StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Georgia

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$240
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Georgia Board of Nursing

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No official Georgia Board of Nursing source states a fixed minimum age for LPN licensure, so left null rather than guessed. A criminal history background check (fingerprinting) is required for all licensure applicants, processed through GAPS/Idemia (Georgia Applicant Processing Services), which applicants must register with at least 48 hours before submitting their license application. sos.ga.gov 403s automated fetches directly; this record's how-to-guide content was verified via archive snapshot 2026-07-02. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Georgia requires graduation from a Board-approved practical nursing education program, but the Georgia Board of Nursing's public how-to-guide and fee/application pages do not publish a fixed statewide total instructional-hour minimum for LPN programs. The Board's administrative rules chapter governing Licensed Practical Nursing Education Programs (GAC 410-9, rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/410-9) would set any such curriculum-hour standard, but that page timed out on repeated automated fetch attempts (including via Wayback) and no cached snapshot with the specific hour figure was found, so left null rather than guessed. sos.ga.gov 403s automated fetches directly; this record's how-to-guide content was verified via archive snapshot 2026-07-02. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). The $200 NCLEX registration fee is paid to Pearson VUE/NCSBN, separate from the Georgia Board of Nursing's $40 application fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Georgia Board of Nursing with the $40 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Georgia Board of Nursing issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Georgia.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $40
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $65
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Licensure by Endorsement (out-of-state LPN) [3] $75
Late Renewal [3] $75
Reinstatement [3] $90

Georgia's $40 fee is charged for the initial Licensure-by-Examination application itself and covers issuance of the license once granted; there is no separate 'license issuance' fee beyond the $40 application fee. The $200 NCLEX-PN exam fee (paid to Pearson VUE, not the Board) is listed separately under exams[]. sos.ga.gov 403s automated fetches directly; this fee schedule was verified via archive snapshot 2025-03-07.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

LPN licenses renew online every 2 years, due by March 31 of odd-numbered years (late renewal window April 1-30). No continuing-education hour requirement for LPN renewal was found on the Board's official how-to-guide; Georgia's CE requirements documented on the Board's site (e.g. the RN Continuing Competency Packet) apply to RNs, not LPNs. sos.ga.gov 403s automated fetches directly; this record's how-to-guide content was verified via archive snapshot 2026-07-02.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: NLC.

Georgia is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), implemented Jan. 19, 2018 per the compact commission's official jurisdiction list, so an active multistate LPN license from another NLC member state is valid to practice in Georgia without separate endorsement. LPNs licensed in another jurisdiction who don't hold (or don't want) a compact multistate license can apply for Licensure by Endorsement ($75) through the Georgia Board of Nursing.

20 state-approved training providers in Georgia — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $40
  • $200
Total$240

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for an LPN license in Georgia?

Graduate from a Georgia Board-approved practical nursing education program, register with Pearson VUE for the NCLEX-PN the same day you submit your Board application, register with GAPS/Idemia for a background check, and submit the $40 non-refundable application fee through the GOALS online portal.

Who administers the LPN licensing exam in Georgia?

Pearson VUE administers the NCLEX-PN under contract with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The exam fee is $200, paid directly to Pearson VUE, separate from the Board's $40 application fee.

How often do I need to renew my Georgia LPN license?

Every 2 years. Renewal is completed online and is due by March 31 of odd-numbered years, with a late renewal window from April 1-30. The renewal fee is $65.

Can I transfer my out-of-state LPN license to Georgia?

If you hold an active multistate license from another Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, you can practice in Georgia without additional action. Otherwise, apply for Licensure by Endorsement ($75) through the Georgia Board of Nursing.

Sources

  1. [1] sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-licensed-practical-nurse-lpn — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/38%20Reference%20-%20GBON%20Fee%20Schedule.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] nursecompact.com/files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10