Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Mississippi
- Training hours
- 75 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $135
- Exam
- Knowledge Test, Skill Test
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Licensure Division — Nurse Aide Certification and Training
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. No MSDH-published minimum age for CNA training or certification was found on the official program page or in the candidate handbook. Background check: confirmed in the context of petitions to remove a neglect finding from the registry, which require 'a background check, including a criminal history record check or report'; this establishes that criminal history checks are part of Mississippi's nurse-aide oversight process, though the handbook does not spell out a separate fingerprinting step for routine initial certification. [2]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 75 hours of training (including 16 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. Candidates must complete a minimum of 75 hours of state-approved nurse aide training (NATP), including at least 16 hours of clinical practice. No approved Mississippi program is offered entirely online; programs run through community colleges, proprietary schools, and nursing facilities, typically taking about 3-8 weeks. [1]
- 3
Knowledge Test
Pass the Knowledge Test (fee: $35). Multiple-choice; an Audio Knowledge Test alternative is available for $45 ($35 + $10 audio surcharge). You have 3 attempts within 24 months of your training completion date to pass both the knowledge and skills components (or 3 attempts within 120 days of hire date for the Long-Term Care Facility/'lapsed nurse aide' route). [2]
- 4
Skill Test
Pass the Skill Test (fee: $100). Hands-on demonstration of five nurse aide skills selected from the published skills list. Combined Knowledge + Skill fee is $135 when scheduled together. Same 3-attempt / 24-month window as the Knowledge Test. [2]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Licensure Division — Nurse Aide Certification and Training. [2]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Licensure Division — Nurse Aide Certification and Training issues your Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) for Mississippi.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | None specified |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | None specified |
| Knowledge Test [2] | $35 |
| Skill Test [2] | $100 |
| Out-of-state reciprocity processing/administrative assessment fee (D&SDT-Headmaster) [2] | $25 |
No separate MSDH application, certification, or renewal fee was found beyond the D&SDT-Headmaster exam fees (listed under exams). The one dollar figure found outside testing is the $25 administrative assessment fee charged specifically for out-of-state reciprocity placement on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry (MSNAR).
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
To maintain registry eligibility, a nurse aide must work for pay performing nursing or nursing-related services for at least 8 consecutive hours during the previous 24 months. You have 30 days after certification expiration to renew (listing work hours/employer in your TMU account for employer verification); after 30 days lapsed, you must retest to recertify. No continuing-education-hour requirement was found.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers CNAs/nurse aides (unlike the RN/LPN Nurse Licensure Compact). Mississippi runs an Out-of-State Reciprocity Process: the applicant must be current and in good standing on a nurse aide registry in a state other than Mississippi, complete a CNA Reciprocity Form Application through the Mississippi TMU portal, and pay a $25 processing/administrative assessment fee.
7 state-approved training providers in Mississippi — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $35
- $100
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of CNA training does Mississippi require?
At least 75 hours of state-approved training, including at least 16 hours of clinical practice. Programs typically run 3-8 weeks and are not offered fully online.
Who administers the Mississippi nurse aide exam?
D&S Diversified Technologies LLP / Headmaster LLP, via the Mississippi TMU testing platform. The exam has a Knowledge Test and a Skill Test.
How much does the Mississippi nurse aide exam cost?
Knowledge Test is $35 ($45 for the audio version) and the Skill Test is $100 — $135 combined. You have 3 attempts within 24 months of training completion.
How often do I need to renew my Mississippi nurse aide certification?
Every 24 months, by documenting at least 8 consecutive paid hours of nurse aide work in that period. You have a 30-day grace period after expiration before you must retest.
Can I transfer my nurse aide certification from another state to Mississippi?
Yes, via the Out-of-State Reciprocity Process, if you're current and in good standing on another state's registry. It requires a $25 administrative assessment fee, paid through the Mississippi TMU portal.
Sources
- [1] msdh.ms.gov/page/30,0,83,74.html — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] hdmaster.com/testing/cnatesting/Mississippi/forms/MS%20NA%20Candidate%20Handbook%206.2025.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10