Obtaining a multi-state license through the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) offers a streamlined way for nursing professionals to practice across state lines. This guide focuses on securing this credential when Georgia is designated as your Primary State of Residence (PSOR). The PSOR is the legal home state where you hold a driver’s license, pay federal income tax, or vote. Applying for a compact license requires navigating the Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON) requirements and adhering to the uniform national standards established by the NLC. Providing accurate documentation and following the precise application steps is necessary for achieving multi-state practice authorization.
Understanding the Nurse Licensure Compact in Georgia
Georgia’s participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact allows nurses to hold a single license with the privilege to practice in all other compact states. This system facilitates the mobility of the nursing workforce, enabling nurses to provide care in multiple jurisdictions without obtaining separate licenses in each one. The compact license issued by Georgia grants a “multistate licensure privilege” in other member states, which differs from a standard Georgia single-state license.
A single-state Georgia license permits practice only within the state’s borders. A compact license recognizes Georgia as the nurse’s home state but extends practice rights elsewhere. Eligibility is exclusively tied to having Georgia as the Primary State of Residence (PSOR), and only the home state can issue a multi-state license. Nurses moving to Georgia or new graduates residing here must apply for a license that meets all NLC uniform requirements to receive the multi-state privilege.
Determining Your Eligibility for a Georgia Compact License
To qualify for a compact license, you must satisfy Georgia’s specific licensure requirements and meet all eleven Uniform Licensure Requirements (ULRs) of the NLC. Eligibility requires establishing Georgia as your Primary State of Residence (PSOR), proven by documentation such as a current driver’s license, voter registration card, or federal income tax return.
The ULRs are national criteria enforced by all compact states. These requirements ensure public protection and include:
- Graduating from a board-approved nursing education program.
- Passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
- Holding an active, unencumbered license.
- Having no felony convictions.
- Having no misdemeanor convictions related to the practice of nursing.
- Possessing a valid United States Social Security number.
- Providing proof of English proficiency (for internationally educated nurses).
A thorough criminal background check is mandatory for all applicants seeking a multi-state license to confirm compliance with these standards.
Key Steps for Applying for Licensure by Examination or Endorsement
The application process begins by creating an account on the Georgia Board of Nursing’s (GBON) online licensing portal. Applicants select the appropriate pathway: Licensure by Examination or Licensure by Endorsement. New graduates who have not taken the NCLEX must choose the Examination track, which requires concurrent registration with Pearson VUE, the NCLEX testing service.
Nurses already licensed in another U.S. state, especially those moving from a non-compact state, apply through the Endorsement track. Both application types require payment of a non-refundable application fee through the online portal. The application serves as the formal request and must accurately reflect your professional and residency status.
Once submitted, the system generates a file awaiting supporting documentation. Endorsement applicants must utilize the Nursys system to verify their existing license status with their previous state’s board of nursing. The GBON will not begin processing the request until all third-party actions and required supporting materials are received.
Required Documentation and Processing Timelines
After the online application is submitted, mandatory supporting documents must be sent to the GBON from external sources. Official transcripts verifying nursing education completion must be submitted directly to the GBON office from the educational institution or its vendor. Transcripts sent by the applicant are not considered official and will cause a delay.
All applicants must undergo a criminal background check via fingerprinting, managed through the Georgia Applicant Processing Service (GAPS) system. This electronic submission is a separate step completed after the license application is filed, with results transmitted directly to the GBON. This process confirms the applicant meets the criminal history requirements of the NLC.
The GBON typically reviews completed applications within fifteen business days after receiving all required documents, including fingerprint results and transcripts. Applications involving criminal issues or previous disciplinary actions may require review by the full Board, which lengthens the processing timeline. Missing or deficient information will pause the application until all items are satisfied.
Maintaining and Managing Your Compact License
A Georgia-issued compact license is renewed every two years online through the GBON portal. Licensees must fulfill Georgia’s continuing education (CE) requirements and submit documentation to CEBroker to demonstrate compliance. Maintaining an active, unencumbered status is required for retaining the multi-state privilege.
If a nurse with a Georgia compact license permanently moves to a new compact state, the Georgia multi-state license must be surrendered. The nurse must apply for a new compact license in the new PSOR within 60 days of establishing residency there.
The Georgia license automatically converts to a single-state license, which is deactivated once the new compact state issues its multi-state license. Failing to apply for licensure in the new PSOR can jeopardize the ability to legally practice, as the privilege is tied to the home state compact license. This rule ensures the nurse is always licensed by their state of legal residence.