Secretary of State Brian Kemp is proud to announce the successful roll-out of a new, multi-state nursing license in the Peach State. As a member state of the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), Georgia now allows nurses who obtain the multi-state license to practice across states lines in 28 compact member states. 585 nurses have already applied to convert their license to the multi-state option, and Kemp expects the number to quickly grow as word spreads in the nursing community.

“Year after year, Georgia earns accolades as a top state for starting a business, raising a family, and living the American dream. As our state’s population grows, our need for a robust workforce of healthcare professionals will also grow, and we must prioritize efforts to attract the nation’s best and brightest in this field. Our multi-state license for nurses is an excellent way to move toward this objective,” stated Secretary Kemp. “With this multi-state license, increased mobility for nurses will benefit nursing education, spur more opportunities in telemedicine, allow for faster emergency response across state lines, and improve access to healthcare overall.”

The eNLC allows for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to obtain one multi-state license to practice in their home state and 28 participating states. In 2017, the Georgia General Assembly passed SB 109 allowing the Georgia Board of Nursing to join the eNLC. Governor Deal signed the legislation May 8, 2017.

If a nurse is already licensed as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse in Georgia and Georgia is his or her state of residency, he or she may simply submit an online application to convert a single state license to the eNLC multi-state license.

All nurses seeking a multi-state license in the eNLC must meet the home state’s qualifications and other criteria. They must graduate from a board-approved nursing education program and pass the NCLEX-RN® or NCLEX-PN® exam. They cannot have an active disciplinary record connected to their license. They must submit to a criminal background check. They cannot have any previous felony convictions, and they must provide a valid social security number with their application.

January 31, 2018 is the deadline for registered nurses to renew their licenses in Georgia. Renewal instructions and the application can be found here.

Brian Kemp has been Secretary of State since January 2010. The Secretary of State is charged with conducting secure, accessible, and fair elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities, charities, and professional license holders. For more information about the office, go to www.sos.ga.gov.