Georgia Nursing License Requirements: RN, LPN

Overview

The Georgia Board of Nursing exists to protect, promote, and preserve the public health, safety, and welfare through legislative regulation and control of practical nursing and registered professional education and practice.

Registered Nursing (RN) Licensure by Examination

In order to become an RN in Georgia, you must have a minimum of an associates degree in nursing from an accredited college or university approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing.

Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:

• Submit a complete application including the license fee of $40.00 non-refundable (certified check, cashier’s check or money order), official sealed transcript(s), photographs, any letters of explanation, certified court documents. Applicants must have been fingerprinted at an approved GAPS service site. Results of the fingerprint-based criminal background check will be available for review after the fingerprint process is complete
• A fingerprint-based criminal background check.
  • Click here for instructions for applicants in the state of Georgia to obtain fingerprints for a background check.
  • Click here for instructions for out of state applicants to obtain fingerprints for a background check.
• Both in state and out of state applicants must register with Cogent Systems and follow the guidelines found at their website.
• Register and pay the examination fee to the testing service, when you submit your application to the Board office. You can link to the Candidate Bulletin at ncsbn.org .You can register with the testing service online.

For more information on the application process, click here.

Note: Remember to include your email address when completing your application. This allows the Georgia Board of Nursing to contact you when they have received your application and when your license will be issued.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Examination

Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:

• Graduates of Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses Approved Schools in the State of Georgia may apply for licensure online.
• Applicants must submit the following information:

• Completed application
• Non-refundable application fee of $40.00
• Completed criminal background check
• Any other additional information requested by the Board

• Applicants should register with Pearson Vue prior to submitting their application for licensure. Applicants should apply for licensure and register with Pearson Vue using the same name.
• Applicants should register with COGENT Systems prior to submitting their application for licensure.
• Graduates of out of state nursing schools must apply for licensure by submitting a paper application.
  • Graduates of out of state nursing schools must also submit official college transcripts (Nursing education programs must meet the requirements of O.C.G.A. §43-26-32(1.1).

Note: Applicants who graduate from Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses Approved Schools in the State of Georgia are not required to submit transcripts as part of the application process.  Your nursing education program will submit the information to the Board electronically.

Registered Nursing (RN) Licensure by Endorsement

Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:

• Complete the application in its entirety. Indicate N/A for any blanks that are not applicable.
• Include a check or money order payable to the Professional Licensing Boards in the amount of $60.00. Please note that application fees are non-refundable.
• Submit verifications of licensure for your original state of licensure and a current state of licensure. If your license in your original state of licensure is current you are only required to submit verification from that state. Some states utilize Nursys.com for verification purposes. If your state provides verifications of licensure through Nursys.com please visit nursys.com and request that the verification be made available to the Georgia Board of Nursing. To avoid processing delays please submit paper verifications of licensure as part of your application packet.
• Submit official transcripts from your nursing education program which led to initial licensure. To avoid processing delays please submit your transcripts as part of your application packet.
  • All applicants who have obtained their nursing education outside of the U.S. may be requested to provide a Professional Report from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools’ (CGFNS) Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) to be sent directly to the Board office. You may contact CGFNS at cgfns.org.
  • Applicants who are graduates of a non-traditional nursing education program as defined in O.C.G.A. §43-26-7(e) must meet certain education and practice requirements. If completion of these requirements cannot be documented the applicant will be required to complete a Board approved preceptorship as described in O.C.G.A. §43-26-7. Please refer to the Georgia Board of Nursing’s website to review applicable Georgia law and Board Rules. Instructions for Nontraditional Nursing Education Program Applicants may also be found at the Board’s website under the “Application Downloads” link.
• Board rule 410-7-.01 requires applicants for licensure by endorsement to document one of the following: 1) Graduation from a nursing education program within four years of the date of application; or 2) Five hundred (500) hours of practice as a registered nurse (based on the definition of the “Practice of Nursing” found in O.C.G.A. §43-26-3) within the four years preceding the date of this application. Have your employer complete the attached Verification of Employment Form to provide documentation of active practice within the four years preceding the date of this application. To avoid processing delays please submit verifications of employment as part of your application packet.
• The Board requires applicants to disclose all previous arrests and discipline by other regulatory boards. If you have ever been arrested or disciplined by any other regulatory board or agency please provide a certified copy of the official documents showing the final disposition of the incident as well as a personal, detailed letter of explanation regarding each incident. To avoid processing delays please submit all documentation as part of your application packet.
• Georgia law requires applicants to submit secure and verifiable documentation regarding their United States citizenship status. Submit a copy of your driver’s license, United States passport or other document as indicated on page 13 of the application packet. To avoid processing delays please submit the required documentation as part of your application packet.
• Have your completed and signed application notarized.
• Georgia law requires applicants for licensure to complete a criminal background check. View the instructions for completing a criminal background check by fingerprinting for applicants in the state of Georgia and out of state applicants. Please note that the ORI/OAC for the Georgia Board of Nursing is GA922931Z.
• Submit your completed application to the Professional Licensing Boards for processing. Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. To avoid processing delays please be sure to include all required documentation with your application packet. Applications are valid for one year from the date of submission. When mailing your application please use a 9×12 envelope and do not fold or staple any of the documents.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Endorsement

Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:

• Complete the application in its entirety. Indicate N/A for any blanks that are not applicable.
• Include a check or money order payable to the Georgia Board of Nursing in the amount of $75.00. Please note that application fees are non-refundable. Applications are valid for one year from the date of receipt.
• Submit verifications of licensure for your original state of licensure and a current state of licensure. If your license in your original state of licensure is current you are only required to submit verification from that state. Some states utilize Nursys.com for verification purposes. If your state provides verifications of licensure through Nursys.com please visit nursys.com and request that the verification be made available to the Georgia Board of Nursing. To avoid processing delays please submit paper verifications of licensure as part of your application packet.
• Submit official transcripts from your nursing education program which led to initial licensure. To avoid processing delays please submit your transcripts as part of your application packet.
  • All applicants who have obtained their nursing education outside of the U.S. may be requested to provide a Professional Report from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools’ (CGFNS) Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) to be sent directly to the Board office. You may contact CGFNS at cgfns.org .
  • Georgia law requires applicants for licensure by endorsement to have graduated from an approved nursing education program which meets requirements similar to and not less stringent than requirements for practical nursing education programs in Georgia [O.C.G.A. §43-26-32(1.1)]. Georgia currently requires practical nursing education programs to be comprised of at least 685 clock hours of theoretical training and 485 clock hours of clinical training. If you have practiced less than three years as a practical nurse you must complete and submit the Calculation of Clock Hours Form included in this application packet. Applicants who have practiced for three years or more are not required to complete the Calculation of Clock Hours Form.
• Board rule 400-2-.04 requires applicants for licensure by endorsement to document one of the following: 1) Five hundred (500) hours of practice as a practical nurse (based on the definition of the “Practice of Licensed Practical Nursing” found in O.C.G.A. §43-26-32) within the five years preceding the date of this application; or 2) Completion of a Georgia Board approved reentry program within the five years preceding the date of this application. Have your employer complete the attached “Verification of Employment Form” to provide documentation of active practice within the five years preceding the date of this application. To avoid processing delays please submit verifications of employment as part of your application packet. Applicants who graduated from an approved nursing education program within one year of the date of this application and applicants who have been initially licensed within one year of the date of this application are not required to meet the active practice requirements.
• The Board requires applicants to disclose all previous arrests and discipline by other regulatory boards. If you have ever been arrested or disciplined by any other regulatory board or agency please provide a certified copy of the official documents showing the final disposition of the incident as well as a personal, detailed letter of explanation regarding each incident. To avoid processing delays please submit all documentation as part of your application packet.
• Georgia law requires applicants to submit secure and verifiable documentation regarding their United States citizenship status. Submit a copy of your driver’s license, United States passport or other document as indicated on page 12 of the application packet. To avoid processing delays please submit the required documentation as part of your application packet.
• Have your completed and signed application notarized.
• Georgia law requires applicants for licensure to complete a criminal background check. View the instructions for completing a criminal background check by fingerprinting for applicants in the state of Georgia and out of state applicants. Please note that the ORI/OAC for the Georgia Board of Nursing is GA922992Z.
• Submit your completed application to the Professional Licensing Boards for processing. Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. To avoid processing delays please be sure to include all required documentation with your application packet. Applications are valid for one year from the date of submission. When mailing your application please use a 9×12 envelope and do not fold or staple any of the documents.

Click here for a list of fees.

Click here to view some FAQ.

For more information visit the official Georgia Board of Nursing website.

 References:

http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/plb/45