How to Become a Registered Nurse in Georgia: 4 Steps
Looking for a step-by-step overview on how to become a registered nurse in Georgia? You’ve come to the right place. RNs in the Peach State enjoy a lower average cost of living along with beautiful historic cities, a sprawling coastline, and mild winters. Plus, you can find nursing jobs with major teaching hospitals, rural healthcare providers, and everything in between.
While the RN license is recognized nationally, the process for earning your nursing credentials comes down to the state in which you live and work. Becoming a nurse in GA is similar to other states, and you’ll need either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree at minimum. But there are some key differentiators to be aware of as you pursue this rewarding career path. Let’s go over how to become an RN in Georgia and what makes nursing here different.
What Does an RN in Georgia Do?
RNs in GA are essential caregivers, combining compassion and emotional intelligence with clinical skills and critical thinking. Their responsibilities can include:
- Patient care: Administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and assisting with daily activities.
- Medical procedures: Performing IV insertions, wound care, and administering treatments like blood transfusions.
- Collaboration: Working with physicians and healthcare teams to create and implement care plans.
- Education: Teaching patients and families about health management and preventive care.
- Documentation: Maintaining accurate patient records and complying with healthcare regulations.
One of the benefits of being a nurse is the employment options. In Georgia, you might work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, school, or community health setting. There are also roles in nursing research, academia, and other non-bedside areas. Once you follow the steps of how to become a registered nurse in Georgia, you’ll have many career choices to explore.
How Long Does It Take to Become an RN in GA?
Expect the path to becoming an RN to take at least two to four years. There are two options — either a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). If you’re going back to school, you might need to take prerequisite courses beforehand, such as biology, sociology, and more. Studying for the licensure exam may also take an additional few months.
What is the shortest way to become an RN? If you’re curious about how to become a registered nurse in Georgia quickly, there are a few options. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, a direct-entry nursing program could help you earn a BSN using the courses from your previous program. Other fast options include beginning as a licensed practical nurse through a diploma program and working while you take courses to qualify for RN licensure.
Step 1: Complete Nursing School
Whether you decide to attend a bachelor’s or associate’s degree program, nursing school will help prepare you with the basic skills needed to be a nurse. You’ll be enrolled in challenging courses, such as pharmacology, pathophysiology, and nursing fundamentals. You’ll also attend clinical rotations to practice your skills and test the waters as a student nurse.
You can prepare yourself for the challenges of nursing school by practicing good study skills, forming review groups, and asking questions during class. If you’re looking for more hands-on practice outside of clinical, you might want to consider applying for a student nurse externship. These programs allow you to rotate through different hospital units to get additional experience. Plus, you can earn income during school. Find student nurse jobs in GA on IntelyCare.
Looking for ADN programs in Georgia? Here are some of the top-ranking programs:
- Chattahoochee Technical College
- Southeastern Technical College
- Albany Technical College
- Gwinnett Technical College
- Southern Crescent Technical College
If you intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree, here are some of the most highly regarded nursing colleges in the state:
- University of North Georgia
- Kennesaw State University
- Georgia College
- Reinhardt University
- Georgia Southwestern State University
As you’re determining your degree options, refer to the Georgia Board of Nursing’s approved programs chart. Attending a school that the BON approves ensures that you can take the NCLEX after you graduate to become a nurse.
Step 2: Apply for Licensure and the NCLEX
After you graduate, you’ll apply for licensure through the Georgia Board of Nursing, and register with Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX. You’ll also need to complete a background check as part of your licensure application. Here’s what you’ll need to apply:
- Completed application forms, signed and notarized
- A $40 application and $10 processing fee
- Official college transcripts
- Background check and consent form
- Court documents from any arrests, disciplinary action, and sanctions
- An affidavit of citizenship
- Nontraditional nursing education forms (if applicable)
- Immigration documents (if applicable)
When you have your documents together, you can create an account with the BON and upload your information through their online portal. Once you apply, you can check your application status through the portal. In Georgia, you cannot practice in an entry-level nursing role until you are officially licensed, so complete the application as soon as you graduate from nursing school to avoid waiting too long.
After your application is processed and approved, you’ll receive an email with an authorization to test. Use this to schedule your NCLEX-RN exam with Pearson VUE. The test evaluates your ability to apply nursing knowledge in real-world scenarios, covering topics like patient care, safety, and health promotion. Thorough preparation is essential because this is the final step in the process of how to become a registered nurse in Georgia.
Your unofficial results will be posted two days after you take the test, and you’ll see official results in your BON account within six weeks. If you passed, you’re now a registered nurse!
What happens if you don’t pass the NCLEX in GA? You can retake the test as many times as you need within three years of graduating from a nursing program. After three years, you’ll need to reenroll in nursing school to qualify again. Learn more about retaking the NCLEX in our video.
Georgia is a compact state, so if you choose a compact license here, you can work in other states such as South Carolina, Florida, and Alabama. It’s also easier to take on travel nursing jobs with a compact license, so if this is a long-term goal of yours, earning a GA RN license is a great choice.
Step 3: Find Your First Nursing Job
Now that you’ve followed the steps for how to become a registered nurse in Georgia, you’re ready to start working as a new grad nurse. New nurses can either enter the profession through a nurse residency program or through direct-hire jobs. Residencies are more common in acute care, and they pair additional facility-specific training with preceptor supervision. They’re designed to help ease your transition into professional nursing. But if you prefer not to go this route, you can find roles without residency requirements in post-acute care and other areas.
If you’re considering relocating within the state after school, check out roles in the biggest GA cities by population:
Wondering what the major healthcare employers are in Georgia? Check out open roles with these facilities:
- Empire Care Centers
- Grady Health System
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
- Armor Health
- Emory Healthcare
- Piedmont Healthcare
Typically, what is an RN salary in Georgia? Nurses in GA make an average income of $90,000 per year. You can give yourself the best chance of earning more as a nurse by pursuing additional specialty certifications and gaining experience.
Step 4: Keep Your License Up to Date
Licensure renewal is due every two years in Georgia. You’ll need to complete education hours approved by the BON and pay a fee. Learn more about nursing licensure renewals in GA.
Find Nursing Roles in GA
Now that you know how to become a registered nurse in Georgia, you might be curious about roles for nurses in different specialties. IntelyCare’s nursing job notifications ensure you never miss an opening in your area. Learn more today.