Frequently Asked Questions

To view an approved nursing education program’s annual summary of compliance with s. 464.019, Florida Statutes, please visit http://ww10.doh.state.fl.us/pub/bon/

Nursing education programs may deliver course content through several venues. Please contact the nursing education program directly for this information.

The Florida Board of Nursing does not regulate admission criteria for nursing programs. Please contact the nursing program directly for information on advanced placement opportunities

Florida nursing regulations do not list all of the specific tasks, duties or interventions that licensed nurses may or may not perform.  Nursing practice is dynamic and responsive to societal need.  Florida law and rules require nurses to provide care that is consistent with their education, training, experience and demonstrated competency.

The LPN/RN decision-making models and ARNP decision-making models  were developed by Florida Board of Nursing staff to assist with nursing scope of practice decisions within the law regulating the practice of nursing in Florida.  Chapter 464, Nurse Practice Act, Florida Statutes and the rules promulgated for the law, Chapter 64B9, Florida Administrative Code, are accessible through the Board’s website.

Setting specific practice guidelines may also be addressed in other sections of the law regulating the administration of health care and the institution/agency’s accrediting body’s regulations.  Licensees and interested parties are encouraged to visit the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s (AHCA) website for additional information.

These models do not constitute legal advice or the approval or disapproval of any nursing practice.  Florida Board of Nursing staff members are unable to provide legal interpretation of the nursing regulations to help guide individual nursing practice or assist in the development of institutional nursing policies and procedures.

For information regarding the petition process for a declaratory statement from the Florida Board of Nursing, please visit Declaratory Statements.

Acknowledgements:

Texas Board of Nursing

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing

Ohio Board of Nursing

New Jersey Board of Nursing

National Council of State Boards of Nursing

ANA, Professional Standards of Practice

The Florida Board of Nursing does not regulate post-licensure nursing education programs, for example RN-BSN or other advanced nursing degrees. Please contact the Florida Department of Education for this information. www.fldoe.org.

You may consider forwarding your concerns to the Commission for Independent Education (CIE) for further evaluation. CIE receives and processes complaints filed against nursing education programs.

Students may file concerns with the Florida Department of Education, Commission for Independent Education (CIE).  Please visit https://www.fldoe.org/policy/cie/student-concerns.stml for information regarding that process.  CIE will investigate your concern and assist you if possible.  Be advised that they cannot give legal advice or take legal action on your  behalf so you may also want to seek legal guidance from an attorney.

The Commission for Independent Education has statutory responsibilities in matters relating to nonpublic, postsecondary, educational institutions. In keeping with the Florida Department of Education’s goal of producing a seamless educational system, some of these functions include consumer protection, program improvement, institutional policies and administration, data management, and the licensure of independent schools, colleges and universities.

Public Elementary or High Schools – Contact the Division of Public Schools

Nonpublic Elementary or High Schools – Contact the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice

Public Colleges – Contact the Florida College System

Public Universities – Contact the State University System of Florida

Public Vocational-Technical Schools – Contact Career and Adult Education

Nonpublic Postsecondary Institutions – Follow the instructions below

To file a complaint against a nonpublic postsecondary institution in Florida, please write a letter or send an e-mail containing the following information:

1. Name of Student (or Complainant)
2. Complainant Address
3. Phone Number
4. Name of Institution
5. Location of the Institution (City)
6. Dates of Attendance
7. A full description of the problem and any other documentation that will support your claim such as enrollment agreements, correspondence, etc.
8. The complaint process of the Commission involves contacting the institution to obtain their response to your complaint. If you do not want the Commission to contact the institution you are attending, you must state so in your complaint; however, doing so will greatly hinder the Commission’s ability to assist you with your complaint.
   Send Letter To:

Send Letter To:
Commission for Independent Education 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414
Tallahassee, FL. 32399-0400

Or E-mail: cieinfo@fldoe.org

Or Fax: 850-245-3238

You may view the Chapter 464, Nurse Practice Act, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 64B9, Rules of the Florida Board of Nursing, Florida Administrative Code, please visit https://floridasnursing.gov/resources/ and http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0400-0499/0464/0464PARTIContentsIndex.html&StatuteYear=2018

E-mail address:MQA.NursingEducationCorrespondence@flhealth.gov

Approved or accredited nursing education programs that perform below the minimum standard for NCLEX passage rates for two consecutive calendar years will be placed on probation pursuant to section 464.019(5), Florida Statutes. NCLEX scores for the previous calendar year are released in January of each year.

The program must remain on probationary status until it achieves a graduate passage rate that equals or exceeds the required passage rate for any 1 calendar year.

If a program meets the minimum standard, the program will be removed from probation. A program on probation that fails to meet the minimum standard will be terminated by the Board of Nursing.

Pursuant to Florida law, the Board of Nursing is authorized to extend a program’s probationary status for one (1) additional year if the program demonstrates “adequate progress” towards the “graduate passage rate goal”. Nursing education programs that are placed on probation are required to disclose their probationary status in writing to the program’s students and applicants

Pursuant to Florida law the board shall deny a program application for a new prelicensure nursing education program submitted by an educational institution if the institution has an existing program that is already on probationary status.

Please review this document to access the application and directions for a new training program.

You may view the Department of Education Curriculum Frameworks.

For questions pertaining to the application process, you may contact the Nurse Consultant line at 850-617-1478.

Please send email inquiries to: MQA.CNA@flhealth.gov.