The Georgia Board of Nursing licenses more than 149,360 active registered nurses, making Georgia the 10th-largest RN workforce in the country. It runs license-by-exam, endorsement, and APRN authorization through the GOALS portal. Renewal happens every two years with five continuing-competency options. Georgia is a Nurse Licensure Compact member, so qualifying RNs can hold one multistate license that works across 41 jurisdictions.
Key Takeaways
- 149,360 active RN licenses in Georgia as of January 2026, per NCSBN data, putting the state 10th nationally.
- $40 exam fee, $75 endorsement fee, $65 renewal fee. Most applicants pay $290 to $340 all-in when you add NCLEX and fingerprints.
- 15 business days is the Board’s stated review window once every document is in. Endorsement files tend to land in the 3-to-4-week range in practice.
- Georgia joined the Nurse Licensure Compact on January 19, 2018. Qualifying RNs and LPNs can hold one multistate license recognized across 41 NLC jurisdictions.
- 30 contact hours of CE every two years is one of five continuing-competency options. You only need to satisfy one of the five.
Georgia’s nursing license process is genuinely friendlier than most southeastern states. Fees are low, the GOALS portal is functional, and the Board sticks to its 15-business-day review for clean files. The friction points are predictable: missing the Affidavit of Citizenship, skipping the same-day fingerprint registration, or not knowing Georgia is a compact state. Get those three right and you have a smooth file.
What the Georgia Board of Nursing Actually Does
The Georgia Board of Nursing sits under the Georgia Secretary of State and is responsible for licensing every RN, LPN, and APRN who practices in the state. It approves nursing education programs, issues licenses by exam and endorsement, handles disciplinary action, and operates the GOALS portal for all applications and renewals.
In one sentence: the Board is both the licensing gatekeeper and the audit body for nursing practice in Georgia. Every RN or LPN application, every renewal, every CE audit, and every complaint runs through this agency. It does not provide individual legal advice on scope-of-practice questions, but it does publish a scope-of-practice decision tree that walks nurses through the most common ones.
Georgia has been one of the steadier compact states since joining the NLC in 2018. Its CE structure is also unusual: instead of mandating a flat 30 hours like most states, Georgia gives you a menu of five competency options, only one of which has to be satisfied per cycle. More on that below.
By the numbers: Georgia has 149,360 active RN licenses, which is 2.52% of all U.S. active RN licenses (national total: 5,934,198). Source: NCSBN National Nursing Database, accessed January 5, 2026.
You can see how Georgia stacks up against the rest of the country. The state sits just below North Carolina and well ahead of comparable southeastern peers. If you’ve been following our writeups of the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing or West Virginia’s nursing board, Georgia is bigger than both combined.
Georgia Board of Nursing Fees and Timelines
Georgia’s fee schedule is below the national average. Initial RN licensure by exam costs only $40 to the Board, with the NCLEX-RN ($200) and fingerprinting ($50 to $100) added on top. Endorsement runs $75. Biennial renewal is $65. Reinstatement of a lapsed license costs $90.
| Service | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application by Exam (RN or LPN) | $40 | Plus NCLEX fee ($200) and fingerprints |
| Endorsement | $75 | From another U.S. state or jurisdiction |
| License Renewal | $65 | Every two years |
| Late Renewal | $75 | Feb 1 to Feb 28 only (RN/APRN) |
| NLC Conversion | $50 | Upgrade single-state to multistate |
| Reinstatement | $90 | After license lapses |
| APRN Authorization | $90 | Required for NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA |
| Verification Request | $35 | Including exam results |
| Wall Certificate | $50 | RN or APRN, optional |
Processing timelines are stated in two ways. Georgia’s Board says applications are typically reviewed within 15 business days once all documents arrive. Real-world endorsement files trend closer to 3 to 4 weeks, mostly because something on the applicant’s side has to catch up: a transcript that needs resending, a Nursys verification still queued, or a fingerprint result still pending with the GBI.
Pay $40 for the Board, $200 for Pearson VUE, and roughly $50 to $100 for fingerprints. That is the full cost of a brand-new Georgia RN license.
License by Exam: The First-Time Path
License by examination is the first-time pathway. It applies to any new graduate of an approved RN or LPN program who has never been licensed in any other U.S. state. You graduate, you apply through GOALS, you pass the NCLEX, and the Board issues your license. Six clean steps if you do them in the right order.
- Graduate from a Board-approved RN or LPN program. ACEN or CCNE accreditation is the standard for U.S. programs.
- Apply via GOALS. Log in, select “Apply for a License,” and choose Licensure by Examination. Paper applications are no longer accepted.
- Pay the $40 application fee online.
- Register with GAPS/Idemia for fingerprinting on the same day as your application. This is the single biggest cause of avoidable delays.
- Have your transcripts sent directly from your nursing school to the Board.
- Register for NCLEX-RN with Pearson VUE ($200) and pass within three years of graduation. The Board issues your Authorization to Test once you’re eligible.
After passing NCLEX, the Board verifies the result, runs a final check, and posts your license number to GOALS. Several recent applicants report seeing their new RN number within 24 to 48 hours of passing if their file was already complete.
Pro tip: Register with GAPS/Idemia on the same day you submit your licensure application. The Board explicitly recommends a 48-hour buffer. We see this come up most often with new graduates: they assume the NCLEX test booking and the Board application are one and the same. They are two separate registrations and both have to be in place before the Board can issue an Authorization to Test.
Internationally educated nurses have extra requirements. You’ll need a credential evaluation from TruMerit (formerly CGFNS), verification of any foreign nurse license, and English proficiency proof (usually TOEFL) unless your nursing program was taught in English. The Board does not waive the NCLEX-RN requirement for foreign-trained nurses.
License by Endorsement: Moving an Existing License
Endorsement is the path for nurses already licensed somewhere else in the U.S. who are moving to Georgia, or who hold a single-state license in a non-compact state. The NCLEX is not repeated. You apply, pay $75, verify your existing license through Nursys, and the Board re-issues you a Georgia license once everything lines up.
- Verify your home-state license through Nursys, NCSBN’s national verification system.
- Apply through GOALS, choosing Registered Nurse by Endorsement.
- Pay the $75 application fee online.
- Upload the Affidavit of Citizenship and a secure, verifiable ID document (driver’s license, U.S. passport, permanent resident card).
- Register with GAPS/Idemia the same day, then schedule fingerprinting within 90 days.
- Have transcripts sent directly from your nursing school if requested.
- Submit any additional forms the Board flags, such as a re-entry packet if you have not practiced 500 hours in the last four years.
If you have not actively practiced as an RN in the past four years, Georgia requires either documented proof of at least 500 hours of practice in that window or completion of a Board-approved re-entry program. This catches more applicants than you would expect, especially nurses returning from a career break or parental leave.
Watch out: The most common reason endorsement files stall is a missing Affidavit of Citizenship or an incorrect fingerprint registration. In our experience handling endorsement files for nurses moving between states, the single biggest delay isn’t the Board, it’s the applicant skipping the same-day GAPS/Idemia registration. Plan to upload citizenship documentation the moment you start the GOALS application.
The Nurse Licensure Compact and Georgia
Georgia joined the Nurse Licensure Compact on January 19, 2018. That means RNs and LPNs whose Primary State of Residence is Georgia can apply for a multistate license that lets them practice in any of the 41 NLC jurisdictions without filing for endorsement in each new state. Think of the compact as a TSA PreCheck for nursing: one credential, many jurisdictions.
To qualify for a multistate license, you must legally reside in Georgia, hold an active and unencumbered license, and pass a state and federal fingerprint-based background check. The same uniform licensure requirements apply across every NLC state, so if you’ve already qualified in your home state you’re typically eligible in Georgia.
Already have an active single-state Georgia license? You can upgrade it to a multistate compact license for $50. The conversion runs through GOALS and requires the same fingerprint and citizenship checks as a fresh endorsement. If Georgia is not your primary state of residence, you cannot upgrade to a Georgia multistate license, and the compact rules require you to hold the compact license in your home state instead.
Real scenario: An ICU nurse moving from Sacramento to Atlanta in late 2026 cannot use a compact license in either direction. California is not in the NLC, so the nurse files for Georgia endorsement at $75, registers for GAPS fingerprinting the same day, and uploads a citizenship affidavit. Once that license is issued, future moves to other NLC states are free. That is the long-run value of the compact: one bad year of paperwork, then a decade of friction-free moves.
Renewal, CE, and Late Fees
Renewal in Georgia is biennial. RN and APRN licenses expire on January 31 of even-numbered years. LPN licenses follow a separate cycle. Renewal is $65, completed entirely online in GOALS, and requires you to satisfy one of five continuing-competency options during the two-year cycle.
The five options give you flexibility most states do not offer. You only need to satisfy one:
- 30 contact hours of CE from Board-approved providers (tracked via CE Broker).
- National certification or recertification by a Board-recognized credentialing body in your specialty.
- Completion of an approved academic program in nursing or a related field.
- Verification of at least 500 hours of licensed nursing practice in the renewal period.
- Completion of a Board-approved re-entry or education program.
Miss the January 31 deadline and you fall into the late renewal window (February 1 through February 28 for RNs and APRNs), which adds a $10 late fee on top of the standard $65 renewal. Past February 28 your license lapses, and you cannot practice until the Board issues a reinstatement at $90.
The Board uses CE Broker to track continuing education completion, and providers submit hours automatically when you complete an approved course. From the renewal files our team processes, the most common late-fee trigger is simple calendar confusion about which year the cycle ends. Mark your renewal date the moment you receive the license. Use your phone calendar with a 60-day warning, not just a 30-day one.
If your needs go beyond a single state license, our nursing licensing service handles GOALS applications, GAPS registration, Nursys verifications, and multi-state endorsement filing end-to-end. For context on how different credentials stack together, our overview of different healthcare license types covers the full landscape, and our explainer on how state boards function goes into the legal foundations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Georgia Board of Nursing take to process an RN application?
The Board states applications are typically reviewed within 15 business days once all required documents are received. In practice, endorsement files often run 3 to 4 weeks total, because Nursys verification, fingerprint results, or transcripts may still be in transit when the file is opened. New graduates often see their license number posted within 24 to 48 hours of passing the NCLEX-RN.
Does Georgia issue a temporary nursing permit while you wait for your license?
Generally no. Georgia briefly issued temporary permits during the COVID-19 emergency, but those have been discontinued. The Board does issue limited 6-month preceptorship permits for advanced practice candidates in specific scenarios, and it also issues interim permits to new graduates who have submitted a complete examination application and are waiting to take the NCLEX. There is no general-purpose temporary RN permit.
How much does it cost to get a nursing license in Georgia?
For first-time RN applicants by exam, the all-in cost is typically $290 to $340. That includes $40 to the Board, $200 to Pearson VUE for NCLEX-RN, and $50 to $100 for fingerprints through GAPS/Idemia. Endorsement is cheaper at roughly $160 to $210, since you skip the NCLEX fee but still pay the $75 application fee, verification fees, and fingerprinting.
Is Georgia a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Georgia has been a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member since January 19, 2018. RNs and LPNs whose primary state of residence is Georgia can apply for a multistate license usable in any of the 41 current NLC jurisdictions. Single-state Georgia licenses can be upgraded to multistate for a $50 conversion fee.
How many CE hours does the Georgia Board of Nursing require?
Georgia does not strictly mandate 30 CE hours. Instead, the Board offers five continuing-competency options every two years, and you satisfy only one. Completing 30 contact hours of approved CE is the most common option, but national certification, 500 hours of practice, an approved academic program, or a re-entry program all count as alternatives.
Our team handles Georgia nursing license applications end-to-end: GOALS submission, GAPS fingerprint coordination, Nursys verifications, and document review before the file goes to the Board. We work with RNs, LPNs, and APRNs across all 50 states.
This article provides general guidance only. Nursing licensing requirements change frequently, and individual situations vary. Always verify current requirements with the Georgia Board of Nursing at sos.ga.gov before submitting your application. Last fact-checked: May 25, 2026.
About the reviewer
David Ivaniuk is the CEO of Medicallicensing, a licensing services firm that has helped physicians, PAs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals navigate state licensing, DEA registration, and payer enrollment across all 50 U.S. states.
References
- Georgia Secretary of State. “Georgia Board of Nursing.” Accessed May 25, 2026. https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-board-nursing.
- Georgia Secretary of State. “How to Guide: Registered Nurse.” Accessed May 25, 2026. https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-registered-nurse.
- Georgia Board of Nursing. “Fee Schedule.” Accessed May 25, 2026. sos.ga.gov GBON Fee Schedule PDF.
- NCSBN. “Number of Active RN Licenses by State.” Updated January 5, 2026. https://www.ncsbn.org/NND/Statistics/Aggregate-RNActiveLicensesTable.pdf.
- NCSBN. “Nurse Licensure Compact.” Accessed May 25, 2026. https://www.nursecompact.com/.
- Georgia Secretary of State. “FAQs for Nursing.” Accessed May 25, 2026. https://sos.ga.gov/page/faqs-nursing.
