How to Get a Medical License in Mississippi

Every state has its own requirements that you will need to follow in order to become licensed in the state. Some states share many similarities, but others might have their own requirements that could completely blindside you if you’re not ready, especially when there are multiple license types to apply for. Let’s imagine that you wanted to get your medical license in Mississippi. What requirements does the Mississippi Medical Board establish for licensure, and what information should you be aware of in advance to follow these guidelines, ensuring a smooth license application process?

If Mississippi is a state you’re considering as the best place to get your license and settle down, this article will walk you through everything you need to know to successfully get your medical license there.

Why Should You Consider This State?

Figuring out where to get your medical license requires careful consideration. After all, you’ll not only be practicing there, but living there too. What makes the Magnolia State so great? If you’re considering moving to Mississippi and obtaining your medical license after completing your degree, you’ll experience a wide range of benefits. These include much more affordable higher education, a rich historical and cultural environment, plenty of music, stunning natural views, and even affordable housing – all of which are perfect for a physician who is just beginning their career in the state.

Why do physicians love Mississippi? Many cite the ability to form stronger physician-patient relationships, the overall friendly mood of patients in the state (which makes them much easier to care for), and the ability to make a difference in their practice given the abundance of rural areas to practice in. If all of the above appeals to you, Mississippi might just be the right place to get your license. But with all that in mind, what exactly does this entail?

Moving? How to Navigate Buying a Home in the Current Market

Mississippi Medical Board Licensure Requirements: What You Need to Know

Like most states, Mississippi offers multiple license types, all of which will have an impact on your scope of practice and what you’re able to do with your career moving forward. Some will only be applicable to certain types of work, but they’re still worth knowing if you plan on practicing in the state. Here’s a breakdown of each type and what you need to know in order to get that license.

MD/DO Permanent Licensure

A permanent license is a license that you will need to be able to practice within the state of Mississippi (and one that applies there only). The Mississippi Medical Board requires a $550 fee for your application, which you pay after you’ve completed the application process. Despite the name, you must renew these licenses by June 30th of the current renewal year. If the Board issued your license after April 1st, you must renew it by June 30th of the following year. You can submit all licenses (including the ones that we cover later in this guide) through the Mississippi Enforcement and Licensure System.

The medical board in Mississippi doesn’t lay out requirements in the same way that other states do. However, they do provide convenient PDFs for each license that provides you with further instructions that will let you know what they will ask you for throughout the application process. Here is some of the necessary documentation that will apply to getting your permanent license in Mississippi.

Submit these items:

• Identification: Certified/notarized copy of a birth certificate or passport. If your name differs, provide evidence like a marriage certificate, legal name change, or divorce decree.
• Education: Copy of the original medical school diploma uploaded via the Licensure Gateway.
• Driver’s License: Copy of your current driver’s license uploaded via the Licensure Gateway.
• Translated Documents (If Applicable): Non-English documents require a certified translation. They accept notarized translations. U.S. Medical Schools can submit original and translated diplomas.
• Affidavit: An “Affidavit and Perpetual Release of Information” form must be read, signed, notarized, and mailed.
• Physical Photograph: A recent (within 60 days) wallet-sized, passport-type photo must be attached to the Affidavit form.
• Electronic Photograph: A recent (within 60 days) electronic passport-type photo must be uploaded via the Licensure Gateway.
• Fingerprints: You must submit fingerprints either via mailed fingerprint cards or by scheduling a LiveScan appointment at MSBML.

Submit these Verifications:

• Education: Forward “Appendix A” from every medical school attended.
• Training: Forward “Appendix B” from institutions of internship, residency, or fellowship. If a program closed, contact the FSMB.
• Activity Post Graduation: Complete “Appendix C” accounting for all activities post-medical school. The Board may request further verification for activities beyond 5 years.
• State License: Verify any active/inactive medical licenses. Use “Appendix D” for states requiring written requests or go through VeriDoc.
• Hospital Privileges: Verify any hospital/staffing privileges held in the past 5 years.
• Exams: Request transcripts if you took the FLEX, SPEX, USMLE, COMLEX, or COMVEX.
• Certifications: Submit certifications if you’re a Diplomate of NBME or NBOME.
• State Board Examination: If you took an exam before March 1973, request copies from the state board.
• LMCC: Submit a statement of registration if you took the LMCC.
• Certification Duration: If you took a medical licensing examination more than 10 years ago, you must have current certifications. The Board verifies this.
• International Graduates: Request a status report from ECFMG.
• Fifth Pathway: If applicable, provide documentation on completion of the Fifth Pathway.
• Military Service: Submit the DD-214 Form or an equivalent. Active-duty personnel must provide a letter of standing from their commanding officer.

For any forms that need to be mailed, this can be done by sending the relevant documentation to the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure at 1867 Crane Ridge Drive, Suite 200-B, Jackson, MS 39216. The Board emphasizes that any incomplete applications will result in a $50 fee.

Related: USMLE, CBSE NBME, MCCQE, + More: Medical Licensing Exams Explained

Medical/Osteopathic Administrative Licensure

An administrative license functions a bit differently than other licenses granted by the medical board in Mississippi. An administrative medical license allows you to partake in professional, managerial, or administrative tasks associated with the field of medicine or the provision of health care services. However, it doesn’t authorize the practice of clinical medicine or allow you to conduct medical research. If you want to get your administrative license, you must submit a notarized declaration affirming your commitment not to provide any medical or clinical services to patients while holding this license.

Regarding both fees and renewal guidelines, these are the same as getting your permanent license. Here’s a breakdown of all of the requirements outlined in the application instructions for administrative licensure.

Submit these items:

• Birth Certificate or Passport: Provide either a certified or notarized copy of your original birth certificate or other certification. Provide satisfactory evidence of the change, such as a legal name change document, marriage certificate, or divorce decree if there’s a discrepancy in your documentation.
• Medical School Diploma: Submit a copy of their original medical school diploma through the Licensure Gateway.
• Driver’s License: Submit a copy of your current driver’s license via the Licensure Gateway.
• Translated Documents: If you have any required documents that aren’t in English, you’ll need to provide a certified translation into English, which can be notarized copies of these translations or copies of your diploma in the original language or translated submitted by U.S. Medical Schools on your behalf.
• Affidavit and Perpetual Release Form: You must read the oath concerning the truthfulness of the provided information and sign the form after understanding the consent clauses. You must also have this document notarized and mailed directly to the Board.
• Administrative Statement: Sign and have an administrative statement notarized. This statement asserts that you won’t provide medical services to patients while holding an administrative license in Mississippi.
• Photograph: Provide a recent photograph, specifically a wallet-sized, passport-type photo taken within the past 60 days, which should be attached to the Affidavit and Perpetual Release of Information form. Informal snapshots won’t be accepted.
• Electronic Photograph: In addition to the physical photo, you must upload an electronic passport-type photograph taken within the past 60 days to the Licensure Gateway.
• Fingerprints: You can submit fingerprints by using two standard FD-258 fingerprint cards mailed to them, acquiring and completing the FD-258 cards from some law enforcement agencies, or opting for LiveScan prints directly at MSBML.

Submit these Verifications:

• Appendix A: You should send this form to every medical school you attended. The school will then forward the completed form to the Board.
• Appendix B: Send this form to the institutions where you completed your internship, residency, or fellowship. These institutions will then forward the form to the Board.
• Appendix C: This form ensures you account for all your activities after graduating from medical school. Activities from the last five years must be verified by the institutions where they took place.
• Appendix D: You must obtain verifications from each state where you’ve practiced medicine, covering both active and inactive licenses. The board also accepts certifications processed through VeriDoc.
• Appendix E: This verification confirms any hospital or staffing privileges you had in the past five years.
• Examination Report: Depending on the exam taken (FLEX, SPEX, USMLE, COMLEX, COMVEX), you must request the relevant transcript from either FSMB or NBOME.
• Certifications: Submit certifications if you’re a Diplomate of NBME or NBOME.
• State Board Examinations: You will need to request copies from the state board if you took an exam before March 1973.
• LMCC: Submit a statement of registration if you took the LMCC.
• Certification Duration: If you took a medical licensing examination more than 10 years ago, you must have current certifications. Otherwise, you run the risk of them rejecting your application. The Board will verify this.
• International Graduates: Request a status report from ECFMG (if applicable)
• Fifth Pathway: If applicable, provide documentation that you’ve completed the Fifth Pathway.
• Military Service: Submit the DD-214 Form or an equivalent. Active-duty personnel must provide a letter of standing from their commanding officer.

Related: ECFMG Certification and Getting Your Medical License in the U.S.

MD/DO Temporary Licensure

Finally, we have the temporary license. A temporary license is a type of license that allows a physician to practice within the confines of an ACGME or AOA-approved postgraduate training program in the state of Mississippi. The renewal dates remain the same, but they have greatly reduced the application fee to only $50. Additionally, you can only submit an application for this license three months prior to your postgraduate training program start date.

Here are the application requirements for temporary licensure:

Items to Be Submitted:

• Birth Certificate or Passport: Provide a certified or notarized copy of your original birth certificate or equivalent. If there’s a discrepancy between the name on your application and the birth certificate, provide evidence like a marriage license, legal name change, or divorce decree.
• Medical School Diploma: Upload a copy of your original medical school diploma via the Licensure Gateway.
• Driver’s License: Provide a copy of your current driver’s license by uploading it through the Licensure Gateway.
• Translated Documents: If any of your required documents aren’t in English, provide a certified translation. You can submit notarized translations or original and translated diplomas (if submitted by U.S. Medical Schools on your behalf).
• Affidavit and Perpetual Release Form: Thoroughly read and sign the oath about the accuracy of the information you provided. Ensure you notarize the document and send the original to the Board by mail.
• Photograph: Submit a recent wallet-sized, passport-type photo taken within the last 60 days. Attach this to the Affidavit and Perpetual Release of Information form. Informal pictures are not acceptable.
• Electronic Photograph: Upload a recent electronic passport-type photo to the Licensure Gateway.

Request these Verifications:

• Appendix A: Forward this form to every medical school you attended. They will send the completed form to the Board.
• Appendix B: Send this to the places where you completed your internship, residency, or fellowship. These institutions will forward the finished form to the Board.
• Appendix C: Document all your post-medical school activities using this form. Ensure institutions verify activities from the past five years.
• Appendix D: Obtain verifications for every state where you’ve practiced medicine, including active and inactive licenses. The Board accepts certifications through VeriDoc.
• Appendix E: Request verification for hospital or staffing privileges held within the past five years.
• Examination Report: Based on the examinations taken, you will need to get your transcript from either FSMB or NBOME.
• NBME Certification: If you are a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners, request a certification transcript sent to the Board via USMLE transcripts. This is only for those who passed former NBME Parts or a mix of NBME Parts and USMLE Steps.
• NBOME Certification: If you’re a Diplomate of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, request a transcript be sent to the Board.
• State Board Examination: If you took a state board exam before March 1973, get a copy of your examination from the state it was taken in and send it to the Board.
• LMCC Certification: If you took the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada, request a registration statement be sent to the Board via MCC examinations.
• ECFMG Verification: If you graduated from an international medical school, you must request a status report from the ECFMG through their website.
• Military Records: Military veterans should provide the Board with a notarized copy of the DD-214 Form. Active-duty military personnel need a letter of standing from their commanding officer and submit it to the Board.

Looking to get licensed in another state? Check our our Medical Licensing Guides Library

Timeframe

Regardless of the type of license you apply for, the Mississippi Medical Board estimates that you can expect to see your medical license approved in anywhere from two to four weeks.

Getting a medical license in Mississippi is much easier than in other states, and they also expedite the entire process.

If you’re still currently looking for the right state to settle down in, take a look at our guide on the top 10 places to live and work. If you’re looking for career advice like contract negotiations and increasing your salary, subscribe to our email newsletter today!