New grad from out of state licensing question

U.S.A. Georgia

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hello. I am a new grad from Maryland relocating to Columbus Georgia for a position. My school will not allow us to take our NCLEX until July. Should I apply in Maryland and transfer my license to Georgia or should I start the whole process in Georgia?

My main issue is the time crunch and the possible paperwork backlog.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

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Have you called the GBON? They would tell you that it generally takes about 25 days to endorse an out of state license for a new nurse into GA. They would probably be the best people to talk to about about...

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the nclex examination is a standardized test that is used by all state boards of nursing for initial licensure. you will take the same examination regardless of which state you are applying for licensure in. this will allow you to apply for initial licensure in any state and actually take the examination at any authorized testing center. there should be someone on the faculty at your school that can help you with an out of state application. if not, you should be able to contact the georgia board of nursing for help with completing your application.

however, it is left to each state to determine the educational requirements for licensure, and there might be an additional requirement for licensure in georgia. since you will be a graduate of an out of state program, it would be in your best interest to contact the georgia board of nursing to determine if there any additional requirements.

if you are certain that you are going to relocate to georgia and that you will not be practicing in maryland it might be best that you apply for initial licensure in georgia rather than applying for licensure by endorsement. remember, when applying for licensure by endorsement you must have current licensure in another state; not just have passed the nclex. the georgia board of nursing frequently asked questions webpage lists the requirements for both applying for initial licensure as well as licensure by endorsement.

i hope that this information was helpful, and good luck in your future career. :specs:

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Don't mean to bust your bubble, but prepare to wait much longer than 25 days for a license in Ga. The Ga BON system is very slow, you would think they were chiseling it out on stone! Good Luck!

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Yea, after posting that I did more research and saw that that is often the case. Makes me very nervous personally actually. I have 2 and a half months between now (I've decided to apply to take my boards in GA instead of endorse) and when I have to have the license in hand to start working. And I'm freakin nervous as heck, lol.

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I am a new grad nurse I graduated in December and took my Nclex in a different state and I got my licensed endorsed in the state of Georgia. It doesn't take the whole 25 days to get your licensed endorsed. If you do decide to go this route, print off the endorsement application ASAP and fill it out and send as soon as you get your NCLEX results. That will expedite the process. The only thing is the state of Georgia won't accept fingerprints from any lther state. So you need to make sure you come down in enough time to get fingerprinted and allow time for them to process. Personally, I took the NCLEX on Feb. 3rd. Found my unofficial results on the 4th. Recevied my license on the 11th and I sent my application shortly after. I moved to Columbus on the 28th and got fingerprinted that following Thursday (they only do fingerprinting certain days) my license came on the 11th. I hope that helps!

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Yea that does actually!!! =)

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Ok great, I am glad that I could help.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Yea, after posting that I did more research and saw that that is often the case. Makes me very nervous personally actually. I have 2 and a half months between now (I've decided to apply to take my boards in GA instead of endorse) and when I have to have the license in hand to start working. And I'm freakin nervous as heck, lol.

Also dont forget that you have to get fingerprinted in Georgia.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I am a new grad nurse I graduated in December and took my Nclex in a different state and I got my licensed endorsed in the state of Georgia. It doesn't take the whole 25 days to get your licensed endorsed. If you do decide to go this route, print off the endorsement application ASAP and fill it out and send as soon as you get your NCLEX results. That will expedite the process. The only thing is the state of Georgia won't accept fingerprints from any lther state. So you need to make sure you come down in enough time to get fingerprinted and allow time for them to process. Personally, I took the NCLEX on Feb. 3rd. Found my unofficial results on the 4th. Recevied my license on the 11th and I sent my application shortly after. I moved to Columbus on the 28th and got fingerprinted that following Thursday (they only do fingerprinting certain days) my license came on the 11th. I hope that helps!

Thank you so much for this information. I think I will test for Georgia. SInce I know I will dedinitely be down there.

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No problem good luck on the NCLEX

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Specializes in Progressive Care.

All this information was very helpful to me too, but I was just on the GBON website and I'm a little confused about the endorsing process. What's the deal with the part that says you have to have worked 1800 hours or three months as an RN? I don't get how new grads could get endorsement then?

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