Looking to move/transfer license

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Hello all!

I am currently an LPN working at the county jail here in Pittsburgh, PA (GO STEELERS!)..however I've always wanted to move to the Atlanta area after having a family reunion down there 9 years ago. I will be finishing up with my ADN in January and will be attending an online BSN shortly after. My question is in order to work in GA should I apply for my RN license (once I pass boards) before I start applying for jobs or will they give me a grave period after (if I am hired)?..how is the job market down there nurse wise? Housing costs? I have 2 small children (3 y/o going on 16 lol and a 8 month old) their father is in the landscaping business so hopefully he won't have problems finding other employment. Long story short any insight on everything I said would be helpful thanks again!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

You cannot work in Georgia without an active Georgia license (the exception is working in a Federal facility in Georgia under any other state license), so employers probably won't even consider you until you have a license. Good luck!

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

Pixie. RN is correct. You cannot work without a license, however you can take your boards here and pass then get licensed. It depends I have experience and is having a hard time finding a job that I want. I am looking for something specific but lots of places are hiring.

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If you're sure you want to move to GA, you might want to skip applying for licensure in PA (and then applying for licensure in GA by endorsement) and just apply directly to GA for RN licensure. That would save you some time and $$. Most employers these days want new grads to have license in hand before they will even talk to you about jobs.

Best wishes!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
If you're sure you want to move to GA, you might want to skip applying for licensure in PA (and then applying for licensure in GA by endorsement) and just apply directly to GA for RN licensure. That would save you some time and $$. Most employers these days want new grads to have license in hand before they will even talk to you about jobs.

Best wishes!

Definitely a great idea, if the move to GA is a done deal! There is information on applying for licensure by examination in Georgia on this website: http://sos.ga.gov/cgi-bin/plbforms.asp?board=38

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Thanks all! It will probably be a good year before I actually decide to move only because I wanted to finish my BSN while I was up here and not have to deal with the hassel of trying to complete the program while moving :)

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You can finish your program in your current location, and then apply for initial licensure in GA when you are done; you'll just have to inform your school that you want them to send all your documentation to the GA BON instead of the PA BON. The schools are all v. accustomed to automatically sending all the paperwork to their own BON, but there's no reason they can't send it somewhere else; they just need to know that you want them to. That will save you time and money over getting licensed in PA and then immediately turning around and applying for licensure in GA -- if you're definitely going to be moving there. Best wishes!

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