Mississippi Childcare Background Check Requirements (2026)

Mississippi childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Comprehensive fingerprint-based criminal history records check required on all operators, employees, prospective employees, and child care providers eligible to deliver CCDF-funded services — Rule 1.5.2 (authority: Miss. Code Ann. §43-20-1 et seq.; CCDBG Act of 2014 §658(d); 45 CFR 98.43).

Mississippi childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: FBI national criminal history records check (NCIC, fingerprint).

Mississippi childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: State criminal history records check (Mississippi MCIC, fingerprint).

Mississippi childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: State child abuse registry check.

Mississippi childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) check.

Mississippi childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: State sex offender registry check.

Mississippi childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Interstate/out-of-state check, if applicable.

Mississippi childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Valid Letter of Suitability from the MSDH Criminal Records Check Unit required BEFORE a prospective staff member begins work; suitability status electronically accessed, monitored, and maintained via the MSDH agency-maintained website.

Mississippi childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Comprehensive background check repeated every five (5) years; new check required after a break in service exceeding 180 consecutive days.

Mississippi childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Volunteers serving 120+ hours/licensure year require a full check (Letter of Suitability); paid employees under age 18 also require a full comprehensive check (Rule 1.5.2(5)–(6)).

What background checks does Mississippi require for childcare staff?

Mississippi requires the following screenings: Comprehensive fingerprint-based criminal history records check required on all operators, employees, prospective employees, and child care providers eligible to deliver CCDF-funded services — Rule 1.5.2 (authority: Miss. Code Ann. §43-20-1 et seq.; CCDBG Act of 2014 §658(d); 45 CFR 98.43); FBI national criminal history records check (NCIC, fingerprint); State criminal history records check (Mississippi MCIC, fingerprint); State child abuse registry check; National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) check; State sex offender registry check; Interstate/out-of-state check, if applicable; Valid Letter of Suitability from the MSDH Criminal Records Check Unit required BEFORE a prospective staff member begins work; suitability status electronically accessed, monitored, and maintained via the MSDH agency-maintained website; Comprehensive background check repeated every five (5) years; new check required after a break in service exceeding 180 consecutive days; Volunteers serving 120+ hours/licensure year require a full check (Letter of Suitability); paid employees under age 18 also require a full comprehensive check (Rule 1.5.2(5)–(6)).

Do background checks need to be repeated in Mississippi?

Many states require periodic re-screening (often every 5 years) in addition to the initial check. Confirm the current Mississippi re-screening interval with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Child Care Facilities Licensure Branch (Bureau of Child Care Facilities).

Who must be screened at a Mississippi center?

Any staff member, substitute, or volunteer with unsupervised access to children must clear the required Mississippi screenings before working with children.