A Guide to Nursing Licenses and Renewals in Mississippi

Career Resources / Nursing Licensure / Mississippi

Mississippi boasts a low cost of living, beautiful beaches, fantastic food, and affordable colleges. If you’re interested in a nursing career in Mississippi, your first step after finishing school is to apply for your registered nursing license.

In this article, we will cover:

• How to get your Mississippi nursing license by exam
• How to get your license by endorsement
• How to renew your Mississippi nursing license
• Licensing fees
• Continuing education requirements
• How to contact the Mississippi Board of Nursing

How to get your Mississippi nursing license by examination

Step 1: Education

To be eligible for a registered nurse’s license in Mississippi, you must earn a nursing degree from a program which substantially meets the same educational criteria as Mississippi nursing programs. You can hold any of the degrees listed below:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for those who have achieved a bachelor’s degree and who take the additional classes necessary to become a registered nurse.

Step 2: Apply

Candidates for a Mississippi nursing license begin by registering on the Mississippi Board of Nursing Gateway. You will use this portal to apply for licensure, to change your name or address, to renew your license, and more. Application for your registered nurse license requires payment of a $100 fee. You will also need a valid Social Security number to complete the application. 

You should also register to take the NCLEX exam with Pearson VUE at www.ncsbn.org/nclex. The fee to register for the NCLEX is $200.

If you are within three months of having graduated from an accredited nursing program and you are applying for a Mississippi nursing license, you can apply for a temporary permit through the nursing gateway. The permit is good for 90 days. You must pass the NCLEX exam within that 90 day period. If you fail the NCLEX, your temporary permit will automatically become invalid and you will no longer be able to work as a registered nurse. 

Step 3: Submit Transcripts

The Mississippi Board of Nursing requires an official transcript from your nursing program to ensure that you meet all educational requirements. These should be submitted in a sealed envelope to:

Mississippi Board of Nursing
713 Pear Orchard
Suite 300
Ridgeland, MS 39157

Do not submit your transcripts or any other supporting documentation before you have completed the online application and fee. 

Step 4: Criminal Background Check (CBC)

If you attended a Mississippi-based nursing program, your program should have scheduled a criminal background check appointment for you. If you missed your scheduled fingerprint date, you must call the Mississippi Board of Nursing at 601-957-6300 to set an appointment to be fingerprinted at the Board’s office in Ridgeland, Mississippi. 

If you are a Mississippi resident but did not attend a Mississippi-based nursing program, you must call the board at 601-957-6300 to schedule an appointment to be fingerprinted at the office in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

If you are from out of state but you are seeking a Mississippi registered nursing license, you must call the board at 601-957-6300 for instructions. 

Step 5: Take the NCLEX

After you have submitted all of the documents required for the application process, the Board of Nursing will notify Pearson VUE and you will be sent Authorization to Test for the NCLEX-RN exam. The NCLEX is a national standardized test of your retention of the material you were taught during your nursing program. Topics covered include:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Management of Care  
• Safety and Infection Control 
• Health Promotion and Maintenance 
• Psychosocial Integrity 
• Physiological Integrity 
• Basic Care and Comfort 
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 
• Physiological Adaptation 

If you pass the NCLEX you will be issued your registered nurse license. If you do not pass the exam, you will receive that official test result in the mail.  If you hold a temporary permit it will automatically be invalidated. You can complete the online licensure by examination application, pay the required fees, and register to take the exam again. A new Authorization to Test will be sent to you. You can take the test up to six times within two years of graduation.

Licensing by endorsement (already have RN licensure)

If you hold a registered nursing license in another state and you want to obtain licensure in Mississippi, you need to apply for licensure by endorsement. This requires submitting an online Endorsement Application and the $100 application fee via the Gateway nursing portal. You must have a Social Security Number to complete the application.

You are required to submit an official transcript with your basic nursing degree and date conferred to the Mississippi Board of Nursing in a sealed envelope or electronically via Parchment. Paper copies should be sent to:

Mississippi Board of Nursing
713 Pear Orchard
Suite 300
Ridgeland, MS 39157

Submit verification of your original license by visiting the NURSYS website and clicking on the link titled “Nurse License Verification for Endorsement.” If your original license came from a state that does not participate with NURSYS, you will need to contact the Board of Nursing in that state and request that they send verification to the Mississippi Board of Nursing.

After submitting your application, you can register for a criminal background check. This can either be scheduled at the Mississippi Board of Nursing office or you can request a fingerprint card. Contact the Mississippi Board of Nursing at 601-957-6300 for more information. 

How to renew your Mississippi nursing license

Step 1: When to submit your renewal application

Mississippi’s nursing license period is two years. Registered nurse licenses expire every even-numbered year and will expire on December 31. If your license was issued in an even numbered year, it will still expire on December 31 if it was issued prior to August 31. Licenses issued on September 1 or after in an even numbered year do not expire until December 31 of the next even numbered year. The renewal period begins on September 1.

Step 2: Fulfill continuing competency requirements

The state of Mississippi repealed its continuing education requirements in 2020. RNs who have been out of practice for more than five years are required to complete a minimum of twenty contact hours earned in the previous two-year period.

To help you meet this requirement, Incredible Health offers free CE units that meet Mississippi’s requirements. Upon completion you will be able to access a certificate of completion immediately.

Step 3: Submit your renewal application

You can complete the application for renewal of your Mississippi nursing license and submit the $100 fee at the Gateway portal.

Mississippi nursing licensing fees

Below are the fees for becoming a nurse in Mississippi whether you are a first-time nurse or are moving to Mississippi from another state. For more information visit the Mississippi licensing page.

Licensing fees by examination (first-time nurses):

• NCLEX fee: $200
• Application fee: $100 (RN); $60 (LPN)
• Criminal background check fee: $75

Licensing fees by endorsement (already have RN licensure):

• Application fee: $100 (RN); $60 (LPN); $100 (APRN initial licensure fee)
• Single state to multistate: $25
• Temporary license: $25
• Criminal background check fee: $75

License renewal fees:

• Application fee: $100; $100 (APRN, 1st license, $50 for each after)

Additionally, Mississippi is a nursing compact state, which allows nurses to hold multi-state licenses.

*Fees are subject to change.

Continuing education requirements

RN: 20 contact hours every 2 years

LPN: 20 contact hours every 2 years

APRN: 40 contact hours every 2 years (10 hours must be in controlled substance)

Incredible Health offers ANCC-accredited continuing education courses for nurses in all 50 states, 100% free and online. The Mississippi Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.  

How to contact the Mississippi Board of Nursing

Mississippi Board of Nursing
Phone: (601) 957-6300
Fax: (601) 957-6301

Website: https://www.msbn.ms.gov/

713 S Pear Orchard Road, Plaza II
Suite 300
Ridgeland, MS 39157

More Mississippi Resources

• Best hospitals in the state
• Best nursing schools in the state
• Average salary for RNs in the state