Teaching License from Illinois to Mississippi: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Usually, with conditions — Mississippi issues its own teaching certificate to a holder of a comparable Illinois 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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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Streamlined recognition
Coming from Illinois, Mississippi is a comparatively smooth move — but "reciprocity" still means applying to Mississippi for its own credential, not carrying your Illinois license across. Mississippi issues its own certificate to a teacher holding a comparable Illinois 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, Illinois → Mississippi
| Illinois (current) | Mississippi (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $150 ($150 PEL application fee for out-of-state (and out-of-country) applicants, assessed electronically in ELIS; license registration fees are additional and required before employment) | 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 time | Not stated on the reviewed ISBE application page | 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 authority | Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator Licensure | 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
- Confirm Mississippi's current requirements on the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) — Office of Educator Licensure website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) — Office of Educator Licensure (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Create a Mississippi Educator Career Continuum Archive (MECCA) account and submit the online licensure application.
- Upload a PDF copy of the valid standard out-of-state (or out-of-country) educator license.
- Submit official sealed transcripts of all college/university coursework and degrees.
- Submit a Verification of Lawful Presence (VLP) form if not previously provided.
- 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
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Mississippi accept an Illinois teaching license?
Usually, with conditions — Mississippi issues its own teaching certificate to a holder of a comparable Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois-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 2026-07-21.
- MDE — Guidelines for Mississippi Educator Licensure K-12 (Aug 2024): RECIPROCITY (standard five-year license within 21 days for a valid standard out-of-state license; Class A requirements) [PDF, accessed via Internet Archive] ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MDE — How to Apply for a License (Out of State License category: valid standard out-of-state license, official transcripts, VLP form; MECCA) [accessed via Internet Archive] ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MDE Teach Mississippi — Reciprocity pathway (standard 5-year renewable license; two-year non-renewable for non-standard out-of-state licenses; no Mississippi prep program or exam required) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ISBE - Educator Licensure Application (Reciprocity / Out-of-State supporting documentation and fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ISBE - Educator Licensure (requirements hub) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]