Membership is automatic for anyone directly employed by a public school, educational service cooperative, the Arkansas Department of Education, or another ATRS employer. Some state colleges and universities, state agencies and other employers also participate. Member Handbook p. 9, How do I become a member of ATRS?; p. 7
Paying in, or not
Membership is contributory (7% of salary, pre-tax) or noncontributory (no member contributions, lower multiplier). A noncontributory member can elect to become contributory; a contributory member can't become noncontributory. Most members are contributory. Member Handbook p. 5, Contributory status; p. 10, Can I elect to become contributory or noncontributory?
- Contributory: you pay 7% of salary, pre-tax. Your service earns 2.15% a year.
- Noncontributory: you pay nothing. Your service earns 1.39% through June 30, 2019 and 1.25% after.
Members contracted for 185 days or more in a fiscal year must be contributory. Choosing contributory can't be reversed. Actuarial valuation 2025 p. C-5, item 11 (members contracted for 185 days or more in a fiscal year must be contributory, effective July 1, 2021); Actuarial valuation 2025 p. C-5, item 11; 2026 Retirement Planner p. 10 (Irrevocable Contributory Election Form #5)
The 10-year test
Members who retire with 10 or more years of actual/reciprocal service get the standard multipliers on all their service. Members with fewer than 10 years get the lower first-10-year multipliers on service after July 1, 2018. 'Once a member accrues 10 years of service, all service including the first 10 years is then credited at the standard multiplier rate in place at the time the service was earned.' artrs.gov/multiplier (retrieved 2026-11-11); Actuarial valuation 2025 p. C-3, item 6 (Board Resolutions 2017-31 and 2017-32)
| Your service | Retire with 10+ years | Retire with under 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Contributory, before July 1, 2018 | 2.15% | 2.15% |
| Contributory, from July 1, 2018 | 2.15% | 1.75% |
| Noncontributory, before July 1, 2018 | 1.39% | 1.39% |
| Noncontributory, July 2018 to June 2019 | 1.39% | 1% |
| Noncontributory, from July 1, 2019 | 1.25% | 1% |
artrs.gov/multiplier ('Retiring with 10 years or more of actual/reciprocal service: Contributory: 2.15%'); 2026 Retirement Planner p. 10 (Contributory Multiplier, 10 or more years of service credit: 2.15%); artrs.gov/multiplier ('1.25% (for service beginning 7/1/2019)'); 2026 Retirement Planner p. 10 (Noncontributory Multiplier, 10 or more years of service credit (effective 7-1-19 forward): 1.25%); artrs.gov/multiplier ('1.75% (for service after 7/1/2018)'); 2026 Retirement Planner p. 10 (Contributory Multiplier, 9.75 or less years of service credit (effective 7-1-18 forward): 1.75%); artrs.gov/multiplier ('1.00% (for service after 7/1/2018)'); 2026 Retirement Planner p. 10 (Noncontributory Multiplier, 9.75 or less years (effective 7-1-18 forward): 1.00%)
artrs.gov/multiplier counts 'actual/reciprocal service' toward the 10-year threshold; the planner says '10 or more years of service credit'. Our calculator uses actual + reciprocal (purchased excluded) and needs the member's service split by date (before/after July 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019); if no split is given it assumes contributory service and, under 10 years, service after July 1, 2018.
What would settle it: A.C.A. § 24-7-705 or the ATRS annual statement / benefit estimate showing the multiplier split.Vesting
You become vested once you have 5 years of actual service credit by working for an ATRS employer. You can also count reciprocal service credit toward those 5 years. Until you're vested, leaving means only a refund of your own contributions. Member Handbook p. 5, Vesting; p. 11, What does it mean to be a vested member of ATRS?; p. 12, Can I use purchased service credit ... to become vested? (No); p. 42, Appendix B
How service is counted
| Days worked in a fiscal year | Service credit |
|---|---|
| 1 to 39 | 0 year |
| 40 to 79 | 0.25 year |
| 80 to 119 | 0.5 year |
| 120 to 159 | 0.75 year |
| 160 or more | 1 year |
Member Handbook p. 41, Appendix A - Service Credit Calculation (after July 1, 2011); p. 11; 24 CAR § 10-402(b), (e)
From the sources
- Arkansas public school and other public education employees are members of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS), a defined benefit plan that pays a lifetime monthly benefit. Membership is automatic if you work for a public school, education service cooperative, the Arkansas Department of Education or another ATRS employer.Member Handbook pp. 5, 9
- ATRS has no hire-date tiers. What matters is whether your service is contributory (you pay 7% of salary, pre-tax) or noncontributory (you pay nothing and earn a smaller benefit). Most members are contributory. A noncontributory member can switch to contributory; the switch is permanent.Member Handbook pp. 5, 10; 2026 Retirement Planner p. 10
- You are vested after 5 years of actual ATRS service (reciprocal service from other Arkansas systems counts too). Purchased service and free military service don't count toward vesting.Member Handbook pp. 5, 11, 12
- A year of service takes 160 days in a fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). Fewer days earn quarter-years: 40-79 days = 0.25, 80-119 = 0.5, 120-159 = 0.75. You can't earn more than one year in a fiscal year.Member Handbook pp. 11, 41 (Appendix A)
Questions
Does ATRS have tiers by hire date?
No. Everyone follows the same retirement rules. What changes your benefit is whether your service is contributory or noncontributory, and whether you retire with 10 or more years.
Can I switch from noncontributory to contributory?
Yes, going forward, and you can buy past noncontributory years as contributory. The choice can't be undone: a contributory member can't go back to noncontributory.
How many days make a year of service?
160 days in a fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). Fewer days earn quarter-years.
Source: ATRS Member Handbook, 2026-2027 school year (current as of July 2026), pp. 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 41, 42. Also: Actuarial valuation 2025 pp. C-3, C-5; 2026 Retirement Planner p. 10; artrs.gov/multiplier; ATRS rules, 24 CAR § 10-402. Last reviewed .