Mississippi does not mandate continuing education for RN or LPN license renewal, placing the responsibility for maintaining professional competency on each nurse individually. APRNs have a small controlled substances CE requirement. With tiered late fees that can climb to $325, renewing on time is important. Here's your complete guide.
Mississippi RN License Renewal Requirements Overview
The Mississippi Board of Nursing does not require continuing education hours for RN or LPN license renewal. The Mississippi Nursing Practice Law requires nurses to maintain competency, but that responsibility rests with each individual nurse. APRNs must complete 5 contact hours related to controlled substances per certification period.
Mississippi is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, allowing nurses with a multistate license to practice across all compact states.
What Is Required for Renewal?
For RNs and LPNs:
- No CE hours required — Mississippi does not mandate continuing education for RN or LPN renewal
- Maintain professional competency — each nurse is individually responsible for staying current in their field of practice
- Renewal fee: $100
For APRNs:
- 5 contact hours on controlled substances per state certification period
- Renewal fee: $100
Out-of-Practice Nurses (5+ Years):
- 20 contact hours of CE related to nursing practice within the 2-year period prior to reinstatement, or completion of a board-approved refresher program
Important Renewal Dates
- RN and APRN renewal: September 1 through December 31 of even-numbered years
- LPN renewal: September 1 through December 31 of odd-numbered years
- Late Period 1: January 1-30 with $150 late fee
- Late Period 2: February 1-June 30 with $325 late fee
- After June 30: Reinstatement required
Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your Mississippi Nursing License
- Know your renewal year. RN/APRN licenses renew in even-numbered years; LPN licenses renew in odd-numbered years.
- Log in to the MSBN portal. Visit msbn.ms.gov during the September 1 through December 31 renewal window.
- Complete the online renewal application. Answer all required questions about your practice and licensure status.
- If APRN, attest to controlled substances CE. Confirm completion of 5 contact hours related to controlled substances.
- Pay the $100 renewal fee. Submit payment online before December 31 to avoid late fees.
- Retain documentation. CE Broker is the official CE tracking system — keep records accessible for audit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming CE isn't your responsibility. While Mississippi doesn't mandate CE hours, the law still requires you to maintain competency. Employers may require CE, and it's essential for safe practice.
- Missing the December 31 deadline. Late fees are steep: $150 in January and $325 from February through June. After June 30, you'll need full reinstatement.
- Confusing RN and LPN renewal years. RN/APRN licenses renew in even-numbered years while LPN licenses renew in odd-numbered years. Don't mix them up.
- APRNs neglecting controlled substances CE. The 5 contact hours must be directly related to controlled substances — general CE won't satisfy this requirement.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal
- Renew as early as September 1. Don't wait until December. The online portal opens September 1, giving you a full 4 months to complete the process.
- Use CE Broker. Mississippi uses CE Broker as its official tracking system. Keep your CE records there for easy access during renewal and audit.
- Consider voluntary CE. Even without a mandate, continuing education makes you a stronger nurse and more competitive in the job market. RenewRN can track both required and voluntary CE alongside your license status.
- Leverage your NLC multistate license. As a compact state, Mississippi's multistate license lets you practice in other NLC states without additional applications.
Why Mississippi Doesn't Mandate CE for Most Nurses
Per the Board, Mississippi does not require continuing education hours for RN or LPN license renewal. The Mississippi Nursing Practice Law requires nurses to maintain competency, but that responsibility rests with each individual nurse rather than being state-enforced through specific hour requirements.
Practical implications:
- You don't need to track CE hours, mandatory topics, or provider approvals for state licensure compliance — unless you're an APRN with controlled substance authority
- National certification bodies (ANCC, AANP, etc.) and many employers still impose CE requirements independent of the state
- Travel to states with CE requirements still requires meeting those states' rules during the time you practice there
- Specialty hospitals and academic medical centers often expect ongoing CE as part of continued employment
The APRN Controlled Substances Requirement
Per the Board, APRNs in Mississippi must complete a minimum of 5 contact hours of CE directly related to controlled substances per state certification period. This is the one specific CE requirement that applies to advanced practice nurses in Mississippi.
Practical implications:
- The 5 hours must be specifically on controlled substances — not general pharmacology
- The requirement applies every certification period
- Documentation should clearly indicate the course covered controlled substances content
APRNs with DEA registration also need to complete the federal 8-hour MATE Act training on opioid and substance use disorder treatment — a federal requirement at DEA registration or renewal, separate from Mississippi state CE.
How CE Broker Affects Your Mississippi Renewal
Per the Board, CE Broker is the official CE tracking system for the Mississippi Board of Nursing. Even though Mississippi doesn't mandate CE for RNs/LPNs, CE Broker remains the official record-keeping system for any voluntary or specialty CE you complete.
Practical implications:
- For RNs/LPNs: while not state-required, voluntary CE you complete may auto-report to CE Broker — useful as a backup record
- For APRNs: the 5 controlled substances hours should be tracked through CE Broker for audit purposes
- For nurses returning from a 5+ year practice break (see out-of-practice section): CE Broker tracks the 20 reinstatement hours
The 20-Hour Out-of-Practice Reinstatement Requirement
Per the Board, nurses who have been out of practice for more than 5 years face a different reinstatement requirement: 20 contact hours of CE related to nursing practice within the 2-year period prior to reinstatement application, OR completion of a board-approved refresher program.
Practical implications:
- Nurses returning to practice after a 5+ year break can't simply complete the standard renewal application — they need to demonstrate updated competency
- The 20-hour CE pathway is more flexible than a refresher program but requires documenting current nursing-relevant CE
- A board-approved refresher program is a more structured option for nurses needing comprehensive re-training
The Tiered Late Fee Structure
Per the Board, Mississippi uses a tiered late renewal fee structure that escalates as time passes:
- December 31: Standard renewal deadline
- January 1–30: $50 administrative fee added to the $100 standard renewal fee, totaling $150
- February 1–June 30: $150 administrative fee plus a $75 background check fee added to the $100 standard renewal fee, totaling $325
- After June 30: Full reinstatement required ($150 reinstatement fee per the Board)
Practicing on an expired license is prohibited regardless of which tier you fall into. The escalation makes Mississippi one of the costlier states for delayed renewal — there's no leveling-off, only escalation.
The Two-Cycle Renewal Calendar
Per the Board, Mississippi uses different renewal years for different license types:
- RN and APRN licenses: Renew in even-numbered years
- LPN licenses: Renew in odd-numbered years
For nurses who hold both an RN and an LPN credential, this means two separate renewal cycles spaced 1 year apart. Each license has its own $100 fee.
How Mississippi Audits Work
Per the Board, Mississippi conducts random CE audits and nurses should retain records for at least 5 years (longer than most states). Documentation auditors verify:
- For RNs/LPNs: there's no specific CE to audit — but maintenance of competency may be examined through other means
- For APRNs: course certificate showing the 5-hour controlled substances course was completed
- For out-of-practice nurses: course certificates for the 20 reinstatement hours, or completion certificate from a board-approved refresher program
- CE Broker transcripts can satisfy most documentation requirements
Failed audits can result in license discipline. Save documentation digitally with clear filenames covering the rolling 5-year retention window.
NLC Compact and Mississippi
Mississippi is a Nurse Licensure Compact member state. If your primary state of residence is Mississippi, you can apply for a multistate license through the MSBN portal and practice in any of the other 41 NLC member states without separate applications.
Two practical notes:
- A multistate Mississippi license still requires the same birth-month-tied biennial renewal — multistate status doesn't change renewal timing
- For APRNs, the 5 controlled substances CE hours requirement applies to multistate licenses as well
Mississippi RN Renewal FAQ
Are CE hours really not required for RN/LPN renewal? Correct. Per the Board, Mississippi doesn't mandate CE hours for RN or LPN renewal — but the Nursing Practice Law requires you to maintain competency.
What happens if I don't renew by December 31? Per the Board, late fees escalate: $50 admin fee in January ($150 total), then $150 admin fee + $75 background check February through June ($325 total), then full reinstatement after June 30.
As an APRN, can I count my controlled substances CE toward my underlying RN renewal? There's no RN CE requirement to count it toward — the 5 controlled substances hours apply to your APRN certification specifically.
What if I've been out of practice for 5+ years? Per the Board, you need either 20 contact hours of CE related to nursing practice within the 2-year period prior to reinstatement, or completion of a board-approved refresher program.
I'm a first-time renewer. Am I exempt? Per the Board, first-time licensees are exempt from CE requirements for the initial renewal cycle.
Track Your Mississippi License with RenewRN
Mississippi's tiered late fee system means on-time renewal saves you up to $325. RenewRN sends reminders at 90, 60, 30, 7, and 1 day before your December 31 deadline so you never face unnecessary late fees.