Mississippi Board of Nursing 2026: Verify & Renew Guide

Independent Mississippi nursing-license guide reviewed against current official information on July 20, 2026.
MSBN • Nurse Gateway • RN • LPN • APRN • NLC

Verify a Mississippi Nurse—or Complete the 2026 RN Renewal

Most people arrive here with a task, not a desire to read regulations. An employer needs to confirm whether a nurse is active, an RN needs the correct 2026 renewal route or an applicant wants to know why a transcript, fingerprint or license verification is still incomplete.

Mississippi separates those jobs between its public verification system, the private Nurse Gateway, Nursys, CE Broker and the Board’s application checklists. This guide brings the useful details together so users can verify, renew, upload, troubleshoot and contact the correct office without guessing.

Current 2026 action

Mississippi RN renewal is open from July 1 through December 31, 2026. RNs renew in even-numbered years; LPNs renew in odd-numbered years. Open Nurse Gateway, click the RN license and start the renewal application.

Public verification

Verify a Mississippi nurse

Check status, license type, expiration and available public credential information.

Use license number or legal name. Do not type the letter prefix. Read the current status.
Open Official Lookup
2026 RN task

Renew a Mississippi RN

The current even-year RN renewal window runs July 1 through December 31.

Log in to Nurse Gateway. Click the RN license. Submit and verify status.
Open Nurse Gateway
Pending application

Check missing documents

Use the personal checklist for transcript, verification, CBC and other incomplete items.

Open the pending application. Select status and documents. Read each incomplete item.
Check Application
Out-of-state nurse

Apply by endorsement

Submit the application before transcripts, verification and Mississippi fingerprints.

Apply through Gateway. Order Nursys verification. Complete the Board CBC.
Review Endorsement
Education route

Verify a nursing program

Check the exact school, campus and the agency responsible for RN or LPN program oversight.

Match RN or LPN pathway. Confirm the exact campus. Review state accreditation.
Check Schools
Quick answers

Mississippi nursing-license facts that change your next action

RN renewal Jul 1–Dec 31 Even-numbered years.
LPN renewal Odd years Next normal cycle is 2027.
Base renewal $100 Use the amount shown in Gateway.
Routine RN/LPN CE Not mandated Special rules can still apply.
CBC fee $75 Board-approved fingerprint process.

Important official-page conflict: older Mississippi BON pages still display September or October renewal start dates. The Board’s newer renewal announcement and current licensure application page state that RN and LPN renewal begins July 1 in the applicable renewal year. Use the active Nurse Gateway transaction as the final confirmation.

LIVE

Lookup is primary-source verification

The Board identifies its online verification system as the primary source for Mississippi nursing-license status.

PDF

No paper license is mailed

Mississippi BON is paperless. It does not mail wallet cards, licenses or hard-copy certificates.

DAY

Public data can update next day

The verification page states that licensing information is updated at the end of each business day and appears online the following day.

5Y

Five years out of practice matters

A nurse who has not practised for five years or more must provide evidence of continuing basic nursing competence.

60

Gateway sessions expire

Nurse Gateway can end a session after 60 minutes of inactivity, which can cause unsaved application work to be lost.

SCAM

Verify unexpected demands

Do not respond to threatening payment or suspension claims until the live license record and official Board number are checked.

Primary-source verification

How to verify a Mississippi RN, LPN or APRN license

Use the Mississippi BON Online Verification System for current state license information. Employers should not rely on a copied license card, screenshot or third-party profile.

1

Open the official Mississippi lookup

The public search includes license number, license type, status and name fields.

Open Official Verification
2

Enter the number without its letter prefix

The Board specifically instructs users not to enter the letter that may appear before the license number.

3

Use legal name when the number is unknown

Search by last name and add other fields only when needed to narrow similar results.

4

Match the exact license type

Confirm whether the result is RN, LPN, APRN, expanded role or another Board credential.

5

Read status and expiration together

A matching name or license number is not enough. Confirm that the status authorizes current practice.

6

Record the verification date

Employers should retain the source, date and result under their credentialing and re-verification policy.

Status or result What it generally means Correct next action
Active The licensee may engage in nursing practice at the level indicated. Check expiration, restrictions, compact authority and APRN information.
Inactive The nurse maintains a license record but cannot actively practise nursing. Submit reactivation and meet any competency requirements before working.
Lapsed The license expired and was not timely renewed. Use late renewal when eligible or submit reinstatement.
Restricted Practice may be limited by a Board action or order. Read the complete restriction or disciplinary information.
Single-state The Mississippi license authorizes practice only in Mississippi. Check authority in the state where the patient is located.
Multistate The nurse may have compact privilege based on Mississippi primary residence and eligibility. Verify current compact details and primary state of residence.

No result found? Remove the letter prefix, recheck every digit, try a former legal surname, select another credential type and remember that a pending application is not an issued license.

Employer verification checklist

Legal name matches the employee.
License number was entered without a letter prefix.
Correct RN, LPN or APRN record was opened.
Current status was checked.
Expiration date was reviewed.
Compact authority was confirmed.
Restrictions or discipline were reviewed.
Verification date was recorded.
Current 2026 renewal

Mississippi RN renewal steps for July 1–December 31, 2026

Mississippi RNs renew in even-numbered years. The 2026 renewal transaction is completed through Nurse Gateway by opening the existing RN license record.

JUL

July 1

The latest Board renewal schedule begins the RN renewal window on July 1.

DEC

December 31

The normal 2026 RN renewal period closes at the end of the calendar year.

$100

Base renewal amount

The Board’s late-renewal schedule identifies the base RN/LPN renewal fee as $100.

LPN

LPN is not due in 2026

LPN licenses normally renew in odd-numbered years, with the next cycle in 2027.

1

Verify the current RN expiration and status

Use the public lookup before renewal so you know which credential and transaction must be completed.

Check RN Status
2

Log in to the existing Nurse Gateway profile

Use Forgot Username/Password when needed rather than creating a duplicate profile.

Open Nurse Gateway
3

Click the RN license record

The renewal application starts from the existing license shown inside the Gateway.

4

Review active, inactive and compact choices

An inactive license does not authorize practice. Confirm the primary state of residence when compact status is involved.

5

Answer every disclosure accurately

Criminal, disciplinary, name, address and practice-history information must be complete before attestation.

6

Pay and verify the renewed record

Payment is accepted electronically. After submission, monitor Gateway and confirm the new expiration through public verification.

A payment receipt is not enough. Do not assume the license renewed until the Nurse Gateway and public verification record show the correct active status and new expiration date.

Mississippi does not mail a renewed paper license or wallet card. Print or save the online verification result after the renewal is reflected.

Why the renewal option may be missing

You opened the wrong Gateway profile The RN license may be connected to an older username or a profile created with different identity information.
The license requires reinstatement A license that expired before the current renewal cycle may not qualify for ordinary online renewal.
Your primary residence is another compact state A nurse whose PSOR is another compact state may not qualify for a separate Mississippi RN/LPN license.
The browser blocked the transaction Gateway requires JavaScript, cookies and allowed pop-ups. Chrome, Edge or Firefox is recommended.
The session timed out Gateway can close after 60 minutes of inactivity and unsaved application progress can be lost.
You are viewing an LPN license Mississippi LPN renewal occurs in odd-numbered years, not during the 2026 RN cycle.
Continuing competency

Mississippi RN, LPN and APRN continuing-education rules

Mississippi does not impose a routine fixed CE-hour requirement on every active RN or LPN renewal. Requirements change when the nurse has been out of practice for five years, holds an LPN expanded role or renews an APRN license.

Nurse or situation Published requirement Practical action
Normally practising RN or LPN No routine fixed CE-hour prerequisite for ordinary renewal. Maintain competence for the actual field and employer role.
Out of nursing practice for five years or more Evidence of continuing basic nursing competence is required. Choose an approved refresher, 20 contact hours or qualifying nursing credit.
Twenty-hour competency route 20 contact hours directly related to nursing practice during the previous two years. Use education offered or accredited by a recognized credentialing agency.
Academic-credit route At least three semester hours of nursing credit in the previous two years. Use a program approved or accredited by the appropriate state agency.
LPN expanded IV or hemodialysis role Older application guidance identifies 10 contact hours directly related to the expanded role. Check the active Gateway renewal and current expanded-role instructions before submitting.
Mississippi APRN Five contact hours related to controlled substances or scheduled medications each state certification period. Upload the CE certificate to CE Broker and maintain national certification.
CE

CE Broker basic access is free

Mississippi BON identifies CE Broker as its official CE tracking system and provides a free Basic Account for licensees.

Open CE Broker Instructions
NO

MSBN does not accredit CE courses

The Board states that reviewing or accrediting continuing-education programs is not within its authority.

Do not buy a course simply because it says “Mississippi approved.” Confirm that the education is offered, approved or accredited by a recognized credentialing agency and matches the requirement you are trying to satisfy.

One academic semester credit hour related to nursing or healthcare equals 15 contact hours under the reinstatement guidance. One academic quarter credit equals 10 contact hours.

Fee guide

Mississippi nursing renewal, application and late fees

Mississippi BON fees are non-refundable. Use the amount displayed in the live Nurse Gateway transaction because processing charges and special credential fees can be added separately.

Transaction Published amount Practical explanation
RN or LPN base renewal $100 The current late-renewal schedule identifies $100 as the underlying renewal fee.
Inactive renewal $25 Inactive status does not authorize nursing practice.
Late Renewal 1 $100 plus $50 January 1–January 30 immediately after the normal renewal period.
Late Renewal 2 $100 plus $150 February 1–June 30; a criminal background check is also required.
Criminal background check $75 Only the Board’s approved fingerprint and CBC process is accepted.
RN examination or endorsement $100 CBC, NCLEX or verification charges can be additional.
LPN examination or endorsement $60 CBC, NCLEX or verification charges can be additional.
RN or LPN reinstatement $100 The $75 CBC is also required.
APRN initial or reinstatement $100 Applies to CNP, CRNA and CNM certification routes listed by the Board.
APRN renewal $100 Renewed in even-numbered years with the RN or compact-RN requirement.
Controlled Substance Prescriptive Authority $100 Separate from ordinary APRN certification fees.
APRN practice site or collaborative physician $25 each Each applicable registration or change is charged separately.
Name change $25 Legal documentation must accompany the profile change.
New-graduate temporary permit $25 Single-state permit valid for up to 90 days under the published conditions.

Pearson VUE lists a separate $200 NCLEX registration charge. Nursys verification, electronic-payment processing and transcript services can also charge separate fees.

Application status

Check missing items in a Mississippi nursing application

Mississippi applicants can see complete and incomplete items through the personal checklist in Nurse Gateway. The public license lookup should be used only after a license has been issued.

1

Log in to Nurse Gateway

Use the username connected to the original application.

Open Nurse Gateway
2

Open the pending application

Select the correct examination, endorsement, reinstatement, APRN or expanded-role application.

3

Select status and required documents

The checklist identifies which items are complete and which items the Board is still waiting to receive.

4

Confirm who must send the document

Official transcripts and license verifications often must come directly from the school, clearinghouse, Nursys or original board.

5

Allow processing after every item arrives

The Board gives no guaranteed overall timetable, but states that a license can be issued within 10 business days once all requirements have been acceptably met.

Incomplete item What to check Best next action
Official transcript Whether the program sent a final transcript with graduation date and credential awarded. Ask for the exact Parchment, Clearinghouse or mailing date.
License verification Whether the original state participates in Nursys. Order Nursys verification or arrange direct original-board verification.
Criminal background check Whether the application was submitted before CBC registration and the same legal name was used. Follow the red CBC button and Board instructions inside Gateway.
Proof of residency Whether Mississippi is being declared as the primary state of residence. Upload one of the Board’s accepted Mississippi residency documents.
Disciplinary disclosure Whether additional court, board or explanatory documents were requested. Submit complete records and allow additional staff-review time.
Everything shows complete Whether 10 business days have passed after final acceptance. Monitor Gateway and the public verification system before contacting staff.
Application-status message script:
“I am contacting the Mississippi Board of Nursing about my _____ application. I submitted it on _____. The item named _____ was sent by _____ on _____ using _____. My Gateway checklist currently shows _____. Please confirm whether the document has been matched and identify the exact remaining requirement.”
Out-of-state nurses

Mississippi RN or LPN licensure by endorsement

Endorsement is for a currently licensed RN or LPN who has never held a Mississippi nursing license. A nurse who previously held a Mississippi license generally uses reinstatement instead.

1

Submit the endorsement application first

Do not send supporting documents before the online application and payment are submitted.

Apply in Nurse Gateway
2

Pay the RN or LPN application fee

The published endorsement amounts are $100 for RN and $60 for LPN, plus the $75 CBC.

3

Request an official nursing transcript

The Board accepts transcripts through Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse or direct mail from the registrar.

4

Order original-license verification

Use Nursys Nurse License Verification for Endorsement when the original licensing state participates.

Order Nursys Verification
5

Complete the Mississippi CBC process

Only fingerprints and criminal-background checks completed through the Mississippi Board’s process are accepted.

6

Upload residency proof when claiming Mississippi PSOR

Use an accepted Mississippi driver’s license, voter registration, federal tax record, qualifying government W-2 or military Form 2058.

A transcript mailed, faxed, emailed or hand-delivered by the applicant is not accepted as an official transcript. It must come through an approved transcript service or directly from the nursing program.

The endorsement application and fee remain active for one year. After that period, an incomplete applicant must submit a new application and pay a new fee.

Accepted transcript routes

Parchment with Mississippi Board of Nursing selected as recipient.
National Student Clearinghouse sent to transcripts@msbn.ms.gov.
Direct mail from the school registrar.
Transcript identifies degree or certificate and graduation date.
Expired-license routes

Late renewal, reinstatement and restoration are different

Use late renewal immediately after a missed renewal period, reinstatement for an expired or inactive license and restoration only when a license or privilege was disciplined, revoked or suspended.

Route When it applies Published cost or requirement
Late Renewal 1 January 1–January 30 after the normal renewal period. $100 renewal fee plus $50 administrative fee.
Late Renewal 2 February 1–June 30 after the normal renewal period. $100 renewal fee plus $150 administrative fee and $75 CBC.
RN/LPN reinstatement A previously issued Mississippi license is lapsed or inactive. $100 application plus $75 CBC.
Reinstatement after five years without practice The applicant has not practised nursing for five years or more. Refresher program, 20 CE hours or three semester hours of nursing credit.
Restoration License or privilege was disciplined, revoked or suspended. Formal Board restoration process; not ordinary reinstatement.
1

Verify the current status first

Confirm whether the license is lapsed, inactive, restricted, revoked or suspended before selecting an application.

2

Open the expired license in Gateway

The reinstatement application begins by clicking the expired RN or LPN record.

3

Submit reinstatement before CBC registration

After the application is submitted, a red criminal-background-check button becomes available.

4

Use the exact application name for fingerprints

Bring legal name-change documents when the name on the photo ID differs from the application.

5

Submit competency evidence when required

A nurse out of practice for five years or more must use one of the Board’s three competency routes.

6

Wait for active status before working

An application, payment or fingerprint appointment does not itself restore authority to practise nursing.

Fingerprints collected for employment, another license or a different agency are not automatically accepted. The Board states that only fingerprints and CBCs performed through its nursing process are accepted.

Open Reinstatement Instructions
Nurse Licensure Compact

Mississippi single-state and multistate nursing licenses

Mississippi is a Nurse Licensure Compact state for RNs and LPNs. Multistate eligibility depends on the nurse’s legal primary state of residence and the Uniform Licensure Requirements.

PSOR

Mississippi must be the home state

Mississippi must be the nurse’s fixed permanent and principal home for a Mississippi multistate license.

NLC

Eligible nurses receive multistate authority

A Mississippi resident who meets the Uniform Licensure Requirements can receive a multistate RN or LPN license.

1

Others may receive single-state authority

A nurse who does not meet compact requirements or does not declare Mississippi PSOR may receive Mississippi-only authority.

Accepted Mississippi residency proof

Current Mississippi driver’s license.
Mississippi voter registration.
Current federal income-tax document.
Qualifying U.S. government W-2 showing Mississippi residence.
Military Form 2058.
Document is uploaded through Nurse Gateway.

A nurse whose primary state of residence is another compact state generally cannot hold a separate Mississippi RN or LPN license. An APRN may use an RN compact privilege from another home state while separately obtaining Mississippi APRN authority.

Nursing practice occurs where the patient is physically located. Telehealth, telephone triage and remote nursing can require authority in the patient’s state.

Advanced practice

Mississippi APRN renewal, certification and prescriptive-authority checks

Mississippi APRN licenses are not transferred by simple endorsement from another state. Every APRN must complete the Mississippi initial application and maintain active RN or compact-RN authority.

$100

APRN renewal fee

The Board publishes a $100 APRN renewal amount for even-numbered years.

5 CE

Controlled-substance education

Every APRN must complete five contact hours related to controlled substances or scheduled medications each certification period.

PMP

PMP registration

Mississippi requires APRNs to register with the Prescription Monitoring Program even when they do not hold a DEA registration.

RN or RN compact authority is active.
Mississippi APRN license is active.
National certification remains current.
Certification document is uploaded.
Five controlled-substance CE hours are complete.
CE certificate is uploaded to CE Broker.
PMP registration is current.
DEA and CSPA status are reviewed where applicable.

Do not apply for a DEA registration before Mississippi BON issues controlled-substance prescriptive authority. The Board states that only a Mississippi DEA document should be uploaded for Mississippi CSPA validation.

The APRN page still contains older September renewal wording, while the Board’s newer RN/LPN schedule starts July 1. APRNs should use the live Nurse Gateway transaction to confirm the current opening date for their linked 2026 APRN and RN renewal.

Education verification

Verify a Mississippi RN or LPN nursing program

The Mississippi BON hosts a state-school directory, but its current school page directs RN program questions to Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning and LPN program questions to the Mississippi Community College Board.

1

Open the Mississippi state-school directory

Use the official list to locate the school, program type, campus, address and contact number.

Open State School List
2

Match the exact program and campus

A college can operate practical nursing, associate-degree RN and baccalaureate programs at different locations.

3

Use IHL for RN program oversight

Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning publishes nursing-education standards and approved accreditation information for degree programs.

Check IHL Nursing Education
4

Use MCCB for practical nursing information

The Mississippi Community College Board publishes the current practical-nursing framework and participating colleges.

Check Practical Nursing
5

Check national accreditation separately

Confirm ACEN, CCNE or other applicable national accreditation when it affects employment, transfer, graduate study or financial aid.

Exact school and campus were matched.
RN or LPN pathway matches the student’s goal.
Current state oversight was confirmed.
National accreditation was checked separately.
NCLEX performance was reviewed where available.
Total tuition and mandatory fees are written.
Clinical-placement arrangements are understood.
Transfer and refund rules were reviewed.

Some Mississippi BON education pages use inconsistent language about which agency approves practical-nursing programs. For enrollment decisions, verify the exact program through the current MSBN directory and the state agency currently responsible for that program type.

Nurse Gateway help

Register, recover access and prevent application loss

REG

Register only when necessary

New users create a free Gateway account. Existing licensees should recover the original account rather than duplicate it.

PWD

Forgot username or password

The recovery process asks for identifying information such as Social Security number and date of birth.

POP

Allow pop-ups

Applications and printable documents may not open when the browser blocks Gateway pop-up windows.

JS

Enable cookies and JavaScript

The Gateway requires browser cookies and JavaScript for registration, applications and status screens.

60

Watch the timeout

The security session can end after 60 minutes of inactivity and unsaved progress can be lost.

PC

Use a supported browser

The Board recommends Edge, Firefox or Chrome and notes that Apple-computer compatibility is not guaranteed.

Keep a printer or PDF-saving option available. Gateway provides printable documents, but Mississippi BON does not mail paper license cards or certificates.

Contact and office

Mississippi Board of Nursing phone, hours and address

Before calling, open the Gateway checklist or public verification record and prepare the legal name, application type, document name, sending date and current status wording.

Main phone 601-957-6300

General Mississippi Board of Nursing contact route.

Fax 601-957-6301

Use only when a specific Board instruction permits fax submission.

Office hours 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Monday through Friday, excluding closures and state holidays.

Endorsement and examination 601-957-6313

Licensing officer route currently listed for endorsements and examinations.

RN/LPN reinstatement 601-957-6282

Current Board directory route for reinstatement questions.

APRN licensing 601-957-6290

Current contact listed for APRN licensing questions.

Useful phone script:
“I am contacting the Mississippi Board of Nursing about my _____ application or license. My legal name is _____. I submitted _____ through Nurse Gateway on _____. The checklist or verification record currently shows _____. Please identify the exact item still required and who must submit it.”
ADDR

Office and mailing address

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

CALL

Before travelling

Call first. An office visit does not guarantee same-day renewal, fingerprint, transcript or application processing.

Do not send an original transcript, identity document or licensing record unless the specific application instructions require it. Confirm whether the document must come directly from the issuing organization.

Open Official Contact Directory
Common questions

Mississippi Board of Nursing FAQ

How do I verify a Mississippi nursing license?

Use the Mississippi BON Online Verification System. Search by license number or legal name, do not enter the letter prefix and confirm the license type, status and expiration.

Is the Mississippi license lookup a primary source?

Yes. The Board identifies its online verification system as the primary source for verification of Mississippi nursing licenses.

When does Mississippi RN renewal open in 2026?

The Board’s newer renewal schedule states that RN renewal begins July 1 in even-numbered years. The 2026 RN renewal period runs through December 31.

When do Mississippi LPN licenses renew?

Mississippi LPN licenses renew in odd-numbered years. Under the newer schedule, the normal renewal period begins July 1 and ends December 31 of the applicable odd year.

How much is Mississippi RN or LPN renewal?

The current late-renewal schedule identifies the base RN or LPN renewal fee as $100. Use the exact total displayed in Nurse Gateway.

Does Mississippi require CE for every RN or LPN renewal?

No routine fixed CE-hour requirement applies to every RN or LPN renewal. A nurse out of practice for five years or more must provide continuing-competency evidence.

What happens if a nurse has not practised for five years?

The nurse must complete an approved refresher or reorientation program, 20 accepted contact hours during the previous two years or at least three semester hours of nursing credit.

How do I check a Mississippi nursing application?

Log in to Nurse Gateway, open the pending application and select the status or required-documents checklist to see complete and incomplete items.

How long does Mississippi license processing take?

The Board does not guarantee an overall timetable. Once all requirements are acceptably completed, the Board states that an applicant can be licensed within 10 business days.

How much is Mississippi endorsement?

The published endorsement application fees are $100 for an RN and $60 for an LPN. The Mississippi criminal-background-check fee is $75.

Can I send my own transcript to Mississippi BON?

No. The official transcript must come through Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse or directly from the nursing-program registrar.

Can fingerprints from my employer be reused?

Not automatically. Mississippi BON states that only fingerprints and criminal-background checks completed through its nursing process are accepted.

How much is Mississippi RN or LPN reinstatement?

The published RN or LPN reinstatement application fee is $100, plus a $75 criminal-background-check fee.

How much is Mississippi APRN renewal?

The Board publishes an APRN renewal fee of $100 for the applicable even-numbered-year cycle.

How many CE hours does a Mississippi APRN need?

An APRN must complete at least five contact hours directly related to controlled substances or scheduled medications during each state certification period and upload the certificate to CE Broker.

Does Mississippi mail a nursing license card?

No. Mississippi BON is paperless and does not mail license wallet cards or hard-copy certificates. Use the online verification system.

What is the Mississippi Board of Nursing phone number?

The main Mississippi Board of Nursing phone number is 601-957-6300.

Official resources

Mississippi nursing pages used for this guide

Renewal dates, fees, application instructions and staff contacts can change. Recheck the relevant official page before submitting payment, fingerprints or documents.

For employers and public users

Use the live Mississippi verification system, match the exact credential and review status, expiration, compact authority and restrictions. Record the date the check was completed.

For applicants and licensees

Use Nurse Gateway for applications, 2026 RN renewal, late renewal, reinstatement, profile changes, CBC registration and document checklists.

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