Licensure guide · Mississippi

How to get a Mississippi speech-language pathology license

Speech-language pathologists in Mississippi are licensed by the Mississippi State Department of Health, Professional Licensure Division. Below is what the board requires, from education to renewal, with every requirement linked to the board page it comes from. Checked October 22, 2026.

Step by step

Getting licensed

Education: Applicants must hold at least a master's degree in speech-language pathology, communicative disorders, or speech and hearing science from an institution with a program accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (or another accrediting body the Board deems appropriate), and complete the equivalent of nine (9) months of full-time Supervised Professional Employment. [2]
National exam: Applicants must have passed the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology, with the passing score recommended each year by the Advisory Council. [2]
Fees: Applicants pay a $100.00 initial application fee and a $100.00 initial license fee; the initial temporary license fee is $75.00. Fees are nonrefundable. [2]
Where to apply: Applicants apply online through MSDH's Professional Licensure application portal, linked from the Professional Licensure Applications page. [4] Open the application →
Processing time: MSDH asks applicants to allow 7 to 14 business days after receipt of all paperwork to receive a license. [1]

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

Mississippi has enacted the ASLP-IC but is not yet issuing compact privileges, so audiologists and speech-language pathologists licensed elsewhere still need a Mississippi license for now.

Licensed in another state: Applicants licensed in another state may apply by reciprocity but must show they meet all of Mississippi's general requirements and qualifications for licensure. A universal license is also available to people who establish residence in Mississippi. [2]
Interstate compact: Mississippi appears on the ASLP-IC Commission's state list but is not yet accepting compact privilege applications under the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact; no Mississippi jurisprudence exam is required and the Mississippi state fee is TBD. [3]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: Applicants entering the Supervised Professional Employment Plan (SPEP) must obtain a temporary license before the plan begins; it is issued for one 2-year period only and requires supervision by a regularly licensed SLP. [2]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: The licensure period runs July 1 through June 30, with all regular licenses expiring at midnight on June 30 of even-numbered years. The renewal fee is $100.00, and online renewals submitted between July 1 and September 30 carry a $50.00 late renewal penalty. [2]
Continuing education: Licensees must earn 20 contact hours (2 CEUs) per licensing term, with at least fifty (50) percent (10 contact hours) directly related to clinical practice. No carryover between licensure periods is allowed. [2]

Working in Mississippi

Pay and openings

Speech-language pathologists in Mississippi earn a mean of $78,570 a year (BLS). Most of our Mississippi searches are confidential and never posted; tell us what you want and we will match you quietly.

Sources

Every requirement above was checked against the official page listed here on October 22, 2026. Boards change fees and rules, so confirm with the Mississippi board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other Mississippi licenses

Speech-language pathology licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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