Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1) Developing Programs.
(a) The Board may grant Developmental
Approval to a proposed nursing education program when compliance with Rules
410-8-.12 paragraphs (1) through (3)
has been documented.
(b) The Board
may grant Initial Approval to a nursing education program with Developmental
Approval when compliance with Rule
410-8-.12(4) has been
documented. Initial Approval is required prior to the enrollment of at least
twenty (20) students in the first nursing courses.
(c) The Board may continue Initial Approval
prior to the graduation of the first class when review of materials specified
in Rule
410-8-.12(3)(c), the
most recent annual report, and most recent site visit report, and program
responses to it document compliance with the rules.
(d) The Board may grant Full Approval to a
nursing education program with Initial Approval when review of the most recent
annual report, the most recent site visit report, and program responses to it
document compliance with the rules. At least eighty (80) percent of all
graduates must pass the licensing examination as first-time writers within one
(1) calendar year of the graduation date.
(e) If the program is not eligible for Full
Approval after graduation of the first class, Conditional Approval may be
imposed according to Rule 410-8-.02(3).
(2) Established Programs.
(a) The Board may continue the Full Approval
of a nursing education program for any period up to ten (10) years. Approval is
based upon documentation of compliance with rules relating to annual reports,
the most recent site visit report and program responses to it, a passing
percentage of at least eighty (80) percent of all first-time writers on the
licensing examination over the four (4) most recent calendar years and
documentation of accreditation by a national nursing accrediting body
recognized by the Board.
(b) A
nursing education program, with Full Approval, must submit a written assessment
and plan of action for review by the Board if the passing percentage of all
first-time writers on the licensing examination is less than eighty (80)
percent in a calendar year.
(c) A
nursing education program, with Full Approval, must submit a written evaluation
of the plan of action for review by the Board if the passing percentage of all
first-time writers on the licensing examination is less than eighty (80)
percent for a second consecutive calendar year. A site visit by Board
representatives will be scheduled.
(3) Conditional Approval.
At any point during the initial approval period for developing
programs or within the four-year approval cycle for established programs, the
Board may impose Conditional Approval on a nursing education program for
reasons, including but not limited to, the following conditions: review of any
annual report reveals noncompliance with the rules; review(s) of the most
recent site visit report(s) and program response(s) to it reveal continued,
documented noncompliance with the rules; and/or the passing percentage of
first-time writers on the licensing examination was less than eighty (80)
percent for two (2) consecutive graduation cohorts and/or the four-year average
was less than eighty (80) percent.
(4) Granting of Full Approval for a Nursing
Education Program on Conditional Approval.
(a)
The granting of Full Approval will require documentation of outcome measures,
including but not limited to NCLEX-RN results, on an annual basis until
compliance with conditions identified in Rule 410-8-.02(3) is documented.
(b) The granting of Full Approval
may be for any period of time up to ten (10) years as determined by the board.
If Conditional Approval has been imposed for noncompliance with the identified
four-year passing percentage on the licensing examination, the Board at its
discretion may grant Full Approval for one (1) year. The one (1) year approval
is based upon the program having documented evidence of at least two (2) most
recent consecutive graduation cohorts of a passing percentage of at least
eighty (80) percent of its first-time writers in each calendar year even though
the four-year average is not eighty (80) percent.
(5) Withdrawal of Approval.
The Board may withdraw the approval of a nursing education
program on Conditional Approval when continued, documented noncompliance with
the rules fails to be corrected within a time period specified by the Board. In
order for students, who are currently enrolled in at least one nursing course
when approval is withdrawn, to be eligible for licensure upon graduation, the
nursing education program must submit a written plan for their completion of
the program or for their transfer to another approved nursing education
program. Prior to the actual date of withdrawal of approval, the nursing
program will continue to have time-limited Conditional Approval so that
students will be identified as having graduated from an approved program and be
eligible for licensure by examination.
(6) Reinstatement of Withdrawn Approval.
(a) Representatives of the parent institution
and/or the nursing education program may appeal in writing to the Board for
reconsideration of withdrawn approval within ninety (90) days of written
notification.
(b) Upon written
request, representatives of the parent institution and/or the nursing education
program may appear before the Board to review its findings regarding program
deficiencies and/or the adequacy of the program's plan of action.
(c) After documentation of compliance with
rules, as determined by the Board, a nursing education program may petition the
Board in writing for reinstatement of approval status and permission to enroll
students.
(d) If approval is not
reinstated, the parent institution must comply with all rules for the
development and implementation of a new nursing education program.
(7) Reconstitution of a Nursing
Education Program.
(a) If a program, which has
had its approval withdrawn, decides to develop and implement a reconstituted
(new) nursing education program, it must document compliance with Rule
410-8-.12. At its discretion, the
Board may not require the fee for new programs and the feasibility study if
Conditional Approval has previously been imposed on the program.
(b) The average passing percentage of the
first class must be at least eighty (80) percent. If compliance with this rule
is not documented, approval will be withdrawn.
O.C.G.A. §§
43-1-25, 43-26-2 and
43-26-5(a)(4) -(6).
