Getting a Mississippi nursing license by endorsement

Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse

Endorsement timeline, fees & requirements · Verified 2026-06-18

Not published. The board states there is no timetable; applications are processed first in, first out and stay active for one year.

Mississippi endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Mississippi grants licensure by endorsement to an RN currently licensed in another state who has never held a Mississippi license. You get a multistate license if you declare Mississippi as your primary residence and meet the requirements, otherwise a single-state license.
Processing time: Not published. The board states there is no timetable; applications are processed first in, first out and stay active for one year.
Work while waiting: No Mississippi temporary permit is described for endorsement applicants; a compact-license holder from another state continues to practice on that license during review.
Requirements: A Social Security number, an official transcript, verification of the original license through Nursys or board-to-board, a fingerprint background check, and a current active license elsewhere. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $100 RN application (non-refundable) plus $75 for the background check.
Compact rules: Mississippi is a compact state. If your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license already covers Mississippi practice, and you can keep working on it during review. Make Mississippi your primary residence and you must endorse.

Source: Mississippi Board of Nursing, licensure by endorsement, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Mississippi

1Check whether you even need Mississippi endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.
2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).
3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.
4Submit the Mississippi Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.
5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Start at the source: Mississippi Board of Nursing or the online licensing portal. Not sure if you even need to endorse? The compact eligibility quiz sorts compact privilege from a required license in two minutes.

Mississippi endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Mississippi nursing license by endorsement?: Not published. The board states there is no timetable; applications are processed first in, first out and stay active for one year.
Can I work in Mississippi while my endorsement application is processing?: No Mississippi temporary permit is described for endorsement applicants; a compact-license holder from another state continues to practice on that license during review.
Do I need a Mississippi license if I already hold a compact multistate license?: Mississippi is a compact state. If your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license already covers Mississippi practice, and you can keep working on it during review. Make Mississippi your primary residence and you must endorse.
How much does Mississippi endorsement cost?: $100 RN application (non-refundable) plus $75 for the background check.

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Mississippi endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Mississippi grants licensure by endorsement to an RN currently licensed in another state who has never held a Mississippi license. You get a multistate license if you declare Mississippi as your primary residence and meet the requirements, otherwise a single-state license.
Processing time: Not published. The board states there is no timetable; applications are processed first in, first out and stay active for one year.
Work while waiting: No Mississippi temporary permit is described for endorsement applicants; a compact-license holder from another state continues to practice on that license during review.
Requirements: A Social Security number, an official transcript, verification of the original license through Nursys or board-to-board, a fingerprint background check, and a current active license elsewhere. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $100 RN application (non-refundable) plus $75 for the background check.
Compact rules: Mississippi is a compact state. If your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license already covers Mississippi practice, and you can keep working on it during review. Make Mississippi your primary residence and you must endorse.

Source: Mississippi Board of Nursing, licensure by endorsement, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Mississippi

1Check whether you even need Mississippi endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.

2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).

3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.

4Submit the Mississippi Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.

5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Mississippi endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Mississippi nursing license by endorsement?

Not published. The board states there is no timetable; applications are processed first in, first out and stay active for one year.

Can I work in Mississippi while my endorsement application is processing?

No Mississippi temporary permit is described for endorsement applicants; a compact-license holder from another state continues to practice on that license during review.

Do I need a Mississippi license if I already hold a compact multistate license?

Mississippi is a compact state. If your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license already covers Mississippi practice, and you can keep working on it during review. Make Mississippi your primary residence and you must endorse.

How much does Mississippi endorsement cost?

$100 RN application (non-refundable) plus $75 for the background check.

Getting a Mississippi nursing license by endorsement

Mississippi endorsement at a glance

Steps to endorse into Mississippi

Mississippi endorsement FAQ

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Getting a Mississippi nursing license by endorsement

Mississippi endorsement at a glance

Steps to endorse into Mississippi

Mississippi endorsement FAQ

Related guides

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