How to Get Your LPN License in Mississippi (2026 Guide)

## How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Mississippi Mississippi has one of the most critical LPN workforces in the country. With a large rural population, a persistent physician shortage across the Delta region, and significant demand in corrections and long-term care, LPNs in Mississippi often take on broader primary care support roles than their counterparts in urban states. Here's how to get licensed and where to find work. ### Step 1: Complete an Accredited Practical Nursing Program You must graduate from a program approved by the **Mississippi Board of Nursing (MSBN)** before applying for licensure. Practical nursing programs in Mississippi are primarily offered at community colleges — institutions like Hinds Community College, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and East Mississippi Community College run well-regarded PN programs that typically complete in **12 to 15 months**. Curricula cover anatomy, physiology, medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, maternal-newborn, and mental health with required clinical hours at affiliated hospitals and long-term care facilities. MSBN-approved programs must meet minimum standards for faculty credentials, clinical placement, and NCLEX-PN pass rates. Mississippi's community college system makes practical nursing training accessible statewide, including in rural areas where the LPN-to-patient ratio directly affects community health outcomes. ### Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-PN Exam Passing the **NCLEX-PN** is required for all initial LPN applicants. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE at testing centers in Jackson, Hattiesburg, and other locations. The adaptive exam draws from a question bank covering safe and effective care environment, health promotion, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. To register, submit your application to MSBN and receive your Authorization to Test (ATT). Mississippi does not restrict the number of retakes, but a 45-day waiting period and re-examination fee apply between attempts. ### Step 3: Apply for Your Mississippi LPN License Applications are submitted to the **Mississippi Board of Nursing** at msbn.ms.gov. Required documentation includes: - Official transcripts from your PN program - NCLEX-PN results from Pearson VUE - Criminal background check - Application fee: approximately **$50–$75** Mississippi is one of the more affordable states for initial licensure. Out-of-state nurses may apply by endorsement; MSBN will verify your existing license and may require supplemental documentation if your original state had different education requirements. ### eNLC Compact Membership Mississippi participates in the **enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC)**. A multistate license issued by Mississippi allows LPNs to practice in all 41 current eNLC member states without additional licensure applications. For LPNs working near the Louisiana or Alabama borders, or those considering travel assignments in the South, this is a material benefit. To qualify for multistate privileges, Mississippi must be your primary state of residence and you must meet all federal and compact eligibility criteria including background check clearance. ### Continuing Education Requirements Mississippi imposes one of the highest CE requirements in the region: **40 continuing education hours every two years**. This is notably above the 24–30 hour standard found in most other states. LPNs renewing their Mississippi license must plan ahead to accumulate the required hours. Of the 40 hours, some must address specific topics as designated by the MSBN for a given renewal cycle — historically including infection control, abuse recognition, and professional ethics. Online CE platforms (Relias, NurseCE4Less, ProCEU) offer affordable packages that satisfy Mississippi's requirements. Many hospitals and long-term care employers provide CE access as part of employment benefits, which helps offset the higher requirement. ### Mississippi LPN Salary Ranges Mississippi LPN salaries are among the lower end nationally, reflecting the state's overall wage structure, but rural premium pay and corrections nursing rates have improved in recent years. - **Entry-level (0–2 years):** $38,000–$46,000/year - **Mid-career (3–7 years):** $44,000–$54,000/year - **Experienced (8+ years):** $50,000–$60,000/year - **Corrections nursing premium:** adds $4,000–$8,000 above comparable clinical roles Delta region LPN roles in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics carry some premium pay due to persistent understaffing. LPNs with IV certification and expanded primary care skills command higher rates in rural settings. ### Top Employers for LPNs in Mississippi - **University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC)** — largest academic medical center in the state; multiple LPN roles in clinics and affiliated facilities - **Baptist Memorial Health Care** — major employer across north Mississippi; strong LPN presence in acute and long-term care - **North Mississippi Health Services** — dominant in Tupelo and surrounding counties; recruits LPNs for both inpatient and primary care support - **Mississippi Department of Corrections** — consistent LPN demand; premium pay and stable hours relative to hospital settings - **Singing River Health System** — Gulf Coast employer with LPN openings across acute care and outpatient settings Rural health clinics and FQHCs across the Delta represent some of the highest-impact LPN positions in the state, where a single LPN may be the primary clinical support for a physician or nurse practitioner serving a large underserved population.