Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program (MASEP): Cost, Enrollment, and What to Expect

What MASEP Is and Who Has to Take It

The Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program (MASEP) is a mandatory 12-hour course for anyone convicted of a first-offense DUI in Mississippi. The program is administered by Mississippi State University's Social Science Research Center and has been operating since 1972.

For a first-offense DUI, MASEP completion is a mandatory part of the reinstatement requirements, and the certificate must be on file with DPS. MASEP is a statutory requirement, not a judicial recommendation; confirm any case-specific questions with MASEP or the court.

Course Format and Schedule

The standard in-person MASEP course runs four sessions of three hours each, held once per week across four consecutive weeks. Class locations and schedules change, so check MASEP for current options.

The curriculum covers alcohol's effects on driving ability, Mississippi DUI laws, decision-making frameworks, and the consequences of repeat offenses. Plan for all four sessions, and contact MASEP about its attendance or rescheduling policy if you cannot attend one.

Cost

In-state (in-person): $225 Out-of-state (verified online): $275

The online option is strictly limited to drivers who are physically residing out of Mississippi. If you live in the state, you must attend in person. The higher online fee covers the verification and proctoring overhead.

Payment is typically due at enrollment. Contact the MASEP office to ask about payment plans if the upfront cost is a barrier — availability varies.

How to Enroll

By phone: Call 662-325-3423 (local) or 1-800-678-2534 (toll-free) By email: [email protected] Online: Visit masep.org for scheduling and location information

You'll need your court paperwork showing the DUI conviction and the court order requiring MASEP completion. Bring it to your first session even if you've already enrolled by phone.

Connecting MASEP to Reinstatement

Completing MASEP is one step in the DUI reinstatement sequence, not the whole process. Here's where it fits:

1. Serve your mandatory suspension period (120 days for a first offense, 1 year for a second within 5 years)
2. Complete MASEP and confirm the certificate is transmitted to DPS
3. Have your insurer file an SR-22 certificate with DPS (maintained for 3 consecutive years)
4. Pay the $175 DUI reinstatement fee to DPS
5. Wait for the clearance letter from DPS

The order matters. Don't pay the $175 reinstatement fee before MASEP has transmitted your certificate — the payment will process, but DPS can't finalize reinstatement until the certificate is on file.

If you're also dealing with additional holds beyond the DUI — failure-to-appear tickets, child support, out-of-state holds — those must be cleared separately. Each hold has its own clearance process and reinstatement fee.

Timing Considerations

Start MASEP enrollment as early as possible. The four-week course duration means you're looking at a minimum one-month commitment, and class availability in your area may add additional wait time. If you start the course while still serving your suspension period, you can have the certificate on file with DPS by the time the suspension expires, which speeds up reinstatement.

Also verify that the MASEP office has transmitted your completion certificate to DPS — don't assume it happened automatically. Call DPS Driver Records at 601-487-7028 to confirm they have it on file before paying the reinstatement fee.

For the full DUI reinstatement sequence and the broader multi-agency clearing process, the Mississippi reinstatement guide covers every step.

See more Mississippi guides →