Mississippi Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees

Mississippi is a party state in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which took its current form on January 19, 2018. A registered nurse arriving from another compact state with a multistate license can practice in Mississippi without a separate application, as long as Mississippi is not that nurse's primary state of residence. A nurse relocating to Mississippi permanently, or moving from a non-compact state, must apply for a Mississippi license through endorsement instead.

Endorsement is completed online through the board's Nurse Gateway. The original state verifies the license through Nursys, and the applicant pays a $100 RN fee plus a separate $75 fingerprint-based background check, performed only by the Mississippi Board. Applicants receive a multistate license if Mississippi is their primary state of residence and they meet the Uniform Licensure Requirements; otherwise they receive a single-state license. A temporary permit is available, and Mississippi does not require a separate state jurisprudence exam.

Mississippi requires graduation from a nursing program that substantially meets the same standards as its own programs, with no distinction between associate, bachelor's, or diploma degrees. Candidates must pass the NCLEX-RN, registered through Pearson VUE for $200, and may retest after 45 days; no separate state jurisprudence exam is required. Foreign-educated nurses must submit a CGFNS Credentials Evaluation Service Professional Report, prove English proficiency if coursework was not taught in English, and may attempt the NCLEX-RN up to six times within two years of graduation.