{"id":7041,"date":"2026-06-06T08:23:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T08:23:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/praxis\/?p=7041"},"modified":"2026-06-17T20:07:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T20:07:01","slug":"mississippi-emergency-teacher-certification-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/praxis\/mississippi-emergency-teacher-certification-requirements","title":{"rendered":"Mississippi Emergency Teacher Certification Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mississippi does not use the term ’emergency teacher certification’ as a single, unified category. Instead, the state’s approach to emergency and non-standard teaching credentials is organized into several distinct license types, each defined by specific statutory provisions in Mississippi Code \u00a7 37-3-2(6) and operationalized through the MDE Guidelines for Mississippi Educator Licensure K-12.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These include: the one-year Emergency Certificate (EC), the Special Non-Renewable License (SNL), the one-year Out-of-Field license for veteran teachers, the Expert Citizen License, and district-level substitute teaching arrangements (which are not state-regulated).<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding the Mississippi emergency certification landscape requires understanding its purpose: approximately one-third of Mississippi’s 152 school districts are designated as ‘critical shortage areas’ \u2014 typically poor, rural districts that cannot attract and retain fully certified teachers (Sapling.com).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Emergency and non-standard licenses exist to give these districts the legal authority to employ candidates who show promise but haven’t yet completed all standard certification requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n

Per the MDE Guidelines (April 2021 version, referencing the regulatory framework still operative in 2024-25): ‘Note: This license is referred to as the one-year Emergency Certificate (EC)… can only be requested by an employing local school district or an eligible nonpublic school in the state of Mississippi.’\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The district initiates all emergency certification requests \u2014 individual candidates cannot apply for emergency credentials on their own. This fundamental structure distinguishes Mississippi’s approach from many other states.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mississippi Emergency & Non-Standard Teacher Licenses: Key Numbers<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1 yr<\/b><\/p>\n

Emergency Certificate (EC) Validity<\/b><\/p>\n

One-year; district request only; non-renewable<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

3 yrs<\/b><\/p>\n

Special Non-Renewable (Max Duration)<\/b><\/p>\n

Up to 3 one-year licenses; then must have standard<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

5 yrs<\/b><\/p>\n

Expert Citizen License<\/b><\/p>\n

MS Code \u00a7 37-3-2(6)(c); HS diploma + 5 yrs exp.<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

1\/3<\/b><\/p>\n

Districts in Critical Shortage Areas<\/b><\/p>\n

Sapling.com; ~50 of Mississippi’s 152 districts<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
2,593<\/b><\/p>\n

Unfilled Positions (2022-23)<\/b><\/p>\n

teachercertificationdegrees.com MS (March 2026)<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

1,520+<\/b><\/p>\n

Underqualified Teachers (2017-18)<\/b><\/p>\n

Teaching outside cert. field; MDE\/NCES data<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

District<\/b><\/p>\n

Who Requests Emergency Licenses<\/b><\/p>\n

Only local school district can initiate \u2014 not candidate<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

\u00a737-3-2<\/b><\/p>\n

Governing Statute<\/b><\/p>\n

MS Code sections (6)(c)(d)(e)(f) \u2014 emergency types<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Sources: sapling.com\/7972936\/mississippi-emergency-teacher-certification \u2014 ‘close to one-third of 152 districts termed critical shortage areas’; teachercertificationdegrees.com MS (March 2026) \u2014 2,593 unfilled positions; 1,520 underqualified (2017-18); MDE Guidelines Aug 2024 \/ April 2021 \u2014 ‘one-year Emergency Certificate (EC)’; ‘1 year; can only be requested by district’; MS Code \u00a7 37-3-2(6)(c) (Justia 2024) \u2014 Expert Citizen five-year license; high school diploma + 5 yrs experience.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mississippi’s Emergency Certification Essential Facts at a Glance<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Mississippi Emergency Certification\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THERE IS NO SINGLE ‘EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE’: Mississippi has multiple types of emergency and non-standard licenses. The main categories are: (1) One-Year Emergency Certificate (EC); (2) Special Non-Renewable License (SNL); (3) One-Year Out-of-Field License; (4) Expert Citizen License; (5) District-managed substitute teaching (not state-regulated).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DISTRICT INITIATES ALL REQUESTS: Emergency licenses are ‘obtained by district request only.’ Individual candidates cannot apply for emergency credentials directly to MDE \u2014 the employing school district must initiate the request on the candidate’s behalf.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ONE-YEAR MAXIMUM (EC): The one-year Emergency Certificate is non-renewable and is issued for a maximum of one year.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THREE-YEAR MAXIMUM (SNL): The Special Non-Renewable License can be issued for up to three consecutive one-year periods under \u00a7 37-3-2(6)(a), (b), and (c).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EXPERT CITIZEN LICENSE: An alternative for professionals without a teaching degree \u2014 requires a high school diploma, industry-recognized certification, and 5 years of relevant experience. Does NOT require a bachelor’s degree.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SUBSTITUTE TEACHING: Not state-regulated by MDE. Each school district sets its own substitute requirements \u2014 contact your local district directly.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GOVERNING LAW: MS Code \u00a7 37-3-2(6)(c),(d),(e),(f) for the emergency license types.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sources: MDE Guidelines (Aug 2024 and April 2021); MS Code \u00a7 37-3-2(6) (Justia 2024); sapling.com\/7972936\/mississippi-emergency-teacher-certification; alleducationschools.com MS (Feb 2026).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Governing Law: Mississippi Code \u00a7 37-3-2(6)<\/b><\/h2>\n

The statutory authority for all emergency and non-standard teacher licenses in Mississippi is Mississippi Code \u00a7 37-3-2(6). Per sapling.com: ‘Some specific laws and regulations apply to the certification, and these are found in the Mississippi Code of 1972, in Sections 37-3-2 (6) (c,d,e and f).’<\/span><\/p>\n

The subsections of \u00a7 37-3-2(6) specifically address:<\/span><\/p>\n