Verification of School accreditation for GA License by endoresement?

Larisaell · Oct 17, 2011

Hi James,

Thank you for your answer.

yes, I understand that paragraphes A-D are not related to me, but what is about F. They say "or" "or". So...if my education is not not accredited in accordance with subparagraph © - (A nonprofit postsecondary institution of higher education that is accredited by a

regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education

but according (F) paragraph, they could to consider any education wich is 4 years. So if my Russian education is 4 years program ... will GA Board of Nursing consider my education for licensing. That was my question. I will call the Board of course, just waiting my New York license first.

And can you please give me a link with O.C.G.A. 43-26-3(1.2).

I very much appreciate your help.

Larisa.

nayaslow · Oct 17, 2011

Hi James, jst want to share something,

am a foreign trained nurse from Ghana have passed my nclex in about two months ago from the CA boards bt resides in GA here cos of marital issues, i ve started my endorsement process in GA and my obstacle is another evaluation from the cgfns. bt if u already had an evaluation wth this cgfns that is ok and GA board will need ur employment verification from whereever u ve worked b4 if u dont ve america experience. so if and only if u want to get GA lic. then bear in mind these two things are very important to them b4 u can be issue a lic.

afriqlove · Oct 18, 2011

hi nayaslow have u done ur evaluation with cgfns, and which part of ghana are u from.

nayaslow · Oct 18, 2011

Hi james, i had wanted to inbox u rather bt due to few things i cannot send mails on my pc.

concerning the cgfns, i ve now sent those forms home to be filled and mailed to them.and in Ghana am from the eastern ie Nkawkaw.Are u also from ghana? this is my email [email protected].

afriqlove · Oct 20, 2011

naya i sent you an email

VM204 · Oct 27, 2011

I was denied a GA RN license this summer after applying via endorsement. I am a Diploma RN from a Nationally Accredited program. In fact, my school was accredited by the National League Accreditation Commission based here in Atlanta, GA. In NJ I was a successful RN with an administration position. Here, I am not a nurse.

If you have experienced a denial based on National Accreditation please contact the three senators that penned the Senate Bill affecting us. They are Mitch Seabaugh of the 28th district, Jim Butterworth of the 50th district, and and Don Balflour of the 9th district. You can find phone numbers and email on their websites. Unfortunately, Mr Seabaugh and Mr Balflour have left the senate but Mr Butterworth is still there. Either way, someone will answer the phone. I have someone from the 28th district working on amending the bill but when I had contacted them I was told that this is the first complaint they had of the amended bill. She assured me that she has two other legislatures working on the bill and will sign it when they return to session in January.

I have also contacted Governor Dean who appointed these senators. He read through my information and assured me he would speak with the Secretary of State. I am waiting to hear back from him.

Please contact these people with your story and your complaints. Everyone I spoke with told me I was the only one they heard from and didn't know there was an issue. Please email them often and phone them. If we stick together we can assure this actually gets fixed in January!!

Larisaell · Oct 27, 2011

Thanks VM,

I'm going to complain too.I will connect with another Russian nurse.

GA BON denied one nurse from New York, who was working there for 10 years.

4 year level (Bachelors) is can't to be as minimum entering level for licensuring.If they requere that , then they should close all 2 years nursing school all over the USA.That law is against the law.

I was thinking about to call to Senators before your real actions, naw I will do it together with another nurse.

I called to the Board, the lawer of the Board told me that I even shodn't apply for Endorsement with my 3 year education program and my New York license, anyway it will be denied.So I just stopped.

I'm very agree that we all should call to the Senate. The law should be for the people and not against them.Specially in that economical crisis.

VM204 · Oct 27, 2011

Everyone denied a license by endorsement because their nursing program was Nationally Accredited instead of Regionally Accredited should complain to the senators as well as the governor who elected them. They should complain to Brian Kemp as well. He is the Secretary of State.

I am a single mother of four with no income after relocating to Georgia. I applied by endorsement prior to my move and was told that once I move here and submit in fingerprinting for background check then I will receive my license in 7-10 business days (2 weeks). After that time came and went I called only to have a Board member call me back and tell me about the newly amended bill put in effect in May of 2011. I applied in July and was not notified at that time.

Now I am submitting in applications for anything and getting denials because I am over-qualified. I am a registered nurse. Have been for over 15 years. I was a director of a home care agency a few months ago and now I have no means of income.

The more nurses that write in letters of complains the better off we are. I am being told that two legislatures will go in session (January) to fix this bill but there is no guarantees in my book. Please write and call and get your story out there. All of the phone numbers are on their web pages.

Thank you!

Vicki

JLuckRN · Nov 14, 2011

Hello all!!!!!

I'm so happy I found all of you...

I'm an RN in Louisiana, and my mentor, Sarah, recently moved to Georgia. Actually, she moved there almost two years ago, and she's been getting the run around from CGFNS. Only to find out she's not even eligible to hold a nursing license in Georgia!!!

I wrote to Sec. of State Kemp, Sen. Seabaugh, Sen. Balfour, Sen. Butterworth, GBON, GNA, and the ANA regarding my friend. Senator Kemp and his "people" contacted myself and Sarah, but we were only informed of the the bill "possibly" being changed in January 2012.

Is there truth in this good news?

Below is a petition link I started on Sarah's behalf. We were hoping to present her case in front of the GBN during one of their "open to the public" nursing board meetings, but Sarah was told she had to be "approved" to attend.

So here we are, exhausted and angry...

Please read:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sarahspence/

Also, I'm pleased that the Georgia Board added a Petition for Rule Variance/Waiver form to their website.

http://sos.georgia.gov/plb/rn/07PetitionForVarianceOrWaiver.pdf

Send it!

Anything is stronger in numbers...

I hope all of you continue to communicate and lobby against this ridiculous bill, knowing the nation's healthcare is in need of more competent caregivers.

I'll be sure to send this forum to Sarah, my mentor, with the hopes she continues to fight for her livelhood. Knowing she is not alone.

Good luck to all of you!

VM204 · Nov 14, 2011

JLuckRN-

Thank you for your post and your story. I have been in circles with all of the people that you have named. Sen Mitch Seabough and Balflour have "retired" so I was unable to speak directly with them. I was told they took jobs that conflicted with their positions so they had stepped down. It was only a few months after they signed the amended bill. I have been in contact with Judy Laclair at Sen. Seabough's office. She told me that I was the first nurse to call the office and voice a concern. She has been working on this for me and I have high hopes that the bill will be amended yet again when they go back into 2012 session (January). Please call her or email her and voice your concerns also. She can be reached at 404-656-6446 or [email protected]. She is very helpful and understood how this is affecting many RN's looking to practice in GA. Everyone else gave me the run-around or was so confused it was useless.

Please call and have your mentor call also.

zarali · Nov 15, 2011

VM204 thanks for the information. I wrote to Judy Laclair too. I also got a response from the BON saying a new language will be considered in mid Jan of 2012 exactly what James had mentioned on this forum in August. I studied the details of all the reasons why the state adopted the act. However most of the schools out there that are nationally accredited meets or exceeds the GA boards requirements. There may be some bad apples, instead of punishing everyone the board should narrow down the names of those substandard institutes and questions the candidates. This mass punishment is very painful for those that come to GA not by choice but by reasons beyond their control. Either serving the nation or family etc. I am hopeful that this unjust and thoughtless requirement will be reversed. Thanks for all the information. I have high hopes.:)

perian · Feb 16, 2012

House Bill 675 was passed in January 2012. I spoke with Senator Sharon Cooper, sponsor of the bill, and she states it is on the governors desk waiting to be signed. The ammendment becomes effective July 1st if not signed by the governor prior to that date. The ammendment changes the wording so that nationally accredited schools, along with regionally accredited schools, will be accepted for licensure by endorsement (RN and LPN). I too have been waiting forever (since August of 2011) for my Georgia LPN license. I have been trying to relocate from New York State and unfortunately my school was accredited by The National League for Nursing, which is an excellent accrediting body, but not a regional body. In the meantime, I have decided to apply for my Florida license as I will be living close to the border of that state. You can follow the progress of the bill by going to the Georgia General Assembly web site. In the left hand column of the page click on signed by governor and you can search for HB675. Hope this gives some encouragement for all those waiting for their licenses.