How to Renew Your Teaching License in Mississippi (2026 Guide)

Last updated March 2026

Renewing your Mississippi teaching license doesn't have to be stressful. Whether you hold a Class A license or an advanced Class AA-AAAA credential, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has a straightforward renewal process — once you know the rules.

This guide covers everything you need to know about renewing your teaching license in Mississippi in 2026: how many hours or CEUs you need, what counts as professional development, how to submit your renewal, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

The Basics: Mississippi Teaching License Renewal at a Glance

Renewal cycle: Every 5 years
Hours required (Class A): 10 CEUs (100 clock hours) or 6 semester hours of coursework
Hours required (Class AA-AAAA): 5 CEUs (50 clock hours) or 3 semester hours of coursework
Governing body: Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), Office of Educator Licensure
Where to renew: Mississippi Educator Licensure Portal — mdek12.org
Renewal fee: $75

Your license expiration date is printed on your credential. If you're not sure when yours expires, log in to the Mississippi Educator Licensure Portal to check your status.

Understanding the CEU / Clock Hour Requirement

Mississippi measures professional development in CEUs (Continuing Education Units). One CEU equals 10 clock hours of approved professional development. The number of CEUs you need depends on your license class:

Class A Standard License (Bachelor's Level)

This is the most common license for classroom teachers in Mississippi. To renew, you need one of the following:

10 CEUs (100 clock hours) of approved professional development, OR
6 semester hours of college or university coursework, OR
5 CEUs and 3 semester hours (a combination of both)

That works out to about 20 clock hours per year if you spread it evenly across the 5-year cycle — very doable with a mix of district PD and outside workshops.

Class AA-AAAA Advanced License (Master's, Specialist, or Doctoral Level)

If you hold an advanced license, the requirements are lighter:

5 CEUs (50 clock hours) of approved professional development, OR
3 semester hours of graduate coursework, OR
National Board Certification completion (satisfies the full requirement)

What Counts as Approved PD in Mississippi?

Mississippi accepts a range of professional development activities toward license renewal. Approved types include:

CEU/clock/contact hour certificates from MDE-approved providers (10 clock hours = 1 CEU)
University or college coursework (1 semester credit equals approximately 15 contact hours)
National Board Certification process completion
District-sponsored professional development

The key is that your PD must come from an approved source. Before signing up for a paid course, confirm the provider is recognized by MDE. District-run professional development is typically pre-approved, so the PD your school provides during in-service days usually counts.

National Board Certification

Completing the National Board Certification process satisfies the renewal requirement entirely — for both Class A and advanced license holders. If you're pursuing or have completed NBPTS certification, you're covered.

The 5-Year Renewal Cycle Explained

All Mississippi teaching licenses are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance. Your expiration date is specific to you — it's based on when your license was issued, not the school year or calendar year.

You need to accumulate all required CEUs or coursework during your 5-year validity period. There's no annual minimum — you just need the total before your license expires.

Pro tip: Don't wait until the last year of your cycle to start earning CEUs. Spreading your professional development across all 5 years makes it manageable and keeps you from scrambling.

How to Submit Your Renewal

Mississippi handles license renewal through the online Educator Licensure Portal. Here's the step-by-step process:

Log in to the Mississippi Educator Licensure Portal at mdek12.org. Create an account if you don't have one.
Review your CEU/coursework records. Check that all your professional development has been properly logged. District-reported PD should appear automatically.
Upload documentation for any PD not yet recorded. If you completed workshops or coursework through outside providers, upload your certificates of completion or transcripts.
Submit your renewal application. Once your CEU requirements are met, submit the renewal form through the portal.
Pay the $75 renewal fee. Payment is made online at the time of submission.
Receive your renewed license. MDE will process your renewal and issue an updated credential. Processing times vary, so submit well before your expiration date.

What Happens If You Miss Your Renewal Deadline?

If your Mississippi teaching license expires, you cannot legally teach in a Mississippi public school. Your district will be notified, and your position could be affected.

Mississippi does allow reinstatement of an expired license, but you'll need to:

Complete all outstanding CEU or coursework requirements
Pay the standard $75 renewal fee plus a $25 late fee
Submit a reinstatement application through the Educator Licensure Portal

The reinstatement process takes longer than a standard renewal, so the best strategy is to renew on time. Set a calendar reminder at least 6 months before your expiration date.

Special Situations

Career Level Administrator License

If you hold an administrator license (principals, assistant principals, district administrators), the renewal requirements are different. You need one of the following:

70 School Executive Management Institutes (SEMIs), OR
6 semester hours of graduate coursework, OR
35 SEMIs and 3 semester hours of coursework, OR
National Board Certification completion

The fee structure is the same: $75 for renewal, $25 late fee if expired.

Moving to Mississippi from Another State

If you hold a valid teaching license from another state, Mississippi offers reciprocity options. However, you'll still need to meet Mississippi-specific requirements for renewal once your Mississippi license is issued. Keep documentation of any PD completed in other states.

Fees at a Glance

Action	Fee
Standard renewal (any license class)	$75
Late renewal / reinstatement	$75 + $25 late fee

Your Renewal Checklist

Find your license expiration date in the Mississippi Educator Licensure Portal
Set a calendar reminder 6-12 months before expiration
Determine your license class (A, AA, AAA, or AAAA) and how many CEUs you need
Review your current CEU count in the portal
Plan PD activities to meet your requirement (10 CEUs for Class A, 5 CEUs for advanced)
Verify that outside providers are MDE-approved before enrolling
Upload any missing certificates of completion or transcripts
Submit your renewal application through the portal before your expiration date
Pay the $75 fee and save your confirmation

Stay on Top of Your Renewal

Mississippi's renewal requirements are stable, but rules can change. The best way to stay informed is to check the MDE Office of Educator Licensure page periodically and subscribe to renewal reminders so you never miss a deadline.

For a full breakdown of Mississippi teacher license types, fees, and accepted PD hours, visit the ChalkReady Mississippi page.