How to become a nurse in Georgia
Georgia licenses nurses through the Georgia Board of Nursing (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division). The route is the same for every state: finish an approved program, apply to the board, pass the NCLEX, then renew on schedule. This page covers what is specific to Georgia.
The steps
Finish a board-approved nursing program
Choose the level you want to start at: a practical nursing certificate (about a year), an associate degree (about two years) or a bachelor's degree (about four). Georgia has 32 bachelor's, 31 associate degree and 24 practical nursing programs in our data. Compare BSN programs in Georgia.
Apply to the board for a license by examination
You apply to the Georgia Board of Nursing (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) before you can test. The board's fee for registered nurses is $40. Expect a fingerprint background check.
Register for and pass the NCLEX
The NCLEX-RN (or NCLEX-PN for practical nursing) is the national licensing exam. Registration costs $200 through Pearson VUE, rising to $350 for registrations from February 1, 2027. The exam asks between 85 and 150 questions and allows 5 hours. 86.0% of Georgia graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first try in 2025, against 86.7% nationally in 2025. NCLEX pass rates in Georgia.
Receive your license, then keep it current
Licenses renew every 2 years, with continuing education required (details in the table below).
Working in more than one state
Georgia is a full member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, in effect since January 19, 2018. A nurse whose home state is Georgia can hold one multistate license and practice in other compact states.
Source: Nurse Licensure Compact
Georgia licensing at a glance
| Licensing board | Georgia Board of Nursing (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Board application fee, RN by exam | $40Non-refundable application fee for RN Licensure by Exam (U.S.), paid to the board through the GOALS portal. Separate from the Pearson VUE NCLEX registration fee and the GAPS/Idemia fingerprinting fee. | Source |
| Board application fee, LPN by exam | $40Non-refundable application fee for LPN Licensure by Exam (U.S.), paid to the board through the GOALS portal. Separate from the Pearson VUE NCLEX registration fee and the GAPS/Idemia fingerprinting fee. | Source |
| Fingerprint background check | YesExam applicants register with GAPS/Idemia (ideally the same day they apply and register with Pearson VUE); GAPS then emails instructions for completing fingerprinting. | Source |
| State law exam (jurisprudence) | Not requiredNo jurisprudence exam appears in the board's RN or LPN Licensure by Exam checklists. | Source |
| Temporary permit while you wait for the exam | NoThe board's FAQ says temporary permits are not issued to graduates. After graduation you may not do any licensed nursing work until you hold a license. | Source |
| License renewal | Every 2 yearsRNs: meet one of five continuing-competency options each two-year cycle (most commonly 30 contact hours from a board-accepted provider; O.C.G.A. 43-26-9). LPNs: 20 contact hours, or completion of an accredited RN program of study, each two-year cycle. CE is reported in CE Broker. Licenses renew by January 31 of the expiration year. | Source |
Board fees are separate from the NCLEX registration fee paid to Pearson VUE. Fees and rules change; confirm with the board before you apply.
Good to know in Georgia
- Register with Pearson VUE for the NCLEX and with GAPS/Idemia for fingerprinting on the same day you submit the licensure application in the GOALS portal; paper applications are no longer accepted (source: https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-registered-nurse).
- Graduates of U.S. programs must pass the NCLEX within 3 years of their graduation date (source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/faqs-nursing).
- After a failed attempt you may reapply at any time, but Pearson VUE will not grant exam eligibility until 45 days have passed (source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/faqs-nursing).
- Georgia graduates do not need to request transcripts; the nursing program sends them to the board (source: https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-registered-nurse).
- The board publishes first-time NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN results for every approved Georgia program, covering the last four years (source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/nursing-education).
What nurses earn in Georgia
| Role | Median yearly pay | Employed in Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse | $93,550 | 100,950 |
| LPN or LVN | $62,030 | 21,060 |
| Nurse practitioner | $129,430 | 10,460 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. The median registered nurse in Georgia earns $4,000 less than the national median of $97,550.