LPN Requirements in Mississippi 2026
Becoming an LPN in Mississippi requires completing a state-approved practical nursing program accredited through the Institutions of Higher Learning, then passing the NCLEX-PN through Pearson VUE. The Mississippi Board of Nursing issues the license and oversees all initial applications, endorsements, and renewals.
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Mississippi employs around 9,850 licensed practical nurses, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Most work in long-term care and assisted living, but clinics, home health, and hospital settings hire LPNs in significant numbers as well. The path to licensure is straightforward: finish an approved program, pass the NCLEX-PN, and apply to the Mississippi Board of Nursing (MSBN) through its online Gateway. Mississippi’s membership in the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) also means a Mississippi multistate license lets LPNs work in other compact states without a separate application.
Use the links below to jump to program requirements, licensing steps, scope of practice, and salary information for Mississippi LPNs.
- LPN program requirements in Mississippi
- Taking the NCLEX-PN
- LPN scope of practice and work settings
- Endorsement and compact membership
- License renewal
- Salary and job outlook
LPN Program Requirements in Mississippi
The MSBN requires all applicants to have graduated from a practical nursing program that meets the board’s educational standards and carries accreditation through the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL). Most LPN programs in Mississippi run 12 to 18 months and combine classroom coursework with required clinical training hours. Applicants must hold a valid Social Security Number and cannot submit supporting documentation before completing the online application and paying the required fee through the MSBN Gateway.
Program admission requirements vary by school but commonly include a high school diploma or GED, official transcripts, and entrance exam scores such as the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills). Clinical rotations are a program requirement, not optional, and typically cover multiple care settings before graduation. You can find approved LPN programs in Mississippi through our state program directory. For a broader overview of what the LPN credential involves and how licensing works nationally, see our guide to becoming an LPN.
Taking the NCLEX-PN in Mississippi
After the MSBN verifies a graduate’s eligibility, the candidate registers for the NCLEX-PN through Pearson VUE. Registration can be completed online or by phone. Once registration is confirmed and the exam fee is paid, Pearson VUE issues an Authorization to Test (ATT). Candidates must receive the ATT before they can schedule a testing appointment at a Pearson VUE or Prometric location.
The NCLEX-PN uses computerized adaptive testing, meaning the exam adjusts difficulty based on each candidate’s responses. Candidates who don’t pass can retest after a 45-day waiting period. Mississippi allows candidates to test up to six times within two years of graduation. Results are typically available within 48 hours through Pearson VUE’s Quick Results service.
Mississippi LPN Scope of Practice and Work Settings
LPNs in Mississippi work under the direction of a registered nurse or physician. The scope of practice covers medication administration, specimen collection, vaccination administration, patient education, focused assessments, and documentation. LPNs contribute to care planning and perform observation and recording duties that are commonly delegated in most settings. More specialized procedures involving nasogastric tubes, chest tubes, and tracheostomies may fall within an LPN’s practice when competency has been established, and a supervising clinician delegates the task.
Where Mississippi LPNs Work
Long-term care is the largest employment sector for Mississippi LPNs. Nursing facilities and skilled nursing units rely heavily on LPN staffing for medication administration, wound care, resident monitoring, and documentation. Assisted living is a related but distinct setting: facilities provide personal care and limited nursing services, and LPNs there may take on coordination roles that include insulin and other medication administration, respiratory treatments, wound care, and coordination of transfers and discharges. Mississippi’s Medicaid waiver program for adults who qualify for assisted living but would otherwise require nursing home placement sustains consistent demand in that sector.
Home health is a significant employment area as well. LPNs working for Medicare-funded home health agencies travel to patients following acute episodes, providing skilled nursing care in the home. Private duty LPNs may work full shifts, sometimes eight or more hours, with a single patient who requires ongoing medical support, including management of ventilators, feeding tubes, or other equipment. Some private duty patients are pediatric.
Clinic and physician practice settings employ LPNs in smaller but steady numbers. Duties typically include rooming patients, preparing examination rooms, drawing blood, collecting specimens, and assisting with procedures. Specialty clinics, family practices, and VA facilities all hire LPNs, with specific duties varying by practice type and patient population.
Expanded Role of LPNs in Mississippi
Mississippi recognizes two categories of expanded LPN practice: IV therapy and hemodialysis. IV therapy is by far the more common. To qualify, an LPN must complete an IV therapy-integrated accredited nursing program or a board-approved IV therapy course. Evidence of completion must be documented via an official transcript and certificate of completion and kept accessible for audit purposes.
Hemodialysis is far less common and typically limited to LPNs in dialysis centers or acute care settings. Training must be completed through a Mississippi State Department of Health-certified dialysis unit and must include both theory and clinical components. LPNs who completed IV therapy or hemodialysis training in another state cannot practice in that expanded capacity in Mississippi through endorsement alone. Both require completion of a board-approved delineation course before performing those acts here.
Endorsement and Compact Membership
LPNs licensed in another state can apply for a Mississippi license through endorsement using the MSBN Gateway. The application fee is $60, with a separate $75 criminal background check fee. After submitting the online application and payment, applicants must have their nursing program submit an official transcript directly to the MSBN via Parchment, National Clearinghouse, or mail from the registrar. Applicants cannot submit transcripts themselves. License verification from the original state is submitted through Nursys.com. Applicants not listed in NURSYS must contact their original state board to request verification directly.
If an LPN needs to begin working before the full endorsement is complete, a 90-day temporary permit is available. Contact the MSBN for current temporary permit requirements and fees.
Mississippi joined the original Nurse Licensure Compact in 2001, withdrew, and implemented the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) on January 19, 2018. LPNs who hold a Mississippi multistate license and whose primary state of residence is Mississippi can practice in other eNLC member states without applying for a separate license. LPNs from other eNLC states can practice in Mississippi without a Mississippi-specific license, provided Mississippi is not their primary state of residence. LPNs who held a multistate license under the original compact were grandfathered into eNLC coverage and don’t need to reapply unless they move states.
For a full overview of all nursing license types in Mississippi, see our guide to Mississippi nursing license requirements.
License Renewal in Mississippi
Mississippi LPN licenses renew biennially during odd-numbered years. The renewal window opens September 1 and closes December 31 of the renewal year. LPNs who have been actively practicing within the past five years face no mandatory continuing education requirement at renewal. The CE requirement applies only when an LPN has been out of practice for more than five years. In that case, the LPN must meet one of these three requirements before applying for renewal or reinstatement:
- Complete 20 contact hours of CE directly related to nursing practice within the two years immediately prior to the application.
- Complete three semester hours of nursing-related academic credit within the same two-year window.
- Complete a board-approved Reorientation or Refresher Program within the five years prior to the application.
Expanded role LPNs holding IV therapy or hemodialysis certification renew on the same biennial cycle but must submit both the standard LPN renewal application and a separate LPN Expanded Role Renewal Application. Contact the MSBN for current expanded role renewal requirements.
LPNs whose license has lapsed may have additional reinstatement requirements. Contact the MSBN directly to confirm the process before submitting any materials.
LPN Salary and Job Outlook in Mississippi
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from May 2025, Mississippi LPNs earned a median annual salary of $50,220. The mean annual wage was $51,450. LPNs at the 75th percentile earned $58,030 per year, and those at the 90th percentile earned $60,910.
| Wage Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Median (50th) | $50,220 |
| Mean | $51,450 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,030 |
| 90th Percentile | $60,910 |
Projections Central estimates 5.5% employment growth for LPNs in Mississippi between 2022 and 2032, with an average of 740 job openings per year. Long-term care and home health are expected to drive the bulk of that demand, consistent with the state’s aging population and the ongoing shift toward community-based care models. LPNs interested in expanding their scope and earning potential can find state-by-state options in our guide to LPN-to-RN bridge programs.
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mississippi require continuing education for LPN license renewal?
No, there’s no mandatory CE requirement for LPNs who have been actively practicing within the five years before renewal. The CE requirement applies only when an LPN has been out of practice for more than five years, in which case 20 contact hours are required within the two years immediately before the renewal application.
Is Mississippi an enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Mississippi implemented the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) on January 19, 2018. A Mississippi multistate license allows LPNs to practice in other eNLC states without applying for a separate license, as long as Mississippi remains their primary state of residence.
How long does it take to become an LPN in Mississippi?
Most state-approved LPN programs in Mississippi run 12 to 18 months. After graduation, the NCLEX-PN registration and scheduling process typically adds several weeks before the candidate can sit for the exam. The full timeline from starting a program to holding an active Mississippi LPN license is typically 13 to 20 months.
What is an expanded role LPN in Mississippi?
Mississippi recognizes two expanded practice categories for LPNs: IV therapy and hemodialysis. IV therapy requires completing an IV therapy-integrated accredited nursing program or a board-approved IV therapy course. Hemodialysis training must be completed through a Mississippi State Department of Health-certified dialysis unit. LPNs certified in another state must complete a board-approved delineation course before performing those acts in Mississippi.
How do I get a Mississippi LPN license through endorsement?
Apply through the MSBN Gateway and pay the $60 application fee plus a $75 criminal background check fee. Your nursing program must submit an official transcript directly to the MSBN. You can’t submit it yourself. Submit license verification through Nursys.com. If you need to begin working before the endorsement is complete, a 90-day temporary permit is available through the MSBN.
Key Takeaways
- MSBN and IHL accreditation required — All LPN programs must be approved by the Mississippi Board of Nursing and accredited through the Institutions of Higher Learning.
- NCLEX-PN through Pearson VUE — After the MSBN verifies eligibility, candidates register for and take the NCLEX-PN before a license is issued.
- Mississippi is an eNLC state — A multistate LPN license lets holders practice across compact states without a separate application, as long as Mississippi is their primary state of residence.
- No CE required for active LPNs — Mississippi does not require continuing education for LPNs who have been actively practicing within the past five years.
- Expanded roles require Mississippi-specific training — IV therapy and hemodialysis certifications require completing a board-approved course or program. LPNs certified in other states must complete a board-approved delineation course before practicing in that expanded capacity in Mississippi.
Find approved LPN programs in Mississippi, application links, and state-specific licensing requirements through our program search below.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data and Projections Central 2022-2032 job growth forecasts for Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurses, Registered Nurses, and Advanced Practice Nurses across roles, reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2026.