Mississippi RN Continuing Education Requirements, Explained
Last reviewed June 2026 against the official sources linked below. Requirements change — always confirm with your board before relying on them.
Total hours
None for routine renewal
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years (expires Dec 31, even years)
When CE applies
Out of practice over 5 years: 20 hours
Issued by
Mississippi Board of Nursing
Mississippi does not require continuing education to renew an active RN license under routine circumstances. The Board says it plainly: the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law does not mandate CEUs as a prerequisite to renewing or maintaining an RN or LPN license. Instead, each nurse is responsible for maintaining competency in their own field of practice.
There is one situation where CE does kick in - returning after a long absence from practice - and there is a fixed, statewide renewal deadline that catches people off guard precisely because it is the same date for everyone. Here is the full picture, in plain English.
No CE for routine RN renewal
For a standard, on-time renewal, Mississippi does not require you to complete or document continuing education hours. The Nursing Practice Law places the duty to stay competent on each individual nurse as it pertains to their area of practice, rather than enforcing a contact-hour total at renewal.
That makes a routine Mississippi renewal essentially administrative - application and fee - with no CE certificates to gather or upload.
The one time CE is required: a long absence from practice
If you have been out of nursing practice for more than five years, the picture changes. To renew, endorse, or reinstate after that kind of gap, you must complete a minimum of 20 contact hours of accepted continuing education earned in the two-year period immediately before your application. Those activities must be approved by the Mississippi Board of Nursing or by an accredited organization such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
So the practical rule is: most actively practicing RNs owe no CE, but a nurse returning from a multi-year break does - and that 20-hour requirement is easy to overlook when you are focused on simply getting back to work.
Stop tracking this in a spreadsheet
Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Mississippi RN licenses run on a fixed two-year cycle: the renewal period begins January 1 of each odd-numbered year and the license expires December 31 of each even-numbered year. The renewal window typically opens in the second half of the expiration year. Because the date is the same for every RN rather than tied to your birthday, it is surprisingly easy to let slip - set a reminder well ahead.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- No CE to chase for a routine renewal, so CredTally guards the thing that actually lapses - your December 31 even-year deadline - with reminder emails at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days.
- Returning after a long break and owe 20 hours? Track that requirement with a progress ring and store each approved certificate as you finish it.
- Hold licenses in more than one state? Track Mississippi's fixed date alongside your CE-heavy states so the simple one does not get buried.
- Keep a private, dated record of each renewal and any documentation you want on hand - exportable as a PDF packet in one click if you are ever asked.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mississippi require CE hours for RN renewal?
Not for a routine renewal. The Mississippi Nursing Practice Law does not mandate CEUs to renew or maintain an RN or LPN license; you are responsible for maintaining your own competency.
When does Mississippi require continuing education?
If you have been out of practice for more than five years. In that case you must complete at least 20 contact hours of accepted CE earned in the two-year period immediately before your renewal, endorsement, or reinstatement.
When do Mississippi RN licenses expire?
On December 31 of even-numbered years. The renewal period begins January 1 of odd-numbered years, and the date is the same for every RN rather than tied to your birthday.
Who approves Mississippi CE when it is required?
Activities must be approved by the Mississippi Board of Nursing or by an accredited organization such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Official sources
- Mississippi Board of Nursing - Are CEUs required to maintain or renew a license?
- Mississippi Board of Nursing - FAQs
CredTally is a record-keeping tool and is not affiliated with any licensing board. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
CredTally tracks all of this for you
Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
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