Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Applicants for Mississippi Board of Nursing (Board) APRN certification must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse in Mississippi, or hold an active unrestricted Registered Nurse multi-state Compact license.  

APRNs who are changing primary residency to Mississippi from another state will need to apply for an RN endorsement prior to the APRN application.  If you currently  have an RN Compact license from another state and are not  changing primary residency to Mississippi, you would need to register your RN Compact license by completing the RN Compact Application for the state of Mississippi.  There is no fee to register the RN Compact with MS.   APRNs must have an active RN or RN Compact license to obtain an APRN License.  All APRNs must complete the initial APRN application.  APRN licenses are NOT endorsed from another state.  

Instructions for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

1. SUBMIT APPLICATION: Submit online. Log into the Nurse Gateway, which can be found on the homepage of this website. 

   • First time users: Click the “Register Now” button.   
     This will allow you to create a profile, create a new username and password.
   • Existing nurses: Enter the username and password to get entry to the Nurse Gateway.
   • Forgot Username or Password? Click on “Forgot username/password” button.  

   After you have logged in using your username and password, select Applications located at the top to get started with the process.  

2. FEES: All fees are non-refundable.
   • APRN Certification - Initial CNP, CRNA, CNM and Reinstatement: $100.00
   • Criminal Background Check: $75.00
   • Controlled Substance Prescriptive Authority (CSPA): $100.00
   • Practice Site and Collaborative Physician: $25.00 (each)
   • Renewal even-numbered years: $100.00
3. PRIMARY STATE OF RESIDENCY: If your primary state of residence is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), you will need to provide proof of multi-state licensure in that Compact state in order to be granted APRN privilege in Mississippi. A complete listing of eNLC states is available at the NCSBN website.
4. APRN PRACTICE GUIDELINES: Read the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law and 30 Mississippi Administrative Code. APRN guidelines are outlined in §73-15-20 of the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law and 30 Mississippi Administrative Code Part 2840. 
5. POPULATION FOCUS: Indicate your area of population focus. Population focus can be family/individual across the life span, adult/gerontology, pediatric, neonatal, women's health, psychiatric/mental health.
6. EVIDENCE OF NATIONAL APRN CERTIFICATION: Submit current proof of national APRN certification to the following email address: APRN@msbn.ms.gov
   • Nationally Certified Practitioners - Submit a copy of a current certification from the national certification organization.
   • New Graduate APRN - Request evidence of certification be submitted directly to the Board of Nursing from the national certification organization.
   • Submit a copy of each additional specialty certification (i.e., first assistant, wound care, etc.)
7. TRANSCRIPT: Submit an official transcript from one of the following:
   • An accredited masters or higher degree program of nursing that prepares  nurses for one of the APRN role designation  of  Certified  Nurse-Midwife (CNM),Certified Nurse  Practitioner  (CNP),  and Certified  Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
   • APRN applicants who graduate from a nurse practitioner program and were nationally certified as a nurse practitioner prior to December 31, 1993 may submit evidence of graduation from an accredited educational program for registered nurses.
   • APRN applicants graduating from a nurse practitioner program after December 31, 1998, will be required to submit official evidence of graduation from a graduate program with a concentration in the applicant's respective advanced practice nursing specialty.
   • You must request your nursing program to submit an official transcript to the MS Board of Nursing. The Board will accept transcripts sent the following ways:
     • Electronically through Parchment transcript service (the recipient will be MS Board of Nursing)
     • By email to National Clearinghouse
     • Mailed directly from the registers office of your nursing program to the MS Board of Nursing (see address below).
       713 Pear Orchard Suite 300  Ridgeland, MS 39157
   • Choose only one of the above methods to send transcripts. Transcripts cannot be mailed by the applicant to the Board, hand delivered, faxed, or emailed to Board staff.
8. PRACTICE SITE DOCUMENTATION: Submit documentation of practice site, type, and specialty. Submit evidence of any additional training or certification in the area of specialty you are applying for board approval.  You can upload this documentation under the collaborative agreement area of the BON Portal.  You are able to get an APRN license without a practice site and collaborating physician, but you MAY NOT begin work until you have an approved practice site, collaborating physician of compatible practice and a collaborative agreement.
   • Practice Sites: Only Mississippi practice sites need to be listed on the BON gateway portal.  Remember, there is a $25.00 fee to add a new practice site.  There is no charge to delete a practice site.  All practice sites have to be verified manually which may take a couple of days during a regular time, but in high volume times such as license renewal may take 10-14 days.
9. COLLABORATING/CONSULTING PHYSICIAN(S): Indicate and provide the requested information on the verification of protocol/practice for each physician with whom you have entered into a collaborative practice agreement in accordance with 30 Miss. Admin, Code, Pt. 2840, R. 2.3. It is recommended that you have a signed protocol by the APRN and collaborative physician for proof of agreement for possible audit.
   • Collaborative Physician: All APRNs (NPs, CRNAs, and CNMs) must have at least one collaborative physician for each practice site.
10. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY (CSPA): https://player.hourone.ai/352f6623dac34e36b63f51e9f790a4fe
    • Select if you wish or do not wish to apply for CSPA. If you are applying for CSPA include an additional fee of $100.00. Every certified APRN authorized to practice in Mississippi who prescribes any controlled substances (Schedules II, Ill, IV, or V) within Mississippi or who proposes to engage in the prescribing of any controlled substance within Mississippi must be registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in compliance with Title 21 CFR Part 1301 Food and Drugs, and must also apply for this privilege with the Mississippi Board of Nursing. CSPA is not automatically granted with an APRN license in Mississippi. To register with the DEA see instructions below. For additional questions concerning DEA application, please call DEA Customer Service 1-800-882-9539.  DEA will be notified by the board of nursing once CSPA has been approved. Your DEA number will then (and only then) be sent to your home address directly from the DEA office. Submit a copy of your DEA number and registration to the Board office.
11. REGISTRATION WITH THE U.S.DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION:
    • Do Not apply for a DEA registration prior to being issued prescriptive authority by the MBON.
    • Register online at the DEA Diversion Control Division after you have been issued prescriptive authority by the Mississippi Board of Nursing, select Registration, and Registration Applications. 
    • Pay applicable fee by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. 
    • When completing the DEA registration application you should enter your APRN license number. You will not have a state controlled substance number.

During APRN License Renewal:

• CSPA/DEA license:  You do not have to have a DEA license to be licensed as an APRN in Mississippi. IF you do have a DEA license, make sure that it shows current and active as you renew APRN license. You must complete the CSPA and pay the $100.00 fee at initial DEA license and at renewal of DEA license (every three years).   
• PMP:  You are required to register for the MS Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) if you are licensed as an APRN (CRNA, NP or CNM) in Mississippi, even if you do not actually practice in Mississippi or do not have a DEA. You must register for the PMP to simply have an APRN license in Mississippi.

Please find the steps to enroll in the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Orientation Course outlined below.

Enrollment Steps:

1. Visit the Enroll in APRN Orientation website.
2. Enter your email address.
3. Select “I am a new user.”
4. Enter your full name.
5. Check the box to agree to the acceptable use policy.
6. Select “Enroll in the course.”
7. Select “Go to the course.”
8. Begin with Module 1.

Please email asmith@msbn.ms.gov with your name, email, and contact number if you have an issue enrolling in the course.

Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) Plan: A formal quality assurance/ quality improvement plan to be utilized by the advanced practice registered nurse, as required by Miss. Code Ann. § 73-15-20.

Admin Code Part 2840, Rule 1.3 Practice Requirements states:

Each APRN shall participate in a formal quality assurance/quality improvement (QA/QI) program which shall be maintained on site and shall be available for inspection by representatives of the Board. 

1. The QA/QI program must be sufficient to provide a valid evaluation of the practice and be a valid basis for change, if any. 
2. QA/QI shall encompass Board-approved components according to specific areas of practice.

The Board of Nursing does not dictate specifics of the APRN’s QA/QI plan. The Board has compiled several suggested QA/QI Component examples below. This list is not inclusive of all the possible plans.

• Any MIPS component specific to APRN’s area of practice
• Any PQRS component specific to APRN’s area of practice
• Any Meaningful Use component specific to APRN’s area of practice
• Any MACRA component specific to  APRN’s area of practice
• Area Specific health care parameters meeting target goals such as A1C%, Lipids, BMI, vaccine compliance in both pediatric and adult, post-surgical  MRSA rates, etc.
• Patient Satisfaction surveys
• Patient engaged screenings (Depression, alcohol use, fall risks, violence in the home, etc)
• Use of patient reported outcome tools (PQH-9, PQH-2, PROMIS, etc)
• Timely Communication of Abnormal Lab/Radiology testing results 
• Timely referrals to specialists
• Timely  care coordination & active referral management tracking
• Timely integration of recommendations from Specialist into patient care plan
• Diabetes screening for patients using antipsychotic medication that can elevate A1C%
• Children’s Health Care Quality Measures for Medicaid & CHIP Core Set examples
• Well-care visits annually
• Contraceptive Care Effective Methods among adolescents and young adults
• Behavioral Health Measures for Medicaid and CHIP examples
• Children’s Asthma care performance measures (hospitalizations rate, medication ratio, suboptimal asthma control, absence of controller therapy available)
• Use of PMP greater than 75% of time prior to prescribing Control Substance opioid or Benzodiazepine
• Initiation of early prenatal care in early pregnancy
• Door-in-Door-out time in critical illness management
• Time to Primary PCI Among Transferred Patients
• Chart Review of 10% or 20 charts by collaborative physician
• Quarterly face-to-face meetings with collaborative physician

Division of Nursing, W-910 MS University for Women
Columbus, MS 39701
Phone: (662) 329-7299

School of Nursing, Alcorn State University
P.O. Box 18399
Natchez, MS 39121
Phone: (601) 304-4300

School of Nursing, Delta State University
P.O. Box 3343
Cleveland, MS 39733
Phone: (662) 846-4268

School of Nursing, University of Mississippi Medical Center
2500 N. State St.
Jackson, MS 39216-4505
Phone: (601) 984-6220

School of Nursing, University of Southern Mississippi
P.O. Box 5095
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5095
Phone: (601) 266-5527

 

 

The APRN cannot work without a qualified provider (see Admin Code 2840, Rule 1.3) on site, at any practice site, until the hours are fully completed. 

The Board has no jurisdiction over the APRN receiving monetary compensation during the completion of the Monitored Practice hours. Monetary compensation is at the discretion of the healthcare facility/organization. 

Monitored Hours Summary Attestation Documentation

Disclaimer these samples are only as a guide in assisting you to create your own. Often the facility or department has a collaborative agreement that is used. Please remember to include the name of the facility on the document. Each practice site will need to have a Collaborative Agreement uploaded for that practice site via the Gateway.

PMHNP Collaboration with Non-Psychiatrist

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Collaborative Agreement Template 2025

CRNA Collaborative Agreement Template 2025

APRN Certified Nurse Midwife Collaborative Agreement Template 2025

The Board of Nursing may grant controlled substance prescriptive authority in entirety Schedules II through V.

APRNs may prescribe any schedule of controlled substance after the following has occurred IN THIS ORDER. Application for a DEA registration is not connected to monitored practice hours as of 01/01/2018:

1. Log into the Nurse Gateway 
2. Complete Mississippi Board of Nursing Controlled Substance Prescriptive Authority (CSPA) application by clicking on the blue “Add DEA Certification” button to the right of your screen just below the APRN name. If you have a current DEA number to add, select yes and provide the information requested. If you don’t have a DEA number yet, select “NO” from the drop-down box.
3. Answer the attestation question and submit. At the top of the screen a red banner will appear. Click the link in the red bar to submit your payment of $100.00.  The fee for this privilege to the BON is non-refundable.
4. If you do not currently have a DEA number to submit, the APRN must then register with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to complete application and pay applicable fees to DEA.gov.
5. The APRN has received a Uniform Controlled Substances Registration Certificate from the DEA.
6. A copy of the DEA licensure received from DEA must be submitted to the BON for validation and to complete the BON application process. A copy of renewals must also be submitted to the BON for continued CSPA. The MS BON can only accept Mississippi DEAs. Please do not upload a DEA from another state. 
7. When the DEA green bar shows “Completed” the APRN is qualified to write for controlled substances.

Note: 

• The APRN may be granted controlled substance privilege provided the nurse practitioner has graduated from a​n accredited school of nursing, a masters program or higher which contained a separate pharmacology course, and then the APRN is eligible to apply for controlled substance privilege. These will be granted as Class II-V inclusive only with all the appropriate fees due to both the Board of Nursing and the DEA.  CRNAs do not have prescriptive authority in MS.
• The APRN (NP, CRNA and CNM) is required to maintain 5 hours of continuing education for controlled substances/scheduled medications regardless of whether or not the APRN holds a DEA registration.  Documentation (the CEU certificate) of the 5 hours of CEU must be uploaded into CE Broker every licensing cycle.

Certification and Licensure Applications
In order to be licensed as an APRN in the state of Mississippi you must have:

• Graduated from a nationally approved school of nursing with a masters degree or higher;
• Taken and passed a national certification exam in the area of your practice;
• Submitted an initial application with all appropriate documents approved prior to practicing;
• APRN Application along with RN application renewed every two (2) years September - December of even numbered years.

Miss Code Ann. Section§ 73-15-17 (Q); 73-15-19; and 73-15-21, authorizes the Mississippi Board of Nursing (MSBN) to undergo a fingerprint-based criminal background history check of the Mississippi central criminal data base and the Federal Bureau of Investigations criminal history for licensure. Please follow the instructions below to complete the CBC process.

• You must complete the application for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse  before registering for the CBC.
• Complete the CBC registration using the exact name as used on the application. If you have undergone a name change different from the name on your photo identification, you must present the necessary legal documents (i.e., marriage certificate, divorce decree, or other legal name change document) as proof at the time of fingerprinting.
• The CBC application will give you the option to schedule an appointment online to come to the MS Board of Nursing office to have fingerprints completed or the option to have a fingerprint card mailed to applicant’s address
• Only the fingerprints and CBC performed by the Mississippi Board of Nursing will be accepted
• If you answered yes to any of the discipline questions, please allow additional time for the CBC process to be completed because of additional follow-up by board staff.

New CDC Recommended Guidelines for Pain Management - Genesis Reference Labs

Certification and Licensure Applications
In order to be licensed as an APRN in the state of Mississippi you must have:

• Graduated from a nationally approved school of nursing with a masters degree or higher;
• Taken and passed a national certification exam in the area of your practice;
• Submitted an initial application with all appropriate documents approved prior to practicing;
• APRN Application along with RN application renewed every two (2) years September - December of even numbered years.

• The APRN is recommended to register for a basic user account with CE Broker to manage continuing education documents. Learn more about CE Broker and create your account.
• Upload the National Board Certification information and document PDF.
• Complete a minimum of five (5) contact hours of continuing education directly related to controlled substances per State Certification Period. This requirement applies to all APRNs, irrespective of controlled substance prescriptive authority.
• Upload CE certificates in PDF format as evidence of having completed the five (5) contact hours related to controlled substances within the renewal cycle 01/01 of the odd year to 12/31 of the even year.

The Board may conduct periodic audits to ensure compliance. Upon notification of audit by the Board, the APRN shall submit to the Board any certificates, transcripts, or other documentation evidencing compliance with these rules, within ten (10) business days of receiving such notification. Failure to comply with this rule may subject the APRN to disciplinary action or other administrative sanction. 

CE instructional video

The APRN is responsible for maintaining documentation of current national certification as an APRN in a designated area of practice by a national certification organization recognized by the Board. In the case of a lapse in national certification, the APRN must notify the Mississippi Board of Nursing. The APRN must stop practicing immediately until such time as the national certification is renewed.  (Miss. Admin. Code, Part 2840, Rule 1.2 B (5)). 

How to update National Certification video

Practice Site & Collaborative Physician

The APRN is responsible for gaining approval for practice site & collaborative physician through Board of Nursing prior to beginning to practice. The designated physical location in Mississippi which is the usual practice location as reported to the Board where the Board can conduct a site visit to evaluate the delivery of care by a licensee and compliance with laws and regulations regarding delivery of care by a licensee. This shall not include the patient's home. (Miss. Admin. Code Part 2840, Rule 1.2 (L)

How to update Practice Site & Collaborative Physician video

We are implementing a standardized approach to support your decision-making process for special procedures.

This initiative aims to enhance patient safety, improve consistency in care, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

The Mississippi Board of Nursing encourages the use of the decision-making model as a valuable tool for navigating the decision-making process during special procedures. Decision making models provide a structured and systematic approach, guiding you through key considerations and actions to be taken at each step of the procedure.

• If an APRN desires special privilege above and beyond the basic APRN education/certification, then: 

1. APRN applies Mississippi BON Scope of Practice Decision Making Model and collects/compiles proof of decision model use such as professional standards of practice or position statements, research, other states information, supporting documentation. 

2. APRN submits the documentation to the Director of Advanced Practice, Dr. Amy Smith, DNP, APRN, CNE, CENP, FAANP, FACHE at asmith@msbn.ms.gov including proof of decision model use, professional standards of practice or position statements, research, other states information, supporting documentation along with proposed Collaborative Agreement.

3. Director of Advanced Practice reviews and responds back to the APRN as appropriate based on Board decisions.  

 If it is determined by the Board that the procedure, skill, role, activity, task or intervention is appropriate for that APRN, then the APRN will comply with the following: 

1. APRNs requesting special privileges must keep associated documents on file at their office or practice site.
2. Policy and procedure, patient logs, competency verification and training certificates must also be kept on file and readily available for inspection at any site visit, audit or investigation.
3. Collaborating physicians do not need to write a letter of request to the BON.
4. Special privilege letters will not be sent to the licensee moving forward.
5. All signed and executed collaborative agreements must be uploaded into the BON Gateway portal and should include any additional procedures. 
6. APRNs may now select CEU courses for education and training for aesthetic procedures that aligns with the process for all other procedures.
7. A separate “approved training course list” will not be used.   However, a course that provides both didactic and practicum from a reputable organization is required.
8. Collaborating physician check-off for competency validation must be kept on site with the APRN (5 successful check-offs for each procedure).
9. All documentation of education, training, and competency (attainment and maintenance) must be maintained per the APRN.
10. All devices used for procedures must be FDA approved or cleared and manufacturer’s guidelines used.

Please keep in mind laser hair removal is an approved procedure. However, the MS BOML has a statement regarding the use of laser, IPL etc. in their administrative code that requires a physician to be present.

Mississippi Board of Nursing Decision Tree Model

Part 2840, Chapter 2: Cannabis Certification 

Rule 1.1 Scope for Part 2840, Chapter 2.  

The rules contained in this Part 2840, Chapter 2 are promulgated by the Mississippi Board of 

Nursing [the “Board”] to implement the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, Miss. Code Ann. §§   

41-137-1, et seq., [the “Act”]. These rules shall apply to all licenses who are registered as certifying practitioners with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MDOH); or who are applying, or re-applying, to register as certifying practitioners with the MDOH. Nothing in these rules shall be construed to require any licensee to issue any written certification pursuant to the Act. No licensee is required to register with the Board in order to certify patients.  However, all advice or services provided pursuant to the Act must meet or exceed the applicable professional standard of care. 

Advanced Practice Administrative Code 2840

Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 73-15-17 (1972, as amended); Miss. Code Ann. §41-137-5(7)(c) (as amended Mar. 27, 2023); Miss. Code Ann. §41-137-9(2)(d) (2022).  

Administrative Code Part 2840 Advanced Practice