Chapter 410-2 LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION

Rule 410-2-.01 Graduates of Approved Nursing Education Programs (RN)

(1)	The Board-recognized licensing examination is the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), for which a passing result must be achieved.

(2)	An applicant must pass the licensing examination within a three year period from the date of graduation.

(3)	An applicant whose period of eligibility has expired must reestablish eligibility as a duly qualified applicant by enrolling in and graduating from an approved nursing education program as defined in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-3(1.2).

(4)

Applicants for licensure by examination who have graduated from a Board approved program as defined in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-3(1.2) must submit the following:

(a)	A complete application containing data required by the board attesting that all information contained in, or referenced by, the application is complete and accurate and is not false or misleading;

(b)	The required application processing fee which is not refundable;

(c)	Completed registration as required by the Board to cause the submission of a criminal background check as required by O.C.G.A. § 43-26-7(b)(4);

(d)	Official transcripts documenting graduation from an approved nursing education program;

(e)	Secure and verifiable documentation of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States as required by Georgia law; and

(f)	Any additional information requested by the board needed to establish eligibility.

(5)	An application is active until the exam is taken or for one year, whichever comes first, after which a new application and fee are required.

(6)

An applicant who passes the licensing examination and is under investigation for possible violation of the Nurse Practice Act may not be issued a license until the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the Board. The license may be denied or sanctioned despite the applicant meeting all other criteria for licensure.

Rule 410-2-.02 Graduates of Nontraditional Nursing Education Programs (RN)

(1)	The Board-recognized licensing examination is the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), for which a passing result must be achieved.

(2)	An applicant must pass the licensing examination within a three year period from the date of graduation.

(3)	An applicant whose period of eligibility has expired must reestablish eligibility as a duly qualified applicant by enrolling in and graduating from an approved nursing education program as defined in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-3(1.2).

(4)

Applicants for licensure by examination who have graduated from a nontraditional nursing education program as defined in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-7(e)must submit the following:

(a)	A complete application containing data required by the board attesting that all information contained in, or referenced by, the application is complete and accurate and is not false or misleading;

(b)	The required application processing fee which is not refundable;

(c)	Completed registration as required by the Board to cause the submission of a criminal background check as required by O.C.G.A. § 43-26-7(b)(4);

(d)	Official transcripts documenting graduation from a nontraditional nursing education program;

(e)	Secure and verifiable documentation of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States as required by Georgia law; and

(f)	Any additional information requested by the board needed to establish eligibility.

(5)	Applicants who do not meet the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 43-26-7(b)(2)(B)(ii)(I) must complete a Board approved, post graduate preceptorship as provided in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-7(b)(2)(B)(ii)(II) through (V).

(6)

At the discretion of the Board, a temporary permit may be issued to an applicant for the purpose of practicing nursing as a part of a Board approved preceptorship as provided in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-7. The temporary permit shall be effective for a period of six months from the date of issuance and may be renewed only one time for an additional six month period.

(7)	An application is active until the exam is taken or for one year, whichever comes first, after which a new application and fee are required.

(8)

An applicant who passes the licensing examination and is under investigation for possible violation of the Nurse Practice Act may not be issued a license until the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the Board. The license may be denied or sanctioned despite the applicant meeting all other criteria for licensure.

(9)

For the purposes of this rule, the terms below are defined as follows:

(a)	"Board" means the Georgia Board of Nursing.

(b)	"Clinical experience" or "clinical practice" means the "hands on" clinical practice of nursing.

(c)

"Health care facility" means an acute care inpatient facility, a long term acute care facility, an ambulatory surgical center or obstetrical facility as defined in Code Section 31-6-2, and a skilled nursing facility so long as such skilled nursing care facility has 100 beds or more and provides health care to patients with similar health care needs as those patients in a long term care acute care facility.

(d)

"Preceptorship" means a program of clinical experience or clinical practice approved by the Board and arranged by the applicant in which the applicant gains a stated number of hours of clinical experience or clinical practice in a health care facility as required by Georgia law. Preceptorships shall be under the close supervision of a registered professional nurse where such applicant is transitioned into the role of a registered professional nurse and the applicant performs duties typically performed by registered professional nurses. Except as otherwise provided in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-7(b)(2)(B)(ii)(II), a preceptorship shall be in an acute care inpatient facility or a long-term acute care facility; provided, however, that the board may authorize a preceptorship in other facilities to obtain specialized experience in certain areas. The preceptorship shall have prior approval of the board, and successful completion of the preceptorship shall be documented in writing by the preceptor stating that, in his or her opinion, the applicant has exhibited the critical thinking abilities, clinical skills, and leadership abilities necessary to practice as a beginning registered professional nurse.

(e)

"Preceptor" means a registered nurse licensed by the Georgia Board of Nursing who:

1.	Has a minimum of eighteen months experience in an acute care practice setting; and

2.	Has no history of disciplinary action with any licensing board.

(f)	"Nontraditional Nursing Education Program" means a nursing education program that has been approved by the Board and meets all the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 43-26-7(e).

(g)	"Year" means a minimum of 1800 hours. For example, one year of clinical experience or clinical practice means a minimum of 1800 hours of clinical experience or clinical practice.

Rule 410-2-.03 Licensure by Examination - Graduates of International Nursing Education Programs (RN)

(1)	The Board-recognized licensing examination is the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), for which a passing result must be achieved.

(2)	An applicant must pass the licensing examination within a three year period from the date of eligibility for graduates of nursing education programs located outside of the United States.

(3)	An applicant whose period of eligibility has expired must reestablish eligibility as a duly qualified applicant by enrolling in and graduating from an approved nursing education program as defined in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-3(1.2).

(4)

Applicants for licensure by examination who have graduated from nursing education programs located outside of the United States must submit the following:

(a)	A complete application containing data required by the board attesting that all information contained in, or referenced by, the application is complete and accurate and is not false or misleading;

(b)	The required application processing fee which is not refundable;

(c)	Completed registration as required by the Board to cause the submission of a criminal background check as required by O.C.G.A. § 43-26-7(b)(4);

(d)	Verification from the licensing agency of current licensure as a registered nurse in another territory, province, state, district, or country;

(e)	Transcripts documenting graduation from a registered nursing education program. Transcripts must be in English or accompanied by a certified English language translation directly from the school, another licensing board, or the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS);

(f)

Credential Evaluation Service Professional Report from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) or the equivalent which verifies that the applicant:

1.	Has the educational credentials equivalent to graduation from a governmentally accredited/approved, post-secondary general nursing program of at least two academic years in length;

2.	Received both theory and clinical education in each of the following: nursing care of the adult which includes both medical and surgical nursing, maternal/infant nursing, nursing care of children, and psychiatric/mental health nursing;

3.	Received initial registration/licensure as a registered nurse in the country where the applicant completed general nursing education; and

4.	Is currently licensed as a registered nurse.

(g)

Official documentation reflecting the applicant has achieved a minimum score of 550 (paper based), 213 (computer based) or 79 (internet based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam, or passing score on an equivalent exam as determined by the Board, if English is not the native language of the applicant;, unless a substantial portion of the applicant's nursing program of study, as determined by the Board, was conducted in English.

(h)

Applicants must provide documentation of completion of one of the following options within the four years immediately preceding the date of application:

1.	Verification of five hundred (500) hours of licensed practice as a registered nurse in another jurisdiction during the four years immediately preceding the date of application;

2.	Graduation from a nursing education program as defined in O.C.G.A. §§ 43-26-3(1.2) or 43-26-7(e); or

3.	Verification of completion of a Board approved reentry program as provided in Rule 410-4-.03.

(i)	Secure and verifiable documentation of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States as required by Georgia law; and

(j)	Any additional information requested by the board needed to establish eligibility.

(5)	If curricular deficiencies are identified by the Board, an official transcript which documents passing grades in the courses must be submitted by an approved education program.

(6)	An application is active until the exam is taken or for one year, whichever comes first, after which a new application and fee are required.

(7)

An applicant who passes the licensing examination and is under investigation for possible violation of the Nurse Practice Act may not be issued a license until the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the Board. The license may be denied or sanctioned despite the applicant meeting all other criteria for licensure.

Rule 410-2-.04 Licensure by Reexamination (RN)

(1)

An applicant for licensure by examination who fails the examination must submit the following:

(a)	A complete application containing data required by the board attesting that all information contained in, or referenced by, the application is complete and accurate and is not false or misleading;

(b)	The required application processing fee which is not refundable;

(c)	Completed registration as required by the Board to cause the submission of a criminal background check as required by O.C.G.A. § 43-26-7(b)(4); and

(d)	Any additional information requested by the board needed to establish eligibility.

(2)	An application is active until the exam is taken or for one year, whichever comes first, after which a new application and fee are required.

Rule 410-2-.05 Licensure by Examination (LPN)

(1)	The Board-recognized licensing examination is the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), for which a passing result must be achieved.

(2)	An applicant must pass the licensing examination within a three year period from the date of graduation.

(3)	An applicant whose period of eligibility has expired must reestablish eligibility as a duly qualified applicant by enrolling in and graduating from an approved nursing education program as defined in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-32(1.1).

(4)

Applicants for licensure by examination who have graduated from a Board approved program in Georgia as defined in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-32(1.1) must submit the following:

(a)	A complete application containing data required by the board attesting that all information contained in, or referenced by, the application is complete and accurate and is not false or misleading;

(b)	The required application processing fee which is not refundable;

(c)	Completed registration as required by the Board to cause the submission of a criminal background check as required by O.C.G.A. § 43-26-36.1;

(d)	Official transcripts documenting graduation from an approved nursing education program;

(e)	Secure and verifiable documentation of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States as required by Georgia law; and

(f)	Any additional information requested by the board needed to establish eligibility.

(5)

Applicants for licensure by examination who have graduated from a Board approved program as defined in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-32(1.1) located outside of Georgia must submit the following:

(a)	A complete application containing data required by the board attesting that all information contained in, or referenced by, the application is complete and accurate and is not false or misleading, and the required application processing fee which is not refundable;

(b)	Completed registration as required by the Board to cause the submission of a criminal background check as required by O.C.G.A. § 43-26-36.1;

(c)	Official transcripts documenting graduation from an approved nursing education program determined by the Board to be comprised of substantially the same course of study as provided in Rule 410-9-.06;

(d)	Secure and verifiable documentation of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States as required by Georgia law; and

(e)	Any additional information requested by the board needed to establish eligibility.

(6)	An application is active until the exam is taken or for one year, whichever comes first, after which a new application and fee are required.

(7)

An applicant who passes the licensing examination and is under investigation for possible violation of the Nurse Practice Act may not be issued a license until the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the Board. The license may be denied or sanctioned despite the applicant meeting all other criteria for licensure.

Rule 410-2-.06 Licensure by Examination - Graduates of International Practical Nursing Education Programs (LPN)

(1)	The Board-recognized licensing examination is the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), for which a passing result must be achieved.

(2)	An applicant must pass the licensing examination within a three year period from the date of eligibility for graduates of nursing education programs located outside of the United States.

(3)	An applicant whose period of eligibility has expired must reestablish eligibility as a duly qualified applicant by enrolling in and graduating from an approved nursing education program.

(4)

Applicants for licensure by examination who have graduated from nursing education programs located outside of the United States must submit the following:

(a)	A complete application containing data required by the board attesting that all information contained in, or referenced by, the application is complete and accurate and is not false or misleading;

(b)	The required application processing fee which is not refundable;

(c)	Completed registration as required by the Board to cause the submission of a criminal background check as required by O.C.G.A. § 43-26-36.1;

(d)	Verification from the licensing agency of current licensure as a licensed practical nurse in another territory, province, state, district, or country;

(e)	Transcripts documenting graduation from a practical nursing education program. Transcripts must be in English or accompanied by a certified English language translation directly from the school, another licensing board, or the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS);

(f)

Credential Evaluation Service Professional Report from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) or the equivalent which verifies that the applicant:

1.	Has the educational credentials equivalent to graduation from a governmentally accredited/approved, post-secondary general nursing program of at least one academic year in length;

2.	Received both theory and clinical education in each of the following: nursing care of the adult which includes both medical and surgical nursing, maternal/infant nursing, nursing care of children, and psychiatric/mental health nursing;

3.	Received initial registration/license as a practical nurse in the country where the applicant completed practical nursing education; and

4.	Is currently registered/licensed as a practical nurse.

(g)

Official documentation reflecting the applicant has achieved a minimum score of 550 (paper based), 213 (computer based) or 79 (internet based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam, or passing score on an equivalent exam as determined by the Board, if English is not the native language of the applicant;, unless a substantial portion of the applicant's nursing program of study, as determined by the Board, was conducted in English.

(h)

Applicants must provide documentation of completion of one of the following options within the five years immediately preceding the date of application:

1.	Verification of five hundred (500) hours of licensed practice as a practical nurse in another jurisdiction during the four years immediately preceding the date of application;

2.	Graduation from a nursing education program as defined in O.C.G.A. §§ 43-26-32(1.1); or

3.	Verification of completion of a Board approved reentry program as provided in Rule 410-4-.02.

(i)	Secure and verifiable documentation of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States as required by Georgia law; and

(j)	Any additional information requested by the board needed to establish eligibility.

(5)	If curricular deficiencies are identified by the Board, an official transcript which documents passing grades in the courses must be submitted by an approved education program.

(6)	An application is active until the exam is taken or for one year, whichever comes first, after which a new application and fee are required.

(7)

An applicant who passes the licensing examination and is under investigation for possible violation of the Nurse Practice Act may not be issued a license until the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the Board. The license may be denied or sanctioned despite the applicant meeting all other criteria for licensure.

Rule 410-2-.07 Licensure by Reexamination (LPN)

(1)

An applicant for licensure by examination who fails the examination must submit the following:

(a)	A complete application containing data required by the board attesting that all information contained in, or referenced by, the application is complete and accurate and is not false or misleading;

(b)	The required application processing fee which is not refundable;

(c)	Completed registration as required by the Board to cause the submission of a criminal background check as required by O.C.G.A. § 43-26-36.1;

(d)	Secure and verifiable documentation of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States as required by Georgia law; and

(e)	Any additional information requested by the board needed to establish eligibility.

(2)	An application is active until the exam is taken or for one year, after which a new application and fee are required.

Full Name:
Human verification: 6 + 1 =