Returning to Nursing in Mississippi

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Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the Mississippi Board of Nursing · 2026-06-04

The Mississippi RN reinstatement fee is $175 total ($100 reinstatement application fee plus a $75 criminal background check fee), plus any back renewal fees. What else your return takes depends on how long the license has been lapsed: short lapses are paperwork and CE, long ones can add a refresher course.

Grace period: Tiered late renewal: January 1-30 with $50 admin fee ($150 total); February 1-June 30 with $150 admin fee + $75 background check ($325 total). After June 30, reinstatement required.

What your lapse length means in Mississippi

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Late renewal window (likely)	Renewal fee + late penalty (Mississippi: $150 total (Jan 1-30: $100 renewal + $50 admin) / $325 total (Feb 1-June 30: $100 renewal + $150 admin + $75 background check)). Total is usually $100–$300 above the standard fee.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Mississippi: $175 total ($100 reinstatement application fee plus a $75 criminal background check fee)) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (Mississippi: $175 total ($100 reinstatement application fee plus a $75 criminal background check fee)) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in Mississippi.

Refresher course rules in Mississippi

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: Lapsed with no practice for 5 or more years: evidence of continuing basic nursing competency is required to reinstate.
What it takes: One of: a board-approved reorientation or refresher program completed within the 5 years before reinstatement, 20 contact hours of CE in the past 2 years, or 3 semester hours of nursing coursework in the past 2 years. Compact-license holders from other states can keep practicing while reinstatement is pending.
Re-examination: Mississippi publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the competency-evidence options govern.

Source: Mississippi Board of Nursing, RN/LPN reinstatement, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in Mississippi

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.
2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.
3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.
4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.
5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).
6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Start at the source: Mississippi Board of Nursing or the online renewal portal.

Mississippi reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in Mississippi?: The Mississippi RN reinstatement fee is $175 total ($100 reinstatement application fee plus a $75 criminal background check fee), plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the Mississippi Board of Nursing before applying.
Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my Mississippi nursing license?: Lapsed with no practice for 5 or more years: evidence of continuing basic nursing competency is required to reinstate. One of: a board-approved reorientation or refresher program completed within the 5 years before reinstatement, 20 contact hours of CE in the past 2 years, or 3 semester hours of nursing coursework in the past 2 years. Compact-license holders from other states can keep practicing while reinstatement is pending.
Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my Mississippi license back?: Mississippi publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the competency-evidence options govern.
Is there a grace period after my Mississippi license expires?: Mississippi's published rule: Tiered late renewal: January 1-30 with $50 admin fee ($150 total); February 1-June 30 with $150 admin fee + $75 background check ($325 total). After June 30, reinstatement required.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.
How long does Mississippi license reinstatement take?: Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The Mississippi Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

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Returning to Nursing in Mississippi

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the Mississippi Board of Nursing · 2026-06-04

Grace period: Tiered late renewal: January 1-30 with $50 admin fee ($150 total); February 1-June 30 with $150 admin fee + $75 background check ($325 total). After June 30, reinstatement required.

What your lapse length means in Mississippi

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Late renewal window (likely)	Renewal fee + late penalty (Mississippi: $150 total (Jan 1-30: $100 renewal + $50 admin) / $325 total (Feb 1-June 30: $100 renewal + $150 admin + $75 background check)). Total is usually $100–$300 above the standard fee.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Mississippi: $175 total ($100 reinstatement application fee plus a $75 criminal background check fee)) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (Mississippi: $175 total ($100 reinstatement application fee plus a $75 criminal background check fee)) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in Mississippi.

Refresher course rules in Mississippi

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: Lapsed with no practice for 5 or more years: evidence of continuing basic nursing competency is required to reinstate.
What it takes: One of: a board-approved reorientation or refresher program completed within the 5 years before reinstatement, 20 contact hours of CE in the past 2 years, or 3 semester hours of nursing coursework in the past 2 years. Compact-license holders from other states can keep practicing while reinstatement is pending.
Re-examination: Mississippi publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the competency-evidence options govern.

Source: Mississippi Board of Nursing, RN/LPN reinstatement, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in Mississippi

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.

2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.

3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.

4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.

5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).

6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Mississippi reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in Mississippi?

The Mississippi RN reinstatement fee is $175 total ($100 reinstatement application fee plus a $75 criminal background check fee), plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the Mississippi Board of Nursing before applying.

Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my Mississippi nursing license?

Lapsed with no practice for 5 or more years: evidence of continuing basic nursing competency is required to reinstate. One of: a board-approved reorientation or refresher program completed within the 5 years before reinstatement, 20 contact hours of CE in the past 2 years, or 3 semester hours of nursing coursework in the past 2 years. Compact-license holders from other states can keep practicing while reinstatement is pending.

Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my Mississippi license back?

Mississippi publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the competency-evidence options govern.

Is there a grace period after my Mississippi license expires?

Mississippi's published rule: Tiered late renewal: January 1-30 with $50 admin fee ($150 total); February 1-June 30 with $150 admin fee + $75 background check ($325 total). After June 30, reinstatement required.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.

How long does Mississippi license reinstatement take?

Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The Mississippi Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

Returning to Nursing in Mississippi

What your lapse length means in Mississippi

Refresher course rules in Mississippi

Steps to reinstate in Mississippi

Mississippi reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for Mississippi nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free

Returning to Nursing in Mississippi

What your lapse length means in Mississippi

Refresher course rules in Mississippi

Steps to reinstate in Mississippi

Mississippi reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for Mississippi nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free