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LicenseReciprocity

Teaching License from Georgia to Mississippi: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) — Office of Educator Licensure ↗

Usually, with conditions — Mississippi issues its own teaching certificate to a holder of a comparable Georgia teaching certificate, usually without its tests. It is not an automatic exchange: apply to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) — Office of Educator Licensure and meet any condition it sets for your credential.

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Verdict

Streamlined recognition

Coming from Georgia, Mississippi is a comparatively smooth move — but "reciprocity" still means applying to Mississippi for its own credential, not carrying your Georgia license across. Mississippi issues its own certificate to a teacher holding a comparable Georgia certificate, usually without its tests; a credential it does not treat as comparable takes a different route. The requirements below are what Mississippi still asks.

What changes, Georgia → Mississippi

Side-by-side: Georgia vs Mississippi (Teaching (K-12)), verified 2026-08-07
Georgia (current)Mississippi (destination)
Application fee$0–$20 ($20 processing fee payable via MyPSC for all certification transactions; waived for an applicant's first Georgia certificate when the application is supported by an employing Georgia local unit of administration (LUA). GACE exam fees and fingerprinting costs are additional.)No fixed reciprocity application fee is published on the reviewed MDE pages; applications are submitted and paid through the MECCA system (a $5 fee is noted for duplicate-copy requests). Confirm the current fee at [email protected]
Processing time2+ weeks (GaPSC publishes no fixed range; it posts a live queue date and asks applicants to 'wait at least two weeks after completing your application' before contacting the office. On 2026-08-07 the site stated it was processing complete application packages received on or before July 27, 2026.)up to 3 weeks (State Board policy requires MDE to grant the standard five-year reciprocity license within twenty-one (21) days of a completed application (about 3 weeks))
Licensing authorityGeorgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) — Office of Educator Licensure

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Mississippi sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Mississippi's current requirements on the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) — Office of Educator Licensure website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) — Office of Educator Licensure (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Create a Mississippi Educator Career Continuum Archive (MECCA) account and submit the online licensure application.
  5. Upload a PDF copy of the valid standard out-of-state (or out-of-country) educator license.
  6. Submit official sealed transcripts of all college/university coursework and degrees.
  7. Submit a Verification of Lawful Presence (VLP) form if not previously provided.
  8. Pay the fees (No fixed reciprocity application fee is published on the reviewed MDE pages; applications are submitted and paid through the MECCA system (a $5 fee is noted for duplicate-copy requests). Confirm the current fee at [email protected]) and allow up to 3 weeks (State Board policy requires MDE to grant the standard five-year reciprocity license within twenty-one (21) days of a completed application (about 3 weeks)).

Official links

Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) — Office of Educator Licensure ↗Mississippi application ↗License verification ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Mississippi → GeorgiaTeaching in GeorgiaTeaching in MississippiAll teaching states

Frequently asked questions

Does Mississippi accept a Georgia teaching license?

Usually, with conditions — Mississippi issues its own teaching certificate to a holder of a comparable Georgia teaching certificate, usually without its tests. It is not an automatic exchange: apply to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) — Office of Educator Licensure and meet any condition it sets for your credential.

Will I have to retake tests moving from Georgia to Mississippi?

A holder of a valid standard license from another state (or country/political subdivision) is granted a Mississippi standard five-year license without taking Mississippi's Praxis or other licensure exams; an applicant who does not hold a valid standard/renewable out-of-state license instead receives a two-year non-renewable reciprocity license and must complete Mississippi's testing/requirements to convert to a standard license.

Can I teach in Mississippi right away?

Yes, once the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) — Office of Educator Licensure issues your Mississippi certificate; for a comparable certificate it usually comes without Mississippi's tests. Build its processing time into your start date.

What does the Georgia-to-Mississippi transfer cost and how long does it take?

No fixed reciprocity application fee is published on the reviewed MDE pages; applications are submitted and paid through the MECCA system (a $5 fee is noted for duplicate-copy requests). Confirm the current fee at [email protected]. Processing: up to 3 weeks (State Board policy requires MDE to grant the standard five-year reciprocity license within twenty-one (21) days of a completed application (about 3 weeks)).

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.

Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]