Warner Robins, Ga. – In May, the Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON) officially approved the implementation of the Military Medical Personnel to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Transition Program for Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC), which is set to launch in Fall Semester 2025.
This decision follows the passage of Senate Bill 449 during the 2024 Georgia Legislative Session, which amended the Official Code of Georgia to introduce new, streamlined licensure pathways for qualified military medics, medical technicians, and corpsmen.
The new program at CGTC is designed to recognize the service and extensive healthcare experience of military medical personnel by offering a bridge between military and civilian healthcare careers. With GBON’s guidance, and collaboration with the Department of Veterans Services, this initiative builds on military medical training and allows for career growth after re-entering the civilian sector. The program provides the additional education required to prepare participants for the responsibilities and scope of practice of a Licensed Practical Nurse in Georgia.
Using national comparisons developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), GBON identified key educational gaps and created a model curriculum to supplement military experience. As part of the program requirements, eligible service members must pass the NCLEX-PN examination and receive a 12-month provisional license. During this time, they must complete a Board-approved transition program like the one now offered at CGTC.
“This program is a meaningful way to honor military medical service by providing a clear, accelerated path into the nursing workforce,” said CGTC’s Director of Nursing Jessica Willcox, MSN, RN who also serves as an appointed member of the Georgia Board of Nursing. “It supports Georgia’s healthcare system and reinforces CGTC’s commitment to workforce development and veterans’ education.”
The CGTC Military to LPN Transition Program includes 160 hours of classroom instruction and 160 hours of supervised clinical experience, all embedded within the College’s GBON-approved LPN program. Graduates who complete the transition program and submit their official transcript to GBON will be issued a full LPN license, opening doors to a wide range of healthcare opportunities in Georgia and beyond.
This program positions CGTC as a statewide leader in educational innovation for veterans and military families and it is expected to serve as a model for other Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) institutions. Students can apply now to enroll in the program for the fall semester. For more information about the program or eligibility requirements, contact Jessica Willcox at jwillcox@centralgatech.edu
About Central Georgia Technical College
As one of the largest two-year colleges in the state, CGTC operates three campuses and five centers throughout central Georgia, serving more than 30,000 individuals annually. CGTC is focused on connecting graduates to careers by offering quality education services, assuring a well -qualified workforce to support a healthy local economy. CGTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. For more information about CGTC, visit www.centralgatech.edu. Like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/centralgatech), X (@CGTC), and Instagram (@centralgatech).