Transferring your teaching license from Pennsylvania to Mississippi
Both Pennsylvania and Mississippi participate in the NASDTEC interstate agreement, which standardizes how states evaluate out-of-state teaching credentials. Educators relocating from Pennsylvania can generally expect a streamlined review process, though state-specific content exams or coursework may still be required.
See 290 open teaching jobs in Mississippi →Your current credential (Pennsylvania)
- Issuing authority
- Pennsylvania Department of Education
- License type
- Instructional I Certificate (6 years)
- Reciprocity policy
- Pennsylvania participates in NASDTEC. The state evaluates out-of-state certificates and typically requires the Praxis subject assessment for the certification area.
Mississippi certification
- Issuing authority
- Mississippi Department of Education
- License you'll earn
- Novice Educator License (3 years)
- Typical timeline
- 12–18 months traditional; MAPT allows classroom entry immediately with completion over 3 years
- Mississippi reciprocity policy
- Mississippi participates in the NASDTEC compact. Out-of-state educators with valid certificates may receive a Mississippi license; content exams may be required.
Exams typically required in Mississippi
Out-of-state applicants are usually asked to demonstrate content-area knowledge on Mississippi's preferred exams, even when basic-skills testing is waived through reciprocity. Plan for one or more of the following:
- Praxis Core Academic Skills (or qualifying ACT/SAT/GRE scores)Basic reading, writing, and mathematics
- Praxis Subject AssessmentsContent knowledge for your certification area
Steps to transfer your license
- Verify your Pennsylvania credential is current. Mississippi will request a verification of your active Instructional I Certificate from Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- Apply through Mississippi Department of Education. The application packet typically includes official transcripts, prior teaching service verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
- Sit for any Mississippi-specific exams. Most states honor out-of-state content-area exams when scores meet their cutoff, but Mississippi may require an additional jurisprudence or state-specific assessment.
- Apply to Mississippi districts that match your endorsement. We're currently tracking 290 active openings — browse Mississippi teaching jobs to start identifying districts.