An apparatus for transmitting and receiving system information in a wireless communication system and method thereof are disclosed. In method of receiving system information at a mobile station (MS) in a wireless communication system, the present invention includes the steps of transmitting a version of a broadcast message stored in the mobile station to a base station when failing to receive a broadcast message at a transmission time of the broadcast message or in a transmission interval of the broadcast message, and receiving a response message including the system information contained in the broadcast message being transmitted by the base station from the base station when the version of the broadcast message stored in the mobile station is different from that of the broadcast message being transmitted by the base station.