How to Become a Nurse in Georgia

Nurses are important health-care employees in Georgia.

Nursing is a valued skill set that is necessary for the health-care industry across the United States. In Georgia, nurses receive licenses through the Georgia Board of Nursing. This organization regulates the application process and ensures that nurses in Georgia have all of the resources and information they need to provide the best service to patients. It does not take many steps to become a nurse in Georgia , but the process is by no means easy.

Instructions

1. Obtain a degree in nursing from an accredited nursing school approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing.

2. Take the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) for registered nurses or practical nurses, depending on which type of nurse you are trying to become. Register with the testing center using your school code before sending in an application for licensure.

3. Complete a license application with the office of the Secretary of State. The application can be downloaded or completed on line from the website listed in the Resources.

4. Submit to a criminal background check and fingerprint scan. Register with Cogent Systems, the company Georgia uses for professional background checks, by going to the site in the second Resource. Fingerprint scans must be done in person at approved sites, which can also be found at the website.

5. Submit the application with the Georgia Board of Nursing and pay the application fee (prices are found in the third Resource).

Tips & Warnings

• You may have to contact the Georgia Board of Nursing to find out if your nursing school is approved by the Board.

• The NCLEX exam for registered nurses is slightly different from the exam for practical/vocational nurses because different skills and knowledge are tested.

• Be sure to put the correct school code in when you are registering for the exam.

• When registering for the Cogent service, the ORI number to use when prompted is GA922931Z. The Verification Code is 922931Z.

• Cogent ID can also be contacted by phone at 1-888-439-2512, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p. m.

• There are various fees for each service required to become licensed; $200 for NCLEX examination registration, $60 for state endorsement, $65 for license renewal and so on.

References

• Georgia Secretary of State: Georgia Board of Nursing
• Georgia Department of Health: License Certification

Resources

• PearsonVUE: NCLEX
• National Coucil of State Boards of Nursing: Index
• Georgia Secretary of State: License Application Online
• Georgia Applicant Processing Service: Cogent ID