How to become a CNA in Mississippi.
Mississippi requires 75 hours of nurse aide training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
- 75
- Training hours
- 16
- Clinical hours
- $135
- Exam fee
- 201
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Mississippi certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
Mississippi requires 75 training hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical work. Only programs approved by the state qualify you for the exam.
See all 201 approved programs in Mississippi - 3
Pass the state competency exam
The exam has a written or oral knowledge test and a hands on skills test, run by Headmaster. The exam fee is $135. Within 24 months of the training completion date. Candidates trained in a long term care facility must pass within 120 days of their date of hire. 3 attempts within 24 months of finishing training. Lapsed or out-of-state reactivation candidates get only 1 attempt before retraining.
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry (MSNAR). Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the MS registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Every 24 months. You must have worked for pay as a nurse aide at least 8 consecutive hours in the previous 24 months, verified by the employer. There is a 30-day grace period, after which you must retest.
Moving from another state
Must be current and in good standing on another state's registry. Apply with the CNA Reciprocity Form on TMU; $25 administrative fee. Lapsed out-of-state aides may reactivate by exam (1 attempt).
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Mississippi.
CNA funding in Mississippi →Mississippi CNA requirements
- Credential
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Training hours
- 75 hours
- Clinical hours
- At least 16 hours
- Exam provider
- Headmaster
- Exam fee
- $135 ($35 knowledge, $100 skills)
- Fee details
- Knowledge $35; audio (oral) knowledge $45 ($35 + $10); skills $100. Retakes are the same price per part. Reciprocity processing fee is $25. $25 test review deposit; $35 refund processing fee. Handbook Version 2.0, June 2025.
- Deadline to test
- Within 24 months of the training completion date. Candidates trained in a long term care facility must pass within 120 days of their date of hire.
- Retakes
- 3 attempts within 24 months of finishing training. Lapsed or out-of-state reactivation candidates get only 1 attempt before retraining.
- Regulator
- Mississippi State Department of Health
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: msdh.ms.gov, hdmaster.com, ecfr.gov. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Mississippi, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Mississippi?
Mississippi requires 75 hours of nurse aide training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
Who gives the CNA exam in Mississippi?
Headmaster runs the Mississippi nurse aide competency exam. The exam fee is $135.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in Mississippi?
Must be current and in good standing on another state's registry. Apply with the CNA Reciprocity Form on TMU; $25 administrative fee. Lapsed out-of-state aides may reactivate by exam (1 attempt).
How do you renew a CNA certification in Mississippi?
Every 24 months. You must have worked for pay as a nurse aide at least 8 consecutive hours in the previous 24 months, verified by the employer. There is a 30-day grace period, after which you must retest.
How do I pay for CNA training in Mississippi?
Workforce vouchers, employer sponsorship, state grants, and scholarships all pay for nurse aide training. A nursing home that hires you within a year of certification must reimburse your training costs under federal rules.
Start your training in Mississippi.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.