attention, and maintaining rational detachment.
- Provide direction or coordinate the activities of the unit as directed.
- Communicate therapeutically and professionally with patients, visitors, co-workers, and others involved inpatient treatment.
- Must have graduated from an accredited school of nursing.
- Must possess a current Registered Nurse (RN) license as required by the state of employment or be eligible to practice nursing in accordance with state requirements
- One year of nursing experience; previous psychiatric, mental, behavioral, or substance abuse nursing experience a plus
- CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
- First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.
AHRN
- Night Shift
- 12 hr shifts
- Every other weekend
- Pay Range: $36 - $44.50 per hour (dependent on years of experience and education)
Conway Behavioral Health Hospital near Little Rock, Arkansas treats adults and adolescents with a variety of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and co-occurring addiction. Our goal is to ensure Little Rock’s North Metro community has access to world-class mental health treatment. Each patient receives comprehensive services in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.
At Acadia Healthcare, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, prescription drug plan, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, vision, dental, and voluntary short-term and long-term disability coverage. Additionally, our well-being programs encompass employee assistance programs, financial support, tuition reimbursement, and much more.
- Provide and coordinate care by assessing patients’ physical and behavioral health needs.
- Develop and implement nursing care plans.
- Maintain medical records and educate patients and their families about various physical and behavioral health conditions.
- Provide nursing care and services within the standards and scope of nursing practice as defined within the state Nurse Practice Act regulations, policies, procedures, and protocols, as well as facility and corporate policies and procedures.
- Ensure physicians’ orders are legible if taken verbally and transcribed appropriately per policy and procedure.
- Ensure patients’ status is assessed on an ongoing basis and pertinent information is gathered and documented.
- Notify physicians of significant changes in status such as difficulties with detox, medical emergency, change in medical status regarding response to medications, and related challenges.
- Ensure that initial nursing treatment plans are completed upon admission and that all nursing treatment plans are specific to assessed needs.
- Demonstrate knowledge and utilization of universal precautions in providing direct patient care.
- Accurately administer medications per ordered note.
- Document accurate count of controlled substance medication administration on required documents.
- Complete admission and discharge processing efficiently and accurately as directed.
- Exhibit therapeutic rapport with patients by maintaining professional boundaries, respecting personal space, giving patients direct attention, and maintaining rational detachment.
- Provide direction or coordinate the activities of the unit as directed.
- Communicate therapeutically and professionally with patients, visitors, co-workers, and others involved inpatient treatment.
- Must have graduated from an accredited school of nursing.
- Must possess a current Registered Nurse (RN) license as required by the state of employment or be eligible to practice nursing in accordance with state requirements
- One year of nursing experience; previous psychiatric, mental, behavioral, or substance abuse nursing experience a plus
- CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
- First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.
AHRN
See All 36 Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Arkansas
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Find JobsBehavioral Health Specialist Jobs by City in Arkansas
Where Arkansas roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Behavioral Health Specialist Job Market in Arkansas
A snapshot from current Arkansas openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Science & Research
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Arkansas Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in behavioral health specialist jobs across Arkansas.
- Active Arkansas licensure or certification from the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling or equivalent board
- Bachelor's or master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or a related behavioral health field
- Experience delivering direct behavioral health services in community, clinical, or residential settings
- Proficiency with electronic health records and documentation in compliance with state and federal standards
- Ability to conduct psychosocial assessments and develop individualized treatment or service plans
- Valid Arkansas driver's license and willingness to travel to satellite sites or client homes
Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Arkansas: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a behavioral health specialist in Arkansas?
Most Arkansas employers require at minimum a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or counseling, with licensure adding a competitive edge. The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling oversees licensure for licensed professional counselors, while the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board governs social work credentials. Candidates pursuing substance use roles often obtain a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor credential through the Arkansas Substance Abuse Certification Board before or alongside employment.
Which companies hire behavioral health specialists in Arkansas?
Employers hiring behavioral health specialists in Arkansas right now include Baptist Health, Unity Health, and Saline Health System, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Arkansas's network of community mental health centers and state-contracted behavioral health organizations drives steady, year-round hiring across the state.
Which Arkansas cities have the most behavioral health specialist jobs?
Hot Springs, Benton, and Conway have the most behavioral health specialist openings in Arkansas. Little Rock anchors demand as the state capital and home to the largest hospital systems and state agencies, while Fayetteville's growth in the Northwest Arkansas corridor has expanded outpatient and community-based programs, and Jonesboro serves as the regional hub for behavioral health services in the Delta and northeast Arkansas.
Are there remote behavioral health specialist jobs in Arkansas?
Yes, but they are limited. About 67% of behavioral health specialist openings tied to Arkansas are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the hands-on and community-based nature of most roles. Telehealth counseling and care coordination functions are the areas where remote arrangements appear most often.
How can I get hired as a behavioral health specialist in Arkansas with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for behavioral health technician or mental health associate roles, which Arkansas employers like community mental health centers and the Arkansas Department of Human Services routinely fill without requiring clinical licensure. A bachelor's degree combined with a practicum or field placement at an Arkansas facility strengthens your application significantly. Lateral moves from case management, residential support, or peer support specialist roles are a common bridge into specialist positions.
Where can I find and apply to behavioral health specialist jobs in Arkansas?
You can find and apply to behavioral health specialist jobs in Arkansas on Migrate Mate, which lists current Arkansas openings across community mental health, hospital, and government settings. Search the roles that match your credentials and experience level and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 36 Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Arkansas
Find roles in Arkansas that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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