17-42-305. Nonresident license requirements.

17-42-305. Nonresident license requirements. (a) In order to be licensed in Arkansas a nonresident must: (1) Either: (A) Meet the requirements of § 17-42-302; or (B) Show satisfactory proof of current active licensure in the applicant's resident jurisdiction, which must be a jurisdiction that offers Arkansas licensees opportunities for licensure substantially comparable to those offered to that jurisdiction's licensees by this chapter; (2) Pay any required fees; (3) Sign a statement that the applicant has read this chapter and rules and agrees to abide by its provisions in all real estate activity; (4)(A) Affiliate with a resident or nonresident principal broker licensed by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission, if a salesperson or associate broker. (B) If a nonresident licensee terminates the affiliation with a principal broker licensed by the commission, the license of the nonresident shall automatically be terminated until the nonresident places the license on inactive status or affiliates with another broker licensed by the commission; (5)(A) Cause the licensing body of the applicant's resident jurisdiction to furnish to the commission a certification of licensure and copies of the records of any disciplinary actions taken against the applicant's license in that or other jurisdictions. (B) Disciplinary action by any other lawful licensing authority may be grounds for denial of a license to a nonresident or for suspension or revocation of a license issued to a nonresident or for other appropriate disciplinary action authorized by this chapter; (6)(A) File with the Executive Director of the Arkansas Real Estate Commission a designation in writing that appoints the executive director to act as the licensee's agent upon whom all judicial and other process or legal notices directed to the licensee may be served. (B) Service upon the executive director shall be equivalent to personal service upon the licensee. (C) Copies of the appointment certified by the executive director shall be deemed sufficient evidence thereof and shall be admitted in evidence with the same force and effect as the originals thereof might be admitted. (D) In such a written designation, the licensee shall agree that any lawful process against the licensee which is served upon the executive director shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon the licensee and that the authority shall continue in force so long as any liability remains outstanding in this jurisdiction. (E) The executive director shall mail a copy of any such process or notice by certified mail to the last known business address of the licensee; and (7)(A) Agree in writing to cooperate with any investigation initiated by the commission by promptly supplying any documents the commission may request and by personally appearing at the commission's offices or such other location in this state as the commission may request. (B) If notice is sent by certified mail to the last known business address of a nonresident licensee directing the licensee to produce documents or to appear for an interview and the licensee fails to comply with that request, the commission may impose on the nonresident licensee any disciplinary sanction permitted by this chapter. (b) The commission in its discretion may enter into written agreements with similar licensing authorities of other jurisdictions as may be necessitated by the laws of those jurisdictions to assure for Arkansas licensees nonresident licensure opportunities comparable to those afforded to nonresidents by this chapter. (c) The commission may deny licensure under subdivision (a)(1)(B) of this section to an applicant whose resident licensure is in a jurisdiction which the commission deems not to have educational or experience requirements at least equal to those of Arkansas.