Georgia APRN License Requirements 2026
Georgia issues APRN authorization through the Georgia Board of Nursing. Candidates must complete a graduate nursing program and pass a national certification exam in their specialty. Georgia residents need a Georgia RN license. Nurses with an NLC multistate license from another compact state use the GAA pathway. Georgia is a reduced practice state, requiring a Nurse Protocol Agreement to prescribe.
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Advanced practice registered nurses in Georgia work under authorization from the Georgia Board of Nursing. The authorization covers five APRN roles and requires both graduate education and national specialty certification. Because Georgia is a reduced practice state, nurse practitioners and other APRNs who prescribe must operate under a Nurse Protocol Agreement with a collaborating physician who has a comparable specialty area.
Use the links below to jump to education requirements, the application process, renewal rules, and prescriptive authority information for Georgia APRNs.
- APRN roles Georgia recognizes
- Education and coursework requirements
- National certification requirements
- How to apply for APRN authorization
- Recency and re-entry requirements
- Renewing your APRN authorization
- Prescriptive authority in Georgia
APRN Roles Recognized in Georgia
The Georgia Board of Nursing recognizes five advanced practice roles:
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist, Psychiatric/Mental Health (CNS/PMH)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
All five require an active RN license before APRN authorization can be granted. The required RN license depends on your primary state of residency. Georgia residents must hold an active Georgia RN license. Nurses whose primary state of residency is not Georgia but who hold an active NLC multistate license from another compact state can apply for Georgia APRN authorization through the GAA (Georgia Authorization Based on Another State License) pathway, without first obtaining a separate Georgia single-state RN license. That multistate license must remain active and unencumbered throughout the authorization process.
Education Requirements
A master’s degree or higher is required for all Georgia APRN roles. The program must prepare candidates for the specific role and population focus they intend to practice in. Programs must be accredited by a national nursing education accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Georgia Board of Nursing.
Georgia requires three specific graduate-level courses across all APRN roles:
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Physical Assessment
Clinical nurse specialists must also complete at least two nursing courses that include clinical practice. The CNS/PMH specialty requires at least two psychiatric nursing courses with a clinical practice component. These specialty-specific requirements are found in Chapter 410-11 of the Georgia Administrative Code.
Candidates may complete an MSN, DNP, or an accredited post-master’s graduate certificate in their APRN specialty. What matters is that the program is at the graduate level, nationally accredited, and aligned with the role for which authorization is being sought.
National Certification Requirements
National specialty certification must be earned before applying for Georgia APRN authorization. The certification must match the role and population focus of the graduate program completed. Georgia accepts certification from the following organizations:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Certification Corporation (AACN)
- American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
- National Certification Corporation (NCC)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
Certified Nurse-Midwives certify through the AMCB. Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialists certify through the ANCC. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists certify through the NBCRNA. Confirm the current approved agency list with the Georgia Board of Nursing before applying, as the Board reviews and updates this list periodically.
How to Apply for Georgia APRN Authorization
Applications are submitted through GOALS, Georgia’s online licensing portal. Paper applications are no longer accepted. Log in to your GOALS account at the Georgia Board of Nursing website, then select “Apply for a License” to access the APRN authorization application.
Required materials include:
- Official transcript showing degree and date awarded, sent directly by your nursing program or a transcript exchange service to the Board
- Certification verification, submitted by the certifying agency via email to the Board
- Documentation of Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Physical Assessment coursework
- Copy of documentation establishing qualified alien status for noncitizens
- Detailed explanation letters and supporting documentation, if any questions about legal convictions or prior board actions are answered “yes.”
The application fee is $75. The Board communicates primarily by email after submission, and applicants can track their application status through the GOALS portal. Allow time for transcript and certification verification to be completed by the issuing institution or certifying body before submitting.
Recency and Re-Entry Requirements
Nurses seeking NP or CNS recognition who graduated four or more years ago must document 500 hours of practice in the applicable role. Those who don’t meet this threshold can complete approved refresher courses to satisfy the requirement. The specific pathways are described in Chapter 410-11 of the Georgia Administrative Code.
APRNs whose national certification has lapsed may receive a temporary six-month Georgia authorization to complete work experience hours required as a condition of recertification. The temporary authorization can be renewed once.
Renewal Requirements
APRN authorizations renew every two years. Renewal requires evidence of current national certification in the authorized role. Nurse-midwives certified before 1996 must be enrolled in the American College of Nurse Midwives Continuing Competency Assessment Program in lieu of the standard certification renewal evidence.
Renewal is managed through the GOALS portal. Confirm current renewal fees and any continuing education requirements directly with the Georgia Board of Nursing, as these are subject to change.
Prescriptive Authority in Georgia
Prescriptive authority in Georgia is granted by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, not the Board of Nursing. APRNs who prescribe must have a Nurse Protocol Agreement that specifically authorizes prescription writing. The agreement must be submitted to the GCMB for review and approval. Prescribing rights don’t activate until the Board approves the protocol. The delegating physician must hold an active, unrestricted Georgia medical license and practice in a specialty comparable to the APRN’s area.
Under a properly filed and approved Nurse Protocol Agreement, APRNs may prescribe Schedule III through V controlled substances. Schedule I and II substances are generally excluded. As of May 2026, a delegating physician may specifically authorize an APRN to prescribe hydrocodone and oxycodone compounds in emergency situations only. This is a limited exception, not a general expansion of prescribing rights. Because these rules were updated recently, confirm the current scope with the GCMB before entering into a protocol agreement.
Nurse Protocol Agreement applications are submitted online through the GCMB’s Licensing Gateway at medicalboard.georgia.gov. Paper submissions are no longer accepted. The filing fee is $150, paid electronically through the Gateway. After approval, APRNs who plan to prescribe controlled substances must also register with the Georgia Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and obtain a DEA number. Current processing times at the GCMB average approximately 30 business days.
Rules governing prescriptive authority are found in Chapter 360-32 of the Georgia Administrative Code and O.C.G.A. § 43-34-25.
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Georgia have full practice authority for nurse practitioners?
No. Georgia is a reduced practice state. NPs must operate under a Nurse Protocol Agreement with a collaborating physician to prescribe medications and perform certain medical functions. Full independent practice authority is not available in Georgia under the current law.
Is Georgia a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Georgia is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) for registered nurses. If your primary state of residency is not Georgia and you hold an active NLC multistate license from another compact state, you may apply for Georgia APRN authorization through the GAA pathway without first obtaining a separate Georgia RN license. If Georgia is your primary state of residency, you must hold a Georgia RN license before applying for APRN authorization.
What certifying agencies does Georgia accept for APRN authorization?
Georgia accepts certification from the AANPCB, AACN, AMCB, ANCC, NBCRNA, NCC, and PNCB. The certification must match your graduate program’s role and population focus. Verify the current approved list with the Georgia Board of Nursing before applying, as the list is periodically reviewed.
Can I apply for Georgia APRN authorization if my national certification has lapsed?
The Board may issue a temporary six-month authorization for APRNs whose certification has lapsed, specifically to allow them to accumulate the work experience hours required for recertification. The temporary authorization can be renewed once.
Where do I submit my Georgia APRN application?
Applications are submitted through the GOALS portal at the Georgia Secretary of State website. Paper applications are no longer accepted. Official transcripts and certification verification must be submitted directly to the Board by the issuing institution or certifying agency.
Key Takeaways
- Authorization from the Georgia Board of Nursing — All five APRN roles require Board authorization plus an active Georgia RN license as a prerequisite.
- Graduate education is required — A master’s degree or higher from an accredited program is required, including Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Physical Assessment coursework.
- National certification must come first — Candidates must earn specialty certification from a Board-approved agency before applying for Georgia APRN authorization.
- Reduced practice state — Georgia NPs must have a Nurse Protocol Agreement with a collaborating physician to prescribe. Full independent practice authority doesn’t exist in Georgia.
- Georgia is an NLC compact member — RNs with a multistate compact license may apply for Georgia APRN authorization directly without obtaining a separate Georgia RN license.
Find approved graduate nursing programs aligned with Georgia’s APRN education requirements, including NP, CNS, CRNA, and CNM specialties.