Banner: License Finder

License Finder

License Finder

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
License Description General information and definitions related to licensing information The practice of nursing by a licensed practical nurse means the performance for compensation of services requiring basic knowledge of the biological physical behavioral psychological and sociological sciences and of nursing procedures which do not require the substantial skill judgment and knowledge required of a registered nurse. These services are performed under the direction of a registered nurse or a licensed physician or licensed dentist and utilize standardized procedures in the observation and care of the ill injured and infirm; in the maintenance of health; in action to safeguard life and health; and in the administration of medications and treatments prescribed by any licensed physician or licensed dentist authorized by state law to prescribe. On a selected basis and within safe limits the role of the licensed practical nurse shall be expanded by the board under its rule-making authority to more complex procedures and settings commensurate with additional preparation and experience. A license means an authorization to practice nursing as a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. A licensed practical nurse is a person who is licensed or holds the privilege to practice under this article and who practices practical nursing as defined herein. L.P.N. is the abbreviation for the title of Licensed Practical Nurse. Privilege to practice means the authorization to practice nursing in the state as described in the Nurse Licensure Compact provided for in Section 73-15-22. Licensee is a person who has been issued a license to practice nursing in the state or who holds the privilege to practice nursing in the state. License Requirements (1) Licensed practical nurse applicant qualifications Any applicant for a license to practice practical nursing as a licensed practical nurse shall submit to the board (a) An attested written application on a Board of Nursing form; (b) A diploma from an approved high school or the equivalent thereof as determined by the appropriate educational agency; (c) Written official evidence of completion of a practical nursing program approved by the State Department of Education through its Division of Vocational Education or one approved by a legal accrediting agency of another state territory or possession of the United States the District of Columbia or a foreign country which is satisfactory to this board; (d) Evidence of competence in English related to nursing provided the first language is not English; (e) Any other official records required by the board. In addition to the requirements specified in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this subsection in order to qualify for a license to practice practical nursing as a licensed practical nurse an applicant must have successfully been cleared for licensure through an investigation that shall consist of a determination as to good moral character and verification that the prospective licensee is not guilty of or in violation of any statutory ground for denial of licensure as set forth in Section 73-15-29 or guilty of any offense specified in Section 73-15-33. To assist the board in conducting its licensure investigation all applicants shall undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history records check of the Mississippi central criminal database and the Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history database. Each applicant shall submit a full set of his or her fingerprints in a form and manner prescribed by the board which shall be forwarded to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (department) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Identification Division for this purpose. Any and all state or national criminal history records information obtained by the board that is not already a matter of public record shall be deemed nonpublic and confidential information restricted to the exclusive use of the board its members officers investigators agents and attorneys in evaluating the applicants eligibility or disqualification for licensure and shall be exempt from the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983. Except when introduced into evidence in a hearing before the board to determine licensure no such information or records related thereto shall except with the written consent of the applicant or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction be released or otherwise disclosed by the board to any other person or agency. The board shall provide to the department the fingerprints of the applicant any additional information that may be required by the department and a form signed by the applicant consenting to the check of the criminal records and to the use of the fingerprints and other identifying information required by the state or national repositories. The board shall charge and collect from the applicant in addition to all other applicable fees and costs such amount as may be incurred by the board in requesting and obtaining state and national criminal history records information on the applicant. The board may in its discretion refuse to accept the application of any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense under any provision of Title 97 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 as now or hereafter amended or any provision of this article. (2) Licensure by examination (a) Upon the board being satisfied that an applicant for a license as a practical nurse has met the qualifications set forth in subsection (1) of this section the board shall proceed to examine such applicant in such subjects as the board shall in its discretion determine. The subjects in which applicants shall be examined shall be in conformity with curricula in schools of practical nursing approved by the State Department of Education. (b) The applicant shall be required to pass the written examination selected by the board. (c) Upon successful completion of such examination the board shall issue to the applicant a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse. (d) The board may use any part or all of the state board test pool examination for practical nurse licensure its successor examination or any other nationally standardized examination identified by the board in its rules. The passing score shall be established by the board in its rules. (3) Licensure by endorsement The board may issue a license to practice practical nursing as a licensed practical nurse without examination to an applicant who has been duly licensed as a licensed practical nurse under the laws of another state territory or possession of the United States the District of Columbia or a foreign country if in the opinion of the board the applicant meets the qualifications required of licensed practical nurses in this state and has previously achieved the passing score or scores on the licensing examination required by this state at the time of his or her graduation. The issuance of a license by endorsement to a military-trained applicant or military spouse shall be subject to the provisions of Section 73-50-1. (4) Licensure by equivalent amount of theory and clinical experience In the discretion of the board former students of a state accredited school preparing students to become registered nurses may be granted permission to take the examination for licensure to practice as a licensed practical nurse provided the applicants record or transcript indicates the former student completed an equivalent amount of theory and clinical experiences as required of a graduate of a practical nursing program and provided the school attended was at the time of the students attendance an accredited school of nursing. (5) Requirements for rewriting the examination The board shall establish in its rules the requirements for rewriting the examination for those persons failing the examination on the first writing or subsequent writing. (6) Temporary permit (a) The board may issue a temporary permit to practice practical nursing to a graduate of an approved school of practical nursing pending the results of the examination in Mississippi and to a qualified applicant from another state territory or possession of the United States or the District of Columbia pending licensing procedures as provided for elsewhere in this article. (b) The board may issue a temporary permit for a period of ninety (90) days to a licensed practical nurse who is currently licensed in another state territory or possession of the United States or the District of Columbia and who is an applicant for licensure by endorsement. Such permit is not renewable except by board action. The issuance of a temporary permit to a military-trained applicant or military spouse shall be subject to the provisions of Section 73-50-1. (c) The board may issue a temporary permit to a graduate of an approved practical nursing education program or an equivalent program satisfactory to the board pending the results of the first licensing examination scheduled after application. Such permit is not renewable except by board action. (d) The board may issue a temporary permit for a period of thirty (30) days to any licensed practical nurse during the time enrolled in a nursing reorientation program. This time period may be extended by board action. (e) The board may adopt such regulations as are necessary to limit the practice of persons to whom temporary permits are issued. (7) Title and abbreviation Any person who holds a license or holds the privilege to practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state shall have the right to use the title licensed practical nurse and the abbreviation L.P.N. No other person shall assume such title or use such abbreviation or any words letters signs or devices to indicate that a person using the same is a licensed practical nurse. (8) Licensed practical nurses licensed under a previous law Any person holding a license to practice nursing as a practical nurse issued by this board which is valid on July 1 1981 shall thereafter be deemed to be licensed as a practical nurse under the provisions of this article upon payment of the fee prescribed in Section 73-15-27.
Licensing Agency
MS Board of Nursing
713 Pear Orchard Road, Plaza II Suite 300
Ridgeland, MS 39157-0000
(601) 957 6300
reception@msbn.ms.gov
Active Status Active
Continuing Education Continuing education required to maintain license
Criminal Record No criminal record prohibitions
Education Degree required
Exam State exam required
License Type Stand-alone license
License Updated 08/14/2023
Physical Requirements No physical requirements
Back to Results