Verify a Georgia Nurse—or Fix Your Renewal and Application Status
Most visitors are not looking for a general description of the Georgia Board of Nursing. They need a direct answer: Is this license active? Which renewal deadline applies? Why does GOALS show a deficiency? Has CE Broker recorded the required competency?
Georgia separates public verification, personal licensing transactions, continuing competency and interstate verification across different systems. This guide explains what each system does, what information to prepare and what to check before calling the Board.
Use the Georgia public license search to verify a nurse. Use GOALS for renewal, applications, deficiencies, profile changes and printable credentials. Use CE Broker for RN or LPN continuing-competency records.
Verify a nurse
Check license type, number, status and expiration through Georgia’s public search.
Check application status
Use GOALS for application tracking, deficiency notices and uploaded documents.
Renew RN, LPN or APRN
Check the expiration date, satisfy competency and submit through GOALS.
Verify a nursing school
Check approved RN or PN programs, approval status and NCLEX performance.
Apply by endorsement
Review current-license, practice, education, fingerprint and eNLC requirements.
Georgia nursing license facts to check before taking action
Current 2026 position: the Georgia RN, APRN and GAA renewal season that opened November 1, 2025 ended January 31, 2026. The RN late-renewal period ended on the last day of February 2026. A license that was not completed through the allowed period may now require reinstatement rather than ordinary renewal.
Applications are online
Georgia’s Professional Licensing Boards no longer accept ordinary paper applications. Applications, renewals, amendments and printable credentials are handled through GOALS.
Public lookup is separate
Anyone can use the license-search system without opening the nurse’s private GOALS account.
CE Broker stores competency proof
Georgia RNs and LPNs submit continuing-competency documentation through CE Broker’s free basic account.
Online processing fee
GOALS applies a $10 online application or license-processing charge in addition to the Board transaction fee.
Update contact details
Georgia’s nursing FAQ instructs licensees to report mailing, physical and email-address changes within 30 days.
CNA lookup is elsewhere
Certified Nurse Aides are not licensed through the Georgia Board of Nursing. Use Georgia’s separate nurse-aide registry service.
What do you need from the Georgia Board of Nursing?
Choose the closest situation. The result identifies the correct system and the information to prepare before opening it.
Georgia nursing route finder
This tool provides task routing only. It does not access licensing records or submit an application.
How to verify a Georgia nursing license
Georgia’s public verification search lets you search an individual by profession, license type, first or middle name, last name or license number. The search page advises that entering less information can produce better results.
Open the official license-search page
Do not rely on a copied pocket card, employer profile or commercial directory.
Open Georgia License SearchSelect Nursing as the profession
Then choose the relevant license type when known, such as registered nurse, practical nurse or advanced practice authorization.
Use the license number for the cleanest match
If the number is unavailable, start with the last name and first-name information. Avoid filling every field unnecessarily.
Use a wildcard for an uncertain spelling
The official search supports an asterisk after a partial name. For example, entering Al* can search multiple name spellings.
Open and read the complete record
Match the nurse, license type, license number, status and expiration date before relying on the result.
| Result or situation | What it may mean | Correct next action |
|---|---|---|
| Active | The displayed credential is active under the record shown. | Confirm license type, expiration, multistate authority and any public orders. |
| Active-Renewal Pending | A renewal was submitted but requires additional Board review. | The licensee should monitor GOALS for a request or deficiency notice. |
| Expired or lapsed | The regular and applicable late-renewal periods were not completed. | Do not practise on the Georgia license; review reinstatement requirements. |
| Single-state | The license does not provide multistate practice authority. | Check eNLC upgrade eligibility when Georgia is the primary state of residence. |
| Multistate | The nurse holds compact authority based on the primary state of residence. | Confirm current compact privilege through Nursys. |
| No matching result | The search information may be too narrow, misspelled or tied to another name. | Remove extra fields, recheck the number or use a wildcard search. |
Verification is point-in-time information. Employers should record the date checked and consider Nursys e-Notify for automatic status, expiration and disciplinary-change alerts.
Employer verification checklist
Georgia RN, LPN and APRN renewal dates are not the same
Always begin with the expiration date shown in the public license record. Georgia RN expiration years can differ based on when the license was issued or, for older licenses, the final license-number digit.
| Credential | Regular renewal timing | Late period | Critical rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | Renew by January 31 of the license expiration year. Renewal commonly opens November 1. | February 1 through the last day of February. | An RN may not practise after the expiration date unless the license is current and active. |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | January 1 through March 31. Georgia LPN licenses expire March 31 of odd-numbered years. | April 1 through April 30 of the expiration year. | An LPN may not practise after March 31 while relying on an expired Georgia license. |
| APRN | Generally November 1 through January 31 of the APRN expiration cycle. | Follow the exact GOALS transaction and APRN guide. | Renew the Georgia RN license before beginning the APRN renewal application. |
| Georgia multistate license | Renew the underlying Georgia nursing license during its normal cycle. | Follows the underlying Georgia license. | The multistate component renews with the Georgia license; a separate compact renewal application is not required. |
| GAA | Follow the GAA expiration and GOALS renewal instructions. | Use the transaction shown in GOALS. | GAA applies to qualifying APRNs whose RN multistate license comes from another compact home state. |
Missed the 2026 RN/APRN/GAA cycle? The regular deadline was January 31, 2026, and the RN late period ended February 28, 2026. At this point, check the public record and use the reinstatement pathway shown in GOALS rather than attempting another ordinary renewal.
Renewal micro-steps
Check the expiration date and license type
Use the public verification system before assuming an RN, LPN and APRN share the same deadline.
Verify ExpirationOpen CE Broker before GOALS
Confirm that your selected RN competency option or LPN continuing education is documented and showing correctly.
Review Georgia CE RulesLog in to the verified GOALS account
Existing licensees should verify their existing account instead of creating a duplicate profile.
Open GOALSSelect “Renew a License”
Review the contact details, disclosure questions, license information and attached requirements before submission.
Renew linked credentials in the proper order
APRN licensees must renew the RN first and then submit the separate APRN renewal application.
Pay, save confirmation and recheck status
Keep the receipt, monitor GOALS for deficiencies and verify the public license record after processing.
Georgia RN and LPN continuing-competency requirements
Georgia does not use one identical hour rule for every nurse. Registered nurses select one of five approved competency pathways, while licensed practical nurses have two available pathways.
RN: choose one qualifying option
Option 1: continuing education
Complete 30 continuing-education hours through a provider accepted under Georgia Board requirements during the biennial renewal period.
Option 2: national certification
Maintain certification or recertification from a national certifying body recognized by the Board.
Option 3: academic study
Complete an accredited academic program in nursing or a related field recognized by the Board.
Option 4: practice verification
Document at least 500 hours of nursing practice with approved employer competency verification on the Board form.
Option 5: Board-approved activity
Complete another activity prescribed and approved by the Board as evidence of nursing competency.
Report the selected option
Upload or confirm the necessary documentation in CE Broker before relying on renewal eligibility.
LPN: choose one qualifying option
Twenty continuing-education hours
Complete 20 hours through an accepted provider during the biennial renewal period.
Academic RN program
Complete an accredited academic program of study in registered professional nursing recognized by the Board.
CE Broker’s basic account is free. It provides course history and a compliance-status view. A paid subscription is not required to access the tools necessary for Georgia nursing renewal.
The Georgia Board of Nursing does not individually approve every CE provider. Check the official accepted-provider information before paying for a course solely for renewal credit.
Georgia nursing application, renewal and verification fees
Board fees are generally non-refundable. GOALS adds a $10 online processing fee, and separate vendors may charge for NCLEX registration, fingerprints, credentials evaluation, CE or Nursys services.
| Transaction | Published Board fee | Important additional cost or note |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing examination application | $40 | Pearson VUE NCLEX registration and fingerprint costs are separate. |
| Licensure by endorsement | $75 | Nursys, credential evaluation and fingerprints can add separate charges. |
| Reinstatement | $90 | Competency, recent-practice, reentry and fingerprint requirements may apply. |
| APRN authorization | $75 | An active Georgia RN license and qualifying graduate education and certification are required. |
| APRN reinstatement | $90 | The RN license must be active before APRN reinstatement. |
| NLC conversion / upgrade | $50 | Georgia must be the qualifying primary state of residence. |
| License renewal | $65 | The $10 GOALS online processing fee is additional. |
| Late renewal | $75 | The nurse may not practise after expiration while relying on the expired license. |
| Certified verification request | $35 | Another U.S. nursing board normally uses Nursys for endorsement verification. |
| Transcript request | $15 | Use only when the receiving organization specifically requires this service. |
| Wall certificate | $50 | A printable pocket card is available through GOALS. |
| Mailed pocket card | $25 | The Board FAQ says mailed cards generally arrive within 7–10 business days after ordering. |
Always use the amount displayed in the current GOALS transaction. Do not calculate a payment from an old PDF, screenshot or third-party nursing-license website.
Use GOALS to track a Georgia nursing application
The GOALS Application Tracker shows the personal application status and outstanding requirements. Public license verification cannot show a private deficiency notice or explain why a submitted document has not matched.
Your email address is the GOALS user ID and is case-sensitive. Existing licensees should verify their old record rather than creating another account.
Use the application number from the confirmation email and identify the exact RN, LPN, APRN, endorsement, examination or reinstatement transaction.
Do not assume every item can be uploaded by the applicant. A school, licensing board, Nursys, credential evaluator or fingerprint provider may need to send it.
GOALS allows supporting documents to be added through an amendment after a deficiency notice.
The Board uses email as a primary communication method. Check spam folders and keep a personal, frequently monitored address on the account.
| GOALS issue | What the official guidance says | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Incomplete draft | An incomplete application is saved for 30 days and can be cancelled if not completed. | Collect required documents before starting or finish the saved application within the allowed period. |
| Deficiency notice | Applicants generally have 60 days to respond to a deficiency through GOALS. | Upload the exact requested evidence through the amendment process before the deadline. |
| Lost PIN | The PIN helps connect an existing record to the GOALS account. | Call the Professional Licensing Boards call center at 404-424-9966 and complete identity verification. |
| Forgot application number | The number appears in the application-received confirmation email. | Search email first; call the licensing call center if the confirmation cannot be found. |
| Document still pending | Applications are typically reviewed after all required documentation has arrived. | Confirm who sent the item, the delivery date and whether the document was sent directly as required. |
| Board review required | Criminal history, discipline, sanctions or other eligibility concerns can extend ordinary review times. | Submit complete court, licensing and explanation documents and monitor the Board-meeting process. |
Applications are typically reviewed within about 15 business days after all required documents are received. This is not a guaranteed issuance date, and complex files can take longer.
“I am checking my Georgia _____ application. My application number is _____. I submitted the application on _____. The item named _____ was sent by _____ on _____ through _____. GOALS currently shows _____. Please confirm whether the item has been matched and identify the exact action still required.”
Georgia RN or LPN endorsement requirements
Use endorsement when you have not previously held the applicable Georgia license and you hold an active nursing license in another U.S. jurisdiction. A former Georgia license generally uses reinstatement instead.
Current license
Georgia’s RN endorsement checklist requires current licensure. Order verification through the required board or Nursys route.
Nursing education
Provide approved nursing-program education and credential evaluation or English-proficiency evidence when applicable.
Recent practice
An RN who graduated more than four years ago may need proof of at least 500 practice hours in the previous four years or a Board-approved reentry program.
Fingerprint background check
Register through the Georgia Applicant Processing Service and follow the fingerprint email instructions generated after registration and application processing.
Identity and citizenship
Prepare a secure and verifiable document, affidavit of citizenship, Social Security number and immigration documents when applicable.
Criminal or disciplinary history
Upload complete court records, licensing orders and a clear explanation when the application asks for them.
Choose the correct RN or LPN guide
Review the endorsement checklist before beginning GOALS so you know which documents must come from third parties.
RN Application Guide LPN Application GuideCreate or verify the GOALS account
Use a personal email address that you monitor. Existing Georgia licensees should consolidate the existing record.
Submit the endorsement application
Select Apply for a License, answer the eligibility questions and upload applicant-supplied documents.
Order official verification
Use Nursys when the licensing jurisdiction participates. Follow the alternate authority route when it does not.
Complete GAPS / Idemia fingerprinting
Register as instructed and wait for the email explaining where and how to complete fingerprints.
Track deficiencies in GOALS
Do not repeat documents automatically. Confirm the required sender, delivery method and receipt date first.
Internationally educated nurses can need an independent credentials evaluation, English-proficiency evidence and additional education or licensing documentation. Use the exact international checklist for the application type.
Georgia multistate license and GAA decision guide
| Your situation | Likely Georgia route | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia is your primary state of residence | Apply for or upgrade to a Georgia multistate RN or LPN license if all uniform requirements are met. | Primary-state proof can include qualifying residence documents requested by Georgia. |
| You hold a Georgia multistate license | Renew the Georgia nursing license. | The multistate component renews automatically with the underlying Georgia license. |
| You hold another state’s multistate license and Georgia is not your PSOR | Do not renew an unnecessary Georgia single-state RN or LPN license. | Compact states should not renew or reinstate a single-state license when the nurse holds a multistate license from another compact home state. |
| You move your primary residence to Georgia | Apply for Georgia licensure by endorsement and multistate consideration. | The NLC generally requires application in the new home state within 60 days of establishing residency. |
| You are an APRN with another state’s RN multistate license | Review Georgia Authorization Based on Another State License, or GAA. | GAA is distinct from ordinary Georgia APRN authority and depends on residency and RN compact status. |
An RN or LPN multistate privilege does not automatically create Georgia APRN authorization. Check the APRN or GAA pathway before performing advanced-practice services.
Verify a Georgia RN or practical nursing program
The Georgia Board of Nursing approves and regulates pre-licensure nursing education programs in Georgia. It does not approve or regulate post-licensure degree-completion, graduate or terminal nursing programs.
Open the official Nursing Education page
Use the Board’s current RN or PN approved-program documents rather than a school advertisement.
Open Nursing EducationChoose RN or PN
Registered nursing and practical nursing programs are listed separately.
Match the exact campus and program
A college may offer several nursing pathways or operate more than one location.
Review approval status
Understand whether the program holds developmental, initial, full or conditional approval.
Compare NCLEX pass-rate reports
Review available program results before signing an enrollment agreement or paying non-refundable fees.
The official Nursing Education page states that no out-of-state or online pre-licensure nursing program is currently approved by the Georgia Board to complete clinical education in Georgia. Check this rule before enrolling in an online pre-licensure program that promises Georgia clinical placement.
Fix common Georgia licensing-portal problems
Email is the user ID
GOALS uses your email address as the username, and capitalization matters. Enter the same address and case used during account setup.
PIN will not work
Existing licensees should verify their record rather than create a new one. Call 404-424-9966 when identity verification is needed to recover the PIN.
Draft expires after 30 days
GOALS can cancel an incomplete application that is not completed within the saved-draft period.
Deficiency response deadline
Respond to a deficiency through the amendment process within the deadline shown; GOALS guidance generally provides 60 days.
Print a pocket card
Open the License page in GOALS and use the Generate Pocket Card option. Browser cookie or VPN settings can affect printing.
Browser problem
Georgia recommends Google Chrome. Clear cache and cookies, allow required cookies and temporarily disconnect a VPN when printing fails.
Hotmail accounts can sometimes experience delivery problems. Use a frequently monitored personal email, check spam folders and update the GOALS profile when Board emails are not arriving.
Georgia Board of Nursing phone, office and contact form
Include the license or application number, exact pending item, submission date and supporting document when contacting the Board. A precise request is more useful than asking only for a general status update.
Use for licensing-account assistance, PIN recovery and Board contact routing.
3920 Arkwright Road
Suite 195
Macon, GA 31210
The form accepts a license or application number, written question and image or PDF attachments.
“My Georgia nursing application number is _____. The application type is _____. The document named _____ was sent by _____ on _____ through _____. GOALS currently shows _____. Please confirm whether the item has been received and identify the exact remaining requirement.”
“My Georgia _____ license number is _____. It expired or expires on _____. I submitted the renewal or reinstatement on _____ and CE Broker shows _____. GOALS currently displays _____. Please identify the document, review or transaction still required.”
Call before travelling. Visiting the Macon office does not guarantee same-day document matching, application approval, renewal or license issuance.
Georgia Board of Nursing FAQ
How do I verify a Georgia nursing license?
Open Georgia’s official license-verification search, select Nursing, enter the license number or legal name and review the complete license type, status and expiration result.
What does “less is more” mean on Georgia license search?
Entering only the strongest details, such as a license number or last name, can produce better results than completing every field. The search also supports an asterisk after a partial name.
When does a Georgia RN license renew?
A Georgia RN license is due by January 31 of its expiration year. The applicable expiration year depends on license issuance rules and can be confirmed through the public record.
When does a Georgia LPN license renew?
Georgia LPN licenses expire March 31 of odd-numbered years. The regular renewal period runs from January 1 through March 31, with late renewal generally available through April 30.
Can I work during the late-renewal period?
No. Georgia’s rules state that an RN or LPN may not practise after the expiration date while relying on the expired Georgia license.
How many continuing-education hours does a Georgia RN need?
An RN chooses one of five competency pathways. One option is 30 approved continuing-education hours; other options include national certification, academic study, 500 hours of practice with competency verification or another Board-approved activity.
How many continuing-education hours does a Georgia LPN need?
An LPN can complete 20 continuing-education hours through accepted providers or complete an eligible accredited academic program in registered nursing.
Is CE Broker free for Georgia nurses?
Yes. CE Broker provides a free basic account with course history and compliance-status tools required for Georgia renewal tracking.
How do I check a Georgia nursing application?
Log in to GOALS and open the Application Tracker. Review the exact application, deficiency notices, third-party requirements and amendments.
How long does Georgia nursing application processing take?
Applications are typically reviewed within about 15 business days after all required documents are received. Criminal history, discipline, Board review or missing items can extend the process.
What happens if a GOALS application remains incomplete?
An incomplete application can be saved for 30 days. If it is not completed, GOALS can cancel it. A deficiency notice generally requires a response through the amendment process within 60 days.
How much is Georgia nursing license renewal?
The published nursing license-renewal fee is $65, plus the $10 online processing fee. Late-renewal and other transaction fees differ.
How do I send Georgia license verification to another state?
Use Nursys Nurse Licensure Verification for Endorsement when another U.S. board of nursing needs official Georgia RN or LPN verification.
How do I verify a Georgia nursing school?
Use the Georgia Board of Nursing education page, select the RN or PN approved-program list, match the exact campus and review approval and NCLEX performance information.
Does Georgia Board of Nursing regulate CNAs?
No. Georgia Certified Nurse Aide records are handled through a separate state registry and are not licensed through the Georgia Board of Nursing.
What is the Georgia Board of Nursing phone number?
The Georgia Professional Licensing Boards contact number listed for the Board of Nursing is 404-424-9966.
Georgia licensing pages used for this guide
Renewal dates, fees, forms and GOALS processes can change. Recheck the related official page before submitting an application, renewal, document or payment.
For employers and public users
Verify the live Georgia record, match the exact nurse and credential, check status and expiration, review compact authority and document the verification date.
For applicants and licensees
Use GOALS for private applications, renewal, amendments, deficiencies, profile changes and printable credentials. This independent guide cannot access or alter a licensing record.