How to Become a CNA in Mississippi

To become a CNA in Mississippi, complete at least 75 hours of state-approved training, pass the NNAAP competency exam through Headmaster/TMU, and get listed on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry. The total process takes 4–10 weeks and costs between $550 and $1,750 — or nothing, if you qualify for a free employer-sponsored program. This guide covers every step, including CNA certification requirements, costs, the TMU exam portal, renewal, reciprocity, and honest salary data.

Mississippi CNA Certification at a Glance

Getting certified as a CNA in Mississippi involves three core steps: complete state-approved training, pass the NNAAP exam, and get listed on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry. Here’s what the full process looks like at a glance.

What	Details
Training Hours	75 hours minimum (including 16 hours supervised clinical practice), per the Mississippi State Department of Health
Exam	NNAAP written + skills, administered by Headmaster/TMU; $101 total ($32 written + $69 skills), per hdmaster.com
Timeline	3–8 weeks of training + exam scheduling; 4–10 weeks total
Total Cost Range	$550–$1,750: Training ($400–$1,565) + Exam ($101) + Background Check ($50) + Supplies ($50–$100+)
Average Salary	$25,164/yr (BLS, May 2024) to $39,525/yr (ZipRecruiter, April 2026)
Renewal	Every 2 years; 8 hours compensated work; $25–$26 fee; no continuing education required

Step 1: Meet Basic Requirements

You must be at least 18 years old, pass a background check, and meet your training program’s health requirements. That’s the core of what Mississippi requires before you can enroll and work as a CNA.

Age and Education

Mississippi requires CNA candidates to be at least 18 years old. A high school diploma or GED is typically required by individual training programs, but it is not a strict statewide mandate from the Mississippi State Department of Health. If your diploma or transcript isn’t immediately available, check with the specific program before enrolling.

Background Check

Before starting clinical rotations, you need to pass a background check. In Mississippi, this means two things: a national criminal background check with fingerprinting, and a search of the Mississippi Nurse Aide Abuse Registry. The cost is $50 per applicant, paid to the processing agency, per the Mississippi State Department of Health.

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health provides the form used at the agency level. Start this process early. A finding on the abuse registry can prevent placement at a clinical site.

Health Requirements

Health requirements are set by individual training programs, not the state. Common requirements include proof of immunizations, a current TB test, and a drug screen. Check your specific program’s requirements before enrolling, since these can affect your start date.

Once you confirm you meet these requirements, the next step is finding a training program that fits your schedule and budget.

Step 2: Complete a State-Approved Training Program

Mississippi requires a minimum of 75 hours of state-approved CNA training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice, per the Mississippi State Department of Health and hdmaster.com. Most programs complete this in 3–8 weeks. Some programs exceed the minimum: East Mississippi Community College offers 109 total hours, including CPR certification.

What Mississippi Training Covers

The curriculum typically includes infection control, basic nursing skills, patient safety, vital signs measurement, and personal care. The 16 clinical hours put you in an actual healthcare facility under instructor supervision, working with real patients. This is where the skills you’ll demonstrate on the exam get built.

Program Formats and Costs

Training costs vary by program type. Here are representative costs from named Mississippi providers:

Program	City	Tuition	Timeline	Format
East Mississippi Community College	Mayhew	~$400–600	4–8 weeks	In-person, 109 hours
Singing River Healthcare Academy	Ocean Springs	FREE	Varies	Apprenticeship w/ job placement
Private vocational schools	Varies	$800–$1,565	3–5 weeks	Accelerated
Employer-sponsored	Varies	$0 (with work commitment)	4–8 weeks	On-site

Tuition changes by semester. Confirm current pricing directly with the program before enrolling. The exam fee ($101) and background check ($50) are additional costs regardless of program.

Before enrolling in any program, especially private vocational schools, verify it appears on the official MSDH list of approved nurse aide training programs. The Mississippi State Department of Health maintains this list; if it is not published online, call MSDH directly at (601) 364-1100 to confirm approval status. Completing a non-approved program means you cannot sit for the state exam.

For a browsable directory with program details, see Mississippi CNA programs. If you’re comparing programs on factors like pass rates and employer partnerships, our guide on how to choose a CNA program walks you through what to look for.

Free and Low-Cost Training Options

The best cost option in Mississippi right now: Singing River Healthcare Academy in Ocean Springs offers a free CNA apprenticeship with guaranteed job placement upon completion. This is an employer-sponsored program run by Singing River Health System, and there is no tuition. If you’re in or near the Gulf Coast area, contact them first.

Beyond Singing River, many nursing homes and long-term care facilities sponsor free CNA training in exchange for an employment commitment, typically 6–12 months.

Financial Aid for CNA Training in Mississippi

Free employer-sponsored training sounds ideal, but it comes with employment commitments you should understand upfront. Before enrolling, ask specifically: What is the work commitment length? What happens if you leave early — do you owe tuition back? Are scrubs, textbooks, background check fees, and exam fees included or out-of-pocket? Get those terms in writing before your first day of class.

If you’re attending a community college program, financial aid options include:

• FAFSA — Many community college CNA programs qualify for federal financial aid
• Mississippi Community College Board scholarships — Available at participating institutions
• WIA funding (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) — Contact your local workforce development board
• Mississippi Office of State Financial Aid — Central resource for state-level grants and scholarships

After completing your training program, you’re eligible to take the Mississippi CNA competency exam.

Step 3: Pass the Mississippi CNA Exam

Mississippi’s CNA competency exam is administered by Headmaster, operating as TMU (TestMaster Universe), under contract with the Mississippi State Department of Health. You schedule, pay, and access results through TMU. This section walks through every component, per hdmaster.com.

Written Knowledge Test

The written exam has 70 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour time limit. The passing score is 70%. Here’s the detail that immediately reduces exam anxiety: only 60 of those 70 questions are scored. The other 10 are pre-test items used to develop future exam versions. You won’t know which questions are pre-test, and that’s by design.

If you encounter a question that seems unusual or outside your training, it may not count toward your score. What 70% actually means: you need to answer 42 of the 60 scored questions correctly. You can miss 18 scored questions and still pass.

An oral exam alternative is available for candidates with reading difficulties. That version has 60 multiple-choice questions plus 10 reading comprehension questions. Ask your training program coordinator about requesting this accommodation when scheduling through TMU.

Before test day, take a CNA practice exam to get familiar with the question format. Our full CNA exam guide covers the national NNAAP structure in detail. CNA exam flash cards are another option for drilling the key concepts.

Clinical Skills Evaluation

The skills evaluation requires you to perform 5 randomly selected skills from a total list of 23 skills. You must complete all 5 satisfactorily within 25 minutes. The evaluator observes each skill step-by-step, checking that you perform procedures in the correct order without skipping critical steps.

Common skills on the 23-skill list include hand hygiene, measuring vital signs, catheter care, range of motion exercises, patient transfers, and bed-making. Your training program will cover all 23 skills, so you won’t face anything you haven’t practiced. For a breakdown of all 23 skills and what evaluators look for, see our CNA skills test guide.

The skills evaluation is the part that makes most candidates nervous. Performing procedures under observation feels different from practicing in class. But thousands of Mississippi CNAs have been through this exact process.

“just wanted to say i’ve officially passed all the tests and i am a registered CNA”

(671 upvotes — Reddit user, r/cna)

That relief is real. If you practice each of the 23 skills until they feel automatic, you’ll be in strong shape for whichever 5 you draw on test day. Our guide on how to study for the CNA exam covers proven strategies for both written and skills components.

Exam Fees and Retake Policy

The total exam fee is $101: $32 for the written/oral component and $69 for the skills evaluation, per hdmaster.com. You pay online when scheduling through TMU.

If you fail one component but pass the other, you only retake the failed component and pay only that fee ($32 or $69). You have up to 3 attempts per component.

After 3 failed attempts, you may need to complete additional training before retesting. For more detail on the process, see our guide on how to retake the CNA exam.

How to Schedule Your Exam Through TMU

The Headmaster/TMU portal is not well-documented anywhere. Here’s the process, per ms.tmutest.com:

1. Go to ms.tmutest.com
2. Create an account (you’ll need your training program completion information)
3. Select an available test date and testing site in Mississippi
4. Pay the $101 fee online at the time of scheduling
5. You’ll receive a confirmation with your test date, time, and testing location

Testing sites are available across Mississippi. If you have trouble scheduling or need to confirm site availability, call Headmaster support at 888-401-0462.

Mississippi uses Headmaster (TMU) as its testing vendor. For reference on how this compares to other states, see the full list of NNAAP exam vendors by state.

What to Expect on Test Day

Bring a valid photo ID and your exam confirmation. Results are available the same day you test. If you pass both the written and skills components, your name is automatically added to the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry. No additional paperwork required.

Once your registry listing is confirmed, you’re a certified nurse aide in Mississippi.

Step 4: Get Listed on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry

Passing both exam components triggers automatic listing on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry. You don’t file a separate application or wait for approval. Your name, certification status, and expiration date appear in the registry, managed by Headmaster/TMU in conjunction with the Mississippi State Department of Health, typically within one business day of your exam results.

How to Verify Your Listing

To check your own certification status, search the registry at ms.tmutest.com by name or registration number. Employers use the same portal to verify candidates before hiring.

The registry entry shows your certification status (active or inactive), expiration date, and any findings. If something looks wrong on your listing, contact Headmaster at 888-401-0462.

For a complete guide to searching, verifying, and using the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry, see our Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry guide.

Your Mississippi CNA certification is valid for two years from the date you passed. Here’s what you need to know about keeping it active.

How to Renew Your Mississippi CNA Certification

Your Mississippi CNA certification expires every 2 years. To renew, you need three things: 8 hours of compensated nurse aide work within the past 24 months, a completed renewal through the TMU portal, and $25–$26, per the Mississippi State Department of Health and hdmaster.com.

Renewal Requirements

Unlike many states, Mississippi does not require continuing education credits for CNA renewal. This is confirmed by the Mississippi State Department of Health, NursingCECentral.com, and CEUFast.com. Some third-party resources incorrectly include Mississippi in CE-requirement lists. If you’ve worked at least 8 compensated hours as a nurse aide in the past 24 months, you meet the renewal requirement. That’s it.

How to Renew Through TMU

1. Log into the TMU portal at ms.tmutest.com
2. Select the renewal option and verify your work history
3. Submit your renewal application
4. Pay the $25–$26 renewal fee online

Contact Headmaster at 888-401-0462 if you encounter issues with the portal or have questions about your renewal eligibility.

Private Duty Workers

If you work as a private duty CNA, you can’t have an employer verify your hours through the standard process. You’ll need to complete Form 9112AR and submit documentation of your employment: a pay stub, 1099, or W-2. Contact Headmaster (888-401-0462) to request the form and confirm the current submission process.

If Your Certification Lapses

If your certification expires before you renew, you cannot legally work as a CNA in Mississippi. Employers verify status through the registry, and an expired listing disqualifies you from placement.

Status	What It Means	Can You Work?	What to Do
Active	Current certification, work hours met	Yes	Renew before expiration date
Expired (<24 months)	Lapsed but within reinstatement window	No	Apply for retest-only (no new training required) through TMU
Expired (>24 months)	Lapsed beyond reinstatement window	No	Must complete a new state-approved training program, then retest ($101)

If your certification expired within the last 24 months, you may qualify to retake the written and skills exam without repeating the 75-hour training program. Apply through the TMU portal at ms.tmutest.com or contact Headmaster at 888-401-0462 to confirm your eligibility before paying for retraining.

How to Transfer Your CNA to Mississippi (Reciprocity)

If you’re an active, in-good-standing CNA in another state, Mississippi accepts your certification through reciprocity. You don’t need to repeat training or retake the exam. You submit an application, pay a fee, and your Mississippi certification is issued.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for CNA reciprocity in Mississippi, you need:

• Active CNA certification in your current state (not expired, not revoked)
• Good standing on your home state’s nurse aide registry (no substantiated findings, no sanctions)
• OBRA ’87 compliance — your certification must have been obtained through a program meeting the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 standards. Nearly all accredited state CNA programs meet this requirement.

Mississippi does not have state-specific reciprocity agreements. Any state’s CNA certification qualifies, as long as it meets the active + good standing + OBRA ’87 criteria.

How to Apply

1. Submit Form 9110AR online through the TMU portal at ms.tmutest.com
2. Pay the $25–$26 application fee
3. Provide verification of your current state certification status, per hdmaster.com

If your out-of-state certification is expired: Contact Headmaster at 888-401-0462 before submitting the form. An expired certification likely disqualifies you from reciprocity. Depending on how long it’s been lapsed, you may need to retake the Mississippi competency exam or complete state-approved training.

Once your Mississippi certification is processed, you can start working as a CNA in the state. Here’s what you can expect to earn.

CNA Salary in Mississippi

Mississippi ranks among the lowest-paying states for CNAs nationally. The actual figure depends on which source you check, and the spread between sources is significant.

Source	Average Annual	Reported Range	Average Hourly	Data Date
Bureau of Labor Statistics	$25,164	—	~$12.10	May 2024
ZipRecruiter	$39,525	$32,200–$44,500	~$19.00	April 2026
Vivian Health	~$23,982	—	$11.53	April 2026

The BLS figure ($25,164) is the most methodologically rigorous. BLS measures actual reported wages from employer surveys, including part-time and lower-wage positions. ZipRecruiter and Vivian Health aggregate job-posting salaries, not verified earnings — treat them as market estimates, not benchmarks. The spread between $25,164 and $39,525 reflects the difference between what CNAs actually earn across the board versus what employers are currently advertising.

Higher-Paying Areas in Mississippi

Geography makes a real difference. Per ZipRecruiter city salary data (April 2026), the highest reported average CNA salaries in Mississippi:

• Clarksdale: $44,138 average annual
• Pascagoula: $43,904 average annual
• Waynesboro: $42,491 average annual

ZipRecruiter city averages (Clarksdale, Pascagoula, Waynesboro) may reflect small sample sizes in these markets — treat as directional, not definitive.

Facility type also matters. Hospital positions typically pay more than nursing homes, which pay more than home health settings.

The salary data raises a legitimate question: if healthcare workers are in such demand, why is entry-level pay this low? CNA wages in Mississippi have not kept pace with demand or cost of living increases. Knowing this going in — and knowing which facilities and metro areas pay at the higher end of the range — helps you make an informed career decision.

Career Advancement: CNA to LPN

The clearest path to higher wages from a CNA position is advancement to LPN. Several Mississippi community colleges offer CNA-to-LPN bridge programs that credit your CNA training and clinical hours toward LPN requirements. Programs at schools like Hinds Community College, East Mississippi Community College, and Pearl River Community College typically run 12–18 months.

LPN wages in Mississippi are substantially higher than CNA wages, making this one of the most direct financial advancement routes available.