Mississippi Teacher Certification and Career Guide

Mississippi teacher certification is required to work as an educator in the state’s K-12 education system. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of Educator Licensure oversees the certification process, which is outlined in detail below. The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in Mississippi are:

1. Complete a bachelor’s degree with a state-approved teacher preparation component.
2. Complete a student teaching placement.
3. Pass the required teacher certification exams.
4. Apply for a teaching certificate or license.

Continue reading to learn more about the traditional certification pathway in Mississippi.

Table of Contents

• Steps to Become a Teacher in Mississippi
• Teacher Certification Renewal
• Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate
• Teaching License Reciprocity
• Related Licenses
• Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs
• Additional Resources
• Frequently Asked Questions

How to Become a Teacher in Mississippi

This section outlines the steps to become a certified teacher in Mississippi via the traditional pathway. Candidates who already hold a degree but did not complete teacher preparation may be eligible for alternative teacher certification in Mississippi.

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree that includes an approved teacher preparation program.

To be eligible for certification in the state, aspiring teachers must hold a bachelor’s degree and complete a Mississippi teacher preparation program. The bachelor’s degree major pursued will depend on the grade level and subject to be taught. A list of approved educator preparation providers (EPPs) can be found on the MDE website.

You can compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our Mississippi schools page. You can also read about two important accreditations to consider, institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation, on our teaching schools guide.

2. Complete a student teaching placement.

As part of your preparation program, you will also complete a student teaching placement, sometimes called an internship. This is typically a full-time, semester-long placement during which you will have opportunities to lead a classroom while paired with an experienced teacher. To meet the requirements for state certification, the student teaching placement should be at the grade level and in the subject you wish to teach. Some programs may offer longer student teaching placements or the opportunity to pursue more than one placement.

3. Pass the required Mississippi teacher exams.

In order to become certified to teach in Mississippi, candidates must complete state testing requirements. Those seeking Mississippi educator certification must first pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators basic skills test (or have a qualifying ACT or SAT score or 3.0 GPA in specific coursework), which is needed for entry into an EPP. After completing a Mississippi teacher preparation program, teacher candidates must pass the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam and the Praxis Subject Assessments corresponding to the grade level and subject to be taught. The Praxis exams are administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). More information can be found on the ETS website and the MDE Praxis Information page.

4. Apply for Mississippi teacher certification.

Once candidates have completed all of these steps, they should apply for a Standard (Initial) Teaching License and submit:

• Official transcripts
• Online recommendation submitted by EPP
• Verification of Lawful Presence (VLP) form
• EPP admittance documentation confirming Praxis Core, ACT, SAT, or GPA requirements
• Test scores
• Child Development Program Verification form (for Pre-K-K program completers only)
• Scores from the Foundations of Reading test (for Elementary Education and Mild/Moderate Disability (K-12) candidates only)
• Official transcripts
• Non-refundable application fee

Applications can be completed through the online Mississippi Educator Career Continuum Archive (MECCA) system. Review the MDE MECCA User Guide for further details on using the system.

Mississippi Teacher Certification Renewal

Mississippi teachers must renew their Standard Teaching License every five years, and licenses expire on June 30 of each year. To renew, you must complete 10 continuing education units (CEUs) or the equivalent. One CEU credit is equal to 10 contact or clock hours of professional learning. All required documentation and the renewal application must be submitted through your MECCA account.

Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate

Once you receive your teaching certificate, you will only be eligible to work as a teacher in the grade levels and certification areas listed on your certificate, though occasional, temporary exceptions are made. To add a subject area or supplemental endorsement to your Mississippi educator license, you must take an approved course or module for the related Praxis Subject Assessment, complete an approved program, obtain Mississippi’s current qualifying score, or complete 18 hours of coursework.

Mississippi Teaching License Reciprocity

Teachers with a valid license in another state can apply for a Mississippi license by reciprocity. You will need to create a MECCA account and submit:

• VLP form
• Valid standard license
• Official transcripts
• Non-refundable application fee

Related Education Licenses

In addition to teaching licenses, the MDE offers other licenses for support professionals, leaders, and school administrators. These include:

• Administrator License: Requires completion of an approved EPP, a master’s degree or higher in educational leadership/supervision, and passing scores on the required exams.
• Instructional Support Personnel License: Librarian : Requires a bachelor’s degree or higher in library or media and required test scores.
• Instructional Support Personnel License: Psychometrist: Requires a master’s degree or higher in psychometry and a Mississippi educator license or completion of an EPP.

For more on requirements for various licenses, read the MDE Licensure Application Checklist page.

Mississippi Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

There were 1,060 public K-12 schools in Mississippi during the 2017-2018 academic year, serving approximately 478,321 students.³ With an estimated 31,625 public school teachers, Mississippi has a student-to-teacher ratio of about 15:1.³

Job prospects through 2032 are stronger for teachers in Mississippi than the expected national averages, with job growth for Mississippi elementary teachers projected at 4.2% compared to 0.7% nationally; for Mississippi middle school teachers, 4.4% compared to 0.8% nationally; and for Mississippi secondary school teachers, 4.5% compared to 1% nationally.² The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for Mississippi teachers.

*The estimated job growth average is based on projections for mainstream kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Projections for other categories, such as special education and career and technical education, may be higher or lower than the average.

Teacher Shortages in Mississippi

According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2022-2023, Mississippi broadly has the following shortages:

• Mathematics, Pre-K-12
• Science, Pre-K-12
• Special Education, Pre-K-12
• World Languages, Pre-K-12⁶

In addition to these shortages, Mississippi had 2,593 unfilled positions during the 2022-2023 school year.⁷ During the 2017-2018 school year, over 1,520 teachers in Mississippi were considered underqualified for their assignment, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis.⁷

Additional Resources

• MDE Educator Licensure page: Provides information on how to become a teacher or administrator and how to renew your license or add an endorsement.
• Mississippi Association of Educators (MAE): Represents educators, students, activists, workers, parents, neighbors, and friends of public education.
• Mississippi Professional Educators (MPE): Organization supporting members in the education system with resources, events, and professional development opportunities.

Related Articles

• Alternative Teacher Certification in Mississippi
• Guide to Funding Your Teaching Degree
• Overview of the Bachelor’s in Education
• Mississippi Schools Guide
• Top Online Master’s Programs for Initial Certification

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How do I become an elementary teacher in Mississippi?

Answer: Becoming an elementary teacher in Mississippi requires licensure through the state. To qualify for the five-year Standard License, you must have a bachelor’s degree, have completed an EPP with elementary student teaching, and pass the required exams.

Question: How many private schools and private school teachers are there in Mississippi?

Answer: According to the latest statistics available, as of the 2019-20 school year, there were 183 private schools in Mississippi, with 3,651 full-time teachers and 37,015 students.⁸ Mississippi law requires teachers at Board-accredited private schools to be certified. Private teachers at non-accredited schools do not need to hold certification, though some schools may prefer to hire teachers with state credentials. Check with private schools in your area to confirm requirements.

References:
1. Mississippi Department of Education: https://www.mdek12.org/OEL
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. National Center for Education Statistics, State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2017-2018: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Mississippi: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ms.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
6. US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas: https://tsa.ed.gov/#/reports
7. Teacher Shortages in the United States, Tuan D. Nguyen et al.: https://teachershortages.com/
8. National Center for Education Statistics, Private School Universe Survey, 2019-20: https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/tables/TABLE15fl1920.asp