GA BON no longer accepting Excelsior education; Speak up Cont. Updates!!

i looked on the Ga BON website and they have a chart posted about excelsior and exactly what they require from us LPNs. I am thinking about applying and it sounds like they are now going to accept excelsior but you have to do some clinical hours after graduation and only get a temp license? What's up with that?

don't forget, you can't be paid for your preceptorship!!!

I called the GBON today and asked if I could apply for a Georgia licensure she stated no. It is only by endorsement right now . She said that" They have not decided if or when we will be able to test here." What a slap in the face. I quoted what was posted on their website but she insisted, the decision had not been made yet to allow us to test here. She sounded irritated that I had even asked. And said to me, we can only work here by endorcement. Do you guys think they are going to keep this in limbo until Sunny Prudue term is up and give us a problem again???? I don't understand why she would say They have not decided If we will ever be allowed to test here????I thought this was already decided.. Continue to pray, those who are believers.

In my life, I've dealt with similar unpleasant "things" like the GBON. Unfortunately, I don't think Preparation H will work as well on them.

The board never decided to give us the go ahead to test here. They approve your license by endorsement, that is all. You have to follow the rule that was established by the board that the Govn did indeed signed into law. The board now, after 10 months have come up with a plan that allows EC students to apply for endorsement depending on which discipline you were before starting EC. Also, depending on when you registered with the school. The boards website has all the information listed.

YES, I understand that, but does anyone know if or when the final decision will be made. I think they should wait to put that kind of information on their web site, especially if they are uncertain that it will be in effect at all. My employer is skepitcal about Excelsior College due to all the noise. They would like me to test here in the state instead of another state. I would like to keep my job due to the economy. Any ideas about if/when....???

The Web site says everything there is to say. There is no "Decision" to be made other than about your individual case when it comes in front of the board. Nothing is going to happen untill after there is a change in legislation. As to testing, it's the same test no matter were you take it. GA has never always required endorsing into the state. Just take it in TN like everyone else and endors into GA after you go through all the appropriate hoops. It doesn't matter how you get it, just that you get your license. No matter how you do it your talking a couple of months. Just make sure you've got everything together in the format that they want.

The battle is still being fought. The legislators aren't happy with the final legislation from last year and I know, because I've actually spoken with a couple that there are plans to re-introduce legeslation to correct this. Get your employer to start contacting their legeslator, and you keep in contact.

I hope they will revisit it and I hope it's for the better. A lot us were under the impression that if you applied before 2008 you would not have to complete clinicals no mater if your an RT, Paramedic or LPN with less experience. As long as we had applied by that date and finish by a certain time.

This came in the email. I guess they have decided to allow examination and direct licensure.

As a result of the new law signed in April 2009, the Georgia Board of Nursing (GA BON) now allows Excelsior graduates who were LPNs/LVNs, paramedics, or military corpsmen to apply directly for RN licensure by examination. These graduates do not need to apply for initial licensure by endorsement as was previously the practice of the Board.
There is a link on the GA BON website for Instructions for Nontraditional Nursing Education Program Applicants. The link is to a chart indicating various categories of candidates for licensure and what the additional stipulations may be for obtaining an RN licensure in GA.
There are 4 basic steps to apply for direct licensure in Georgia as we presently understand them:

• 1. Send the Certification by Nurse Administrator page to us with a signed request with your ID number asking us to complete it. We will have it signed by the Dean. This will be returned to you so that you may include it with your application to the Board.
  2. Request your official transcript to be sent to you so that you may include it with your application to the Board. The transcript will be sent to you on graduation day if all fees to the college are paid.
  3. Once you have submitted all documents to the GA BON they will determine your eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN.
  4. Depending on your previous health care background and when you graduate you may be required to complete a preceptorship. You will need to identify a health care facility that will allow you to do the preceptorship and then the BON will issue the temporary permit.

Please contact me at stateboards@excelsior.edu or at 888-647-2388, ext. 1315 to discuss your specific circumstances and plans for applying for licensure in Georgia.
Patricia Casey, Senior State Board Advisor

Looks like it still excludes RTs and the 50% of a nursing program people. Also looks like the GA BON can still require clinical hours for any non-LPNs. But at least something concrete is in place!