Frequently Asked Questions

Continuing Education is a requirement to renew a professional license. Section 456.025(7), F.S. requires the Department to implement an electronic continuing education tracking system for each biennial renewal cycle and to integrate such system into the licensure and renewal system.  The two systems are now integrated.

The Department of Health, Medical Quality Assurance will verify a practitioner’s continuing education record in the electronic tracking system at the time of renewal.  Practitioners will be able to view their course history in the continuing education tracking system free of charge.  The course history will show all the courses that have been reported for the practitioner.

If the practitioner’s continuing education records are not complete, they will be prompted to enter their remaining continuing education hours before proceeding with their license renewal. If the practitioner does not have the hours to report, the license will move to a delinquent status at expiration.  In order to renew a delinquent license , the practitioner will be required to complete the continuing education requirements.  Additional fees may apply.

No, you can report your hours free of charge anytime during the biennium by registering for the Free Basic Account.  The Department encourages you to report early to avoid a delay in the license renewal process.  For more information please visit www.CEBroker.com.

Please note, if you take a course from a Florida Board approved Provider they are required to report on your behalf.  If you take a course from a National organization it is your responsibility to report completion.

If you take a course from a Florida Board approved Provider, they are required to report on your behalf.  If you take a course from a National organization, it is your responsibility to report completion.

Please visit www.CEBroker.com for the application to become a CE provider.

Applicants who have successfully completed courses, equivalent to practical nursing education in a professional nursing program, may qualify for NCLEX-PN based on practical nursing equivalency (PNEQ). All professional courses (RN) taken must have been successfully completed with a grade of “C-” or better and must have included theory and clinical instruction.

The professional or practical nursing curriculum must document clinical experience and theoretical instruction in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric and geriatric nursing. Each curriculum plan must document clinical training experience in appropriate settings that include, but are not limited to, acute care, long-term care and community settings.

All professional (RN) courses taken must have been successfully completed with a grade of “C” or better and must have included theory and clinical instruction. The professional or practical nursing curriculum must document clinical experience and theoretical instruction in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric and geriatric nursing. Each curriculum plan must document clinical training experience in appropriate settings that include, but are not limited to, acute care, long-term care and community settings.
Applicants for PNEQ must have their school submit official transcripts, course descriptions and a completed Practical Nurse Equivalency Application Letter (found in the Examination application).

Only graduates from an RN program qualify to take the RN NCLEX.

Emailed requests will be accepted, provided the email address matches the one listed on the application received from Prometric. Applicants wishing to change their CNA application route may also submit a written request by mail or fax with an original signature to our office:

4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-02
Tallahassee, FL 32329
Fax: (850) 617-6460

These requests can no longer go through Prometric. They must request the change with the board office.

Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses are required to complete 24 hours of appropriate CE during each renewal period, including two (2) hours relating to prevention of medical errors, two (2) hours in Laws and Rules in Nursing, (2) hours in Human Trafficking, and (2) hours in Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace every other biennium (every 4 years). In addition to these 24 hours of general CE, every third renewal two (2) hours of domestic violence CE must be completed for a total of 26 hours. APRN must also complete (3) hours in Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances. See Sections 456.013, 456.031, and 456.033, Florida Statutes, and Rule 64B9-5, Florida Administrative Code (FAC) for more information about continuing education requirements.

A nurse who is certified by a health care specialty program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification is exempt from continuing education requirements. This exemption includes general and mandatory nursing continuing education with the exception of Human Trafficking and Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances.

Nurses who hold both a RN and APRN license may use the same credit hours toward both licenses but must make sure to report them under both licenses for CE compliance.

You can use the online tools to search for licensure and enforcement data about health care practitioners and establishments. Data can be downloaded for licensees, enforcement, MQA reports and statistical data.

The Florida Board of Nursing does not complete a primary source verification of education for all of its Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).

We do not maintain a list of “approved” APRN programs.

Florida APRN applicants are required to hold an active Florida RN license or an active multistate RN license from another jurisdiction, a master’s degree or post-master’s certificate in a nursing clinical specialty area and national advanced practice certification from an approved nursing specialty board. The certification requirements for all the Board approved certifying bodies mirror the licensure requirements for Florida. Therefore, we only require proof of the applicant’s national certification.

Rule 64B9-4.002(3), F.A.C., provides the professional or national nursing specialty boards recognized by the Board. You may find the full rule on the web at: www.flrules.org

Please visit your prospective certifying body’s website, for additional information regarding APRN certification eligibility requirements. www.nursingworld.org/certification

Generally, certifying bodies require a program to be accredited by CCNE or ACEN (formerly NLNAC) and to include advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology, a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours, and content in health promotion and disease management.