Mississippi CNA License Verification: Check the Registry Before You Work, Hire or Renew
Mississippi calls this a nurse aide certification and registry listing, although many people search for a “CNA license.” The current official route is the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry in TMU, managed by Headmaster for the Mississippi State Department of Health.
Use this guide to search a CNA by name or registration number, understand registry status, renew every 24 months, document qualifying work, handle an expired certification, transfer an out-of-state CNA and avoid outdated Pearson VUE or Credentia instructions.
Quick Answer: How to Verify a Mississippi CNA
Open the Mississippi TMU Public Registry and search for the nurse aide using the name or registration number. Open the matching record and confirm that it is the correct person, then review the registry status and eligibility expiration information before relying on the certification for employment.
You do not need to use the Mississippi Board of Nursing RN/LPN lookup for a regular CNA registry check. CNA certification is currently handled through the Mississippi State Department of Health and Headmaster/TMU.
Use TMU Public Search
The public Mississippi Registry Search is designed for status checks. It has a Search By field, a search value field and a public Search Registry action.
Use registration number when available
MSDH specifically says registered Mississippi CNAs can be found by name or registration number. A registration number reduces same-name confusion.
Do not share sensitive identifiers unnecessarily
For routine employer verification, use the public registry and the minimum information necessary. Do not send Social Security numbers through email, comments, screenshots or private lookup websites.
Use the Correct 2026 Mississippi CNA System
This is an important freshness check because older search results still send Mississippi nurse aides to previous vendors or describe a proposed agency transfer that never became current law.
Mississippi State Department of Health
Current MSDH pages continue to list Certified Nurse Aides under the state health department and direct certification, registry, renewal, reciprocity and training users to Headmaster/TMU.
Headmaster / TMU
Headmaster is the current Mississippi-approved provider for nurse aide testing and registry services. The current candidate handbook is dated January 2026.
Do not follow old Pearson VUE or Credentia instructions
Older guides may still show Pearson VUE, Credentia, old mailing addresses or older fees. Use current MSDH and Headmaster/TMU instructions instead.
A 2025 bill proposed moving CNA certification administration from MSDH to the Mississippi Board of Nursing effective July 1, 2026, but that bill died in committee. Current Mississippi government pages still direct CNA users to MSDH and Headmaster/TMU. Use the current official route, not an article that treated the proposal as enacted law.
If you need a physician or physician-assistant credential instead of a CNA record, use the separate Mississippi medical license verification guide. Different Mississippi health credentials use different agencies and search systems.
How to Complete a Mississippi CNA License Verification
Use this workflow for your own certification, employer credentialing, facility onboarding, staffing review or family verification.
Open the Mississippi TMU Public Registry
Go directly to the public search page at the Mississippi TMU website. Do not sign into someone else’s private TMU account to perform a public verification.
Choose the search method
MSDH says the registry can be searched using the nurse aide’s name or registration number. Registration number is usually the cleaner identifier when you have it.
Enter the information carefully
Use the nurse aide’s current legal name. If a record does not appear after a recent marriage, divorce or other legal-name change, try the former name and then review the demographic-change process.
Open the matching registry record
Do not stop at a similar name. Compare the available identifiers and registration information before deciding that you found the correct Mississippi CNA.
Check status and eligibility expiration
Use the official record to determine whether the aide appears current and whether the renewal period is approaching. An old wallet card or training certificate does not replace current registry status.
Save dated verification proof when needed
For employment or compliance files, record the official source, name, registration number, status, expiration or eligibility date and the date the registry was checked.
Use Public Registry Search when you only need to check status. Use your private TMU account for renewal, applications, demographic corrections, testing and other account actions.
How to Read a Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry Result
| Result or situation | What it means | What to do | Important caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current / eligible | The aide appears current in the Mississippi registry. | Confirm identity and the eligibility expiration date, then save dated proof if required. | A current result today does not guarantee status after the expiration date. |
| Renewal approaching | The 24-month eligibility period is nearing its end. | Sign into TMU and prepare the work-history verification before expiration. | Do not wait for the last day to resolve employer-verification problems. |
| Expired less than 30 days | Headmaster allows a short post-expiration renewal window. | Act immediately in TMU and complete the applicable renewal steps. | This is not an extra 24-month period; the certification is already expired. |
| Expired more than 30 days | Normal renewal is no longer the route. | Use the reactivation-by-examination process. | Do not pay or submit an old paper renewal form from a previous vendor. |
| Misconduct restriction | The registry contains a restriction or finding affecting normal eligibility. | Review the official record and the applicable MSDH process. | Headmaster’s current handbook says aides with misconduct restrictions are not eligible for normal renewal. |
| No result | Name variation, wrong registry, lapsed status or incorrect information may be involved. | Use the troubleshooting section below. | A blank name search by itself is not proof that the person was never certified. |
Mississippi CNA Renewal: Current 2026 Requirements
Mississippi nurse aide eligibility is renewed every 24 months. The current Headmaster handbook requires qualifying paid nurse aide work, employer verification in TMU and completion of the renewal process.
Renew every 24 months
Registry eligibility must be renewed every two years to maintain normal employment eligibility.
8 consecutive paid hours
You must have worked for pay as a nurse aide performing nursing or nursing-related services for at least eight consecutive hours during the previous 24 months.
TMU sends verification to the employer
You list qualifying work and choose the employer in TMU. An employer contact receives a verification link to confirm your work history.
Misconduct restrictions block normal renewal
The current candidate handbook says nurse aides with misconduct restrictions on the Registry are not eligible for standard renewal.
30-day renewal window
Headmaster allows 30 days after certification expiration to renew. Once the certification has been expired for more than 30 days, retesting is required to recertify.
Use your last qualifying nurse aide employer
If you are not employed as a nurse aide when you renew, Headmaster instructs you to choose your last qualifying nurse aide employer from the TMU employer list.
Step-by-step TMU renewal workflow
Sign into your Mississippi TMU account
Use the account attached to your Mississippi nurse aide record. If you cannot access the account, try the password-recovery option or contact Headmaster support.
Enter your qualifying work history
List the nurse aide work that satisfies the renewal rule and select the correct facility or agency from TMU’s employer list.
Choose the correct employer contact
TMU sends an email verification link to the employer contact. Your renewal cannot be completed correctly if the wrong employer is selected or the employer does not verify the work.
Complete payment in TMU
The current Headmaster handbook provides self-pay by credit card and sponsor-payment options. Your employer may pay the renewal charge when applicable.
Wait for employer verification
Once the qualifying employment is verified and the renewal process is completed, registry eligibility is extended for another 24 months.
Recheck the public registry
After renewal processing, return to the public Mississippi Registry Search and confirm the updated status rather than relying only on a payment receipt.
Which Work Counts for Mississippi CNA Renewal?
The job title alone is not enough. Headmaster’s current renewal instructions distinguish qualifying nurse aide work from settings that do not satisfy recertification requirements.
| Work setting or situation | Counts toward normal renewal? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing home | Yes, when the work meets the paid nursing/nursing-related requirement. | Select the facility correctly in TMU for employer verification. |
| Hospital | Yes. | The work must be nurse aide nursing or nursing-related service performed for pay. |
| Hospice | Yes. | The employer must be able to verify qualifying employment. |
| Home health agency | Yes under the current Headmaster handbook. | Use the correct qualifying employer record in TMU. |
| ICF/MR facility | Yes. | Document the qualifying paid nurse aide work. |
| Employment agency placement | Potentially, but the employment agency cannot verify it. | Headmaster instructs the aide to select the long-term care facility where the aide was placed as the employer. |
| Private-duty aide | No. | Headmaster explicitly lists private-duty aide work as nonqualifying. |
| Doctor’s office aide | No. | This setting is specifically listed as nonqualifying for recertification. |
| Laboratory aide | No. | Laboratory aide work does not satisfy the nurse aide renewal requirement. |
| Personal care home assisted living aide | No. | Headmaster lists this work as nonqualifying. |
| Personal care home residential living aide | No. | This setting is also specifically excluded from normal recertification work history. |
Headmaster provides an Out-of-State Employment Verification form specifically for aides who are already on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry but are working as nurse aides outside Mississippi. Use the current Headmaster Mississippi page rather than an old vendor form.
Expired Mississippi CNA Certification: 30 Days vs More Than 30 Days
The date matters. Headmaster’s current handbook separates a recently expired certification from a lapsed certification that has been expired longer than 30 days.
| Situation | Route | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Certification still current | Normal TMU renewal. | Complete qualifying work verification before expiration whenever possible. |
| Expired 30 days or less | Headmaster allows renewal during this post-expiration window. | Act immediately because normal employment eligibility has already expired. |
| Expired more than 30 days | Testing is required to recertify. | Use the Reactivation by Examination application in TMU rather than normal renewal. |
| Lapsed aide approved for reactivation exam | Complete the Mississippi competency examination. | Current Headmaster guidance gives one attempt. Failure of either component on the first attempt requires completion of an MSDH-approved nurse aide training program before retesting as a new aide. |
If an employer requires current Mississippi nurse aide eligibility, verify the restored public registry status after the reactivation or renewal process is complete.
Mississippi CNA Fees and Payment: What Is Verified for 2026
Fee pages are one of the most common places where old Mississippi CNA guides become inaccurate. Use current TMU and Headmaster screens before submitting payment.
| Action | Current verified information | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Public CNA registry search | The public TMU registry search is available without signing into a candidate account. | Use Public Search for verification; do not pay a private directory for the basic registry route. |
| Reciprocity application | $25 processing administrative assessment fee in the January 2026 Headmaster handbook. | Submit the current CNA Reciprocity Form in TMU and follow the current payment screen. |
| Renewal | The current handbook confirms that a renewal fee applies and provides Self-Pay and Sponsor Payment options, but the public handbook text reviewed does not state a dollar amount. | Confirm the amount shown inside the current TMU renewal workflow before payment. |
| Competency testing | Testing fees are managed through the current Headmaster/TMU process and can change. | Check the January 2026 candidate handbook and current TMU payment screen before scheduling. |
Pages still quoting old Pearson VUE or Credentia renewal, reciprocity or exam fees may be using a previous Mississippi vendor workflow. The current provider is Headmaster/TMU.
Mississippi CNA Reciprocity for an Out-of-State Nurse Aide
Mississippi reciprocity is for an aide who is currently listed on another state’s nurse aide registry and meets the Mississippi eligibility requirements for out-of-state registry placement.
Current and in good standing in another state
MSDH says the applicant must be entered on another state’s nurse aide registry in accordance with OBRA ’87 training and competency requirements and must currently be active and in good standing.
- Current out-of-state nurse aide registry listing.
- Good-standing status.
- Completed Mississippi CNA Reciprocity Form application in TMU.
- Required reciprocity verification and supporting documents.
- Valid email address for TMU credentials and notices.
- $25 administrative assessment fee under the January 2026 handbook.
Apply through TMU Applications
Go to Mississippi TMU, select Applications, and choose the CNA Reciprocity Form. Headmaster reviews the submitted application, registry verification, documents and fee to determine whether the applicant can be added to the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry.
Verify the source-state registry first. If your current CNA certification is from Alabama, our Alabama CNA License Verification guide explains the Alabama source-state lookup before you begin Mississippi reciprocity.
The January 2026 Headmaster handbook has a separate Out-of-State Certification – Reactivation by Examination route for certain applicants with a lapsed out-of-state certificate, or a current out-of-state certificate that is nearing expiration without the required work history. If approved, the applicant gets one attempt to pass the Mississippi competency examination before retraining becomes necessary after a failed component.
How a New Applicant Becomes a Mississippi CNA
Public verification is the final status check, not the first certification step. A new applicant normally follows Mississippi-approved training and competency testing before appearing as an eligible nurse aide in the registry.
Choose an MSDH-approved Nurse Aide Training Program
MSDH directs new candidates to a Mississippi state-approved Nurse Aide Training Program. The state can provide a current list of approved programs.
Complete the applicable training route
Finish the state-approved program or qualify through another approved testing-eligibility route, such as certain nursing-student or graduate-nurse pathways described in the current candidate handbook.
Create and complete the TMU candidate account
Mississippi uses TMU for testing and registry administration. MSDH directs users who need to create a TMU account to call 800-393-8664.
Complete the required competency testing
Follow Headmaster’s current testing instructions and candidate handbook for examination eligibility, scheduling, identification and test-day rules.
Check the Mississippi Registry after processing
Once certification processing is complete, confirm the final public registry listing before presenting yourself as currently certified for employment.
Name, Date of Birth or Social Security Number Correction in TMU
A missing or mismatched registry result can be caused by outdated demographic information. Headmaster uses a formal correction workflow rather than an informal email-only change.
Upload legal supporting documentation
Marriage, divorce and other legal-name corrections must be supported by appropriate documentation through the current demographic-change process.
Use the correction application
The current Headmaster handbook directs date-of-birth and Social Security number corrections through the Demographic Change/Correction Request application in TMU.
Try the previous legal name while a change is pending
If you are troubleshooting your own record, the old legal name may explain why a search under the new name does not yet return the expected result.
Mississippi CNA Misconduct List and Finding of Neglect
The Mississippi registry is also used for misconduct information. Employers should not treat a simple name match as the only part of a compliance review when the official record shows a restriction or finding.
Available from the Registry Search page
MSDH says the Mississippi registry search page provides a downloadable misconduct list. Review current official information when a misconduct issue matters to hiring or facility compliance.
Petition may be possible after one year
MSDH and the current Headmaster handbook state that a nurse aide may petition for removal of a qualifying finding of neglect at least one full year after the finding was placed on the registry.
Not every adverse entry qualifies
The 2026 handbook describes a petition process for a single entry of neglect under limited circumstances. Do not assume that abuse, misappropriation or every misconduct entry can be removed through the same process.
Current Headmaster guidance says a nurse aide with misconduct restrictions on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry is not eligible for normal renewal.
No Mississippi CNA Result Found? Use This Troubleshooting Order
| Problem | Possible reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No result by name | Spelling, former legal name or demographic change. | Try the registration number when available and check relevant former names. |
| Several similar results | Name search is too broad. | Use the registration number and compare the full registry information carefully. |
| Old Pearson VUE or Credentia page appears | Search engines still index previous Mississippi vendor information. | Return to MSDH, Headmaster or ms.tmutest.com. |
| Certification expired | Renewal was not completed or qualifying work was not verified. | If within 30 days, complete the applicable renewal process immediately; after 30 days, use reactivation by examination. |
| Employer did not verify renewal | Wrong employer selected, employer email not completed or staffing agency chosen instead of the facility. | Confirm the qualifying facility and employer contact in TMU. |
| Cannot sign into TMU | Old email, forgotten username/password or incomplete account access. | Use password recovery first; if access still fails, contact Headmaster at 888-401-0462. |
| Out-of-state CNA not found in Mississippi | Mississippi reciprocity has not been completed. | Verify the source-state certification and complete the Mississippi CNA Reciprocity Form in TMU. |
| Looking for RN, LPN, physician or pharmacist | Wrong credential system. | Use the profession-specific Mississippi board or agency instead of the CNA registry. |
Mississippi Employer CNA Verification Checklist
A dated primary-source verification record is stronger than relying only on a resume, old wallet card or staffing profile.
- Official Mississippi TMU Registry source.
- Date the verification was completed.
- Nurse aide’s name as displayed.
- Registration number when available.
- Current registry or eligibility status.
- Eligibility expiration date.
- Any misconduct restriction requiring review.
- Screenshot or printout if required by facility policy.
- Reviewer name or credentialing record reference.
- Old paper certificate or wallet card.
- Resume or employment application.
- Staffing-agency profile.
- Search-engine snippet.
- Private CNA directory.
- Training completion certificate without registry verification.
- Out-of-state CNA card without Mississippi reciprocity when Mississippi listing is required.
- Old Pearson VUE or Credentia record instructions.
A CNA registry record is different from a pharmacy credential. For pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacies and Board of Pharmacy permits, use our Mississippi pharmacy license verification guide.
Mississippi CNA Contacts: Which Number Should You Use?
| Contact | Current details | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| TMU account / public registry line | 800-393-8664 | Creating or accessing the TMU system and registry-related help referenced by MSDH. |
| Headmaster Mississippi support | 888-401-0462 mississippi@hdmaster.com |
Testing, registry questions, account access and current Headmaster process support. |
| MSDH CNA / Licensure Division | 601-364-2718 Antanikah.Robbins@msdh.ms.gov |
CNA certification, training, licensing and state-program questions. |
| MSDH Central Office | 570 East Woodrow Wilson Drive, Jackson, MS 39216 601-576-7400 |
General Mississippi State Department of Health contact and agency routing. |
| MSDH Central Office hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | General office calls and agency contact during normal business hours. |
| MSDH mailing address | P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700 | Official MSDH postal correspondence when an agency instruction specifically requires mail. |
Public verification is online through TMU, and renewal, reciprocity, demographic corrections and reactivation applications are handled through the current online workflow. Use the official contact numbers before mailing documents or making an in-person trip.
Official Mississippi CNA Verification, Renewal and Certification Links
Use these official resources for the final action after you understand which Mississippi CNA route applies to your situation.
Independent Guide and Official-Use Notice
This page is an independent informational resource and is not the Mississippi State Department of Health, Headmaster, TMU or any government agency. It explains the current public verification, renewal, reciprocity and certification routes so users can choose the correct official action.
Registry status, fees, application screens, vendor instructions, contact information and certification rules can change. For hiring, employment eligibility, renewal, reciprocity, testing, misconduct findings or other decisions that depend on current status, confirm the final result through MSDH, Headmaster and the Mississippi TMU system.
Mississippi CNA License Verification FAQs
How do I verify a Mississippi CNA online?
Use the Mississippi TMU Public Registry. Search by the nurse aide’s name or registration number, open the matching record, and confirm the current registry status and eligibility expiration information before relying on the certification.
Do I need a TMU login to search the Mississippi CNA Registry?
No. The Mississippi TMU website provides a separate Public Registry Search page for verification. A private TMU account is used for actions such as renewal, applications, demographic changes and testing.
How often does a Mississippi CNA need to renew?
Mississippi nurse aide registry eligibility is renewed every 24 months. Normal renewal requires qualifying paid nurse aide work and employer verification through the current TMU process.
How many work hours are required for Mississippi CNA renewal?
The current Headmaster handbook requires at least eight consecutive hours of paid nurse aide nursing or nursing-related services during the previous 24 months.
What work does not count for Mississippi CNA renewal?
Headmaster lists private-duty aide, doctor’s office aide, laboratory aide, personal care home assisted living aide and personal care home residential living aide work as nonqualifying. An employment agency also cannot verify the qualifying work; the long-term care facility where the aide was placed must be selected when applicable.
What happens if my Mississippi CNA certification expires?
Headmaster allows a 30-day period after expiration to complete renewal. If the certification has been expired for more than 30 days, the aide must use the reactivation-by-examination route to recertify.
How do I renew my Mississippi CNA certification in TMU?
Sign into Mississippi TMU, enter your qualifying work hours and employer, choose the correct employer contact for electronic verification, complete the required payment step, and then recheck the public registry after the renewal is processed.
How do I transfer an out-of-state CNA certification to Mississippi?
Apply through the CNA Reciprocity Form in Mississippi TMU. You must be current and in good standing on another state’s nurse aide registry, submit the required verification and documents, and pay the $25 administrative assessment fee listed in the January 2026 Headmaster handbook.
Who manages the Mississippi CNA Registry in 2026?
The Mississippi State Department of Health remains the state authority, and Headmaster/TMU manages the current CNA registry and testing services. Do not use old Pearson VUE or Credentia instructions for current Mississippi CNA actions.
Can a Mississippi CNA ask to remove a finding of neglect?
A nurse aide may petition for removal of a qualifying single finding of neglect at least one full year after the finding was placed on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry. The current application is available through TMU and is subject to MSDH review requirements.
Bottom Line for Mississippi CNA License Verification
For a current Mississippi CNA status check, start with the TMU Public Registry and search by name or registration number. For renewal, use your private TMU account, document at least eight consecutive paid qualifying hours during the previous 24 months and make sure the correct employer verifies the work. If certification has been expired for more than 30 days, use reactivation by examination rather than normal renewal.
For reciprocity, confirm active good-standing status in the source state before applying in Mississippi. For any final employment, renewal, testing or misconduct decision, use the current MSDH and Headmaster/TMU record rather than old vendor instructions or a private directory.