Frequently Asked Questions

No. Approved programs are mandated to submit an annual report for programs in Nursing each year by November 1, pursuant to section 464.019(3). Florida Statutes. This subsection does not apply to accredited programs.

(3) ANNUAL REPORT.—By November 1 of each year, each approved program shall submit to the board an annual report comprised of an affidavit certifying continued compliance with subsection (1), a summary description of the program’s compliance with subsection (1), and documentation for the previous academic year that, to the extent applicable, describes:
(a) The number of student applications received, qualified applicants, applicants accepted, accepted applicants who enroll in the program, students enrolled in the program, and program graduates.
(b) The program’s retention rates for students tracked from program entry to graduation.
(c) The program’s accreditation status, including identification of the accrediting agency.

(9) APPLICABILITY TO ACCREDITED PROGRAMS.—
(a) Subsections (1)-(3), paragraph (4)(b), and paragraph (5)(b) do not apply to an accredited program.
(b) If an accredited program ceases to be accredited, the educational institution conducting the program:
1. Within 10 business days after the program ceases to be accredited, must provide written notice of the date that the program ceased to be accredited to the board, the program’s students and applicants, and each entity providing clinical training sites or community-based clinical experience sites for the program. The educational institution must continue to provide the written notice to new students, applicants, and entities providing clinical training sites or community-based clinical experience sites for the program until the program becomes an approved program or is closed under subparagraph 3.
2. Within 30 days after the program ceases to be accredited, must submit an affidavit to the board, signed by the educational institution’s president or chief executive officer, which certifies the institution’s compliance with subparagraph 1. The board shall notify the persons and applicable entities listed in paragraph (7)(c) if an educational institution does not submit the affidavit required by this subparagraph.
3. May apply to become an approved program under this section. If the educational institution:
a. Within 30 days after the program ceases to be accredited, submits a program application and review fee to the department under subsection (1) and the affidavit required under subparagraph 2., the program shall be deemed an approved program from the date that the program ceased to be accredited until the date that the board approves or denies the program application. The program application must be denied by the board pursuant to chapter 120 if it does not contain the affidavit. If the board denies the program application under subsection (2) or if the program application does not contain the affidavit, the program shall be closed and the educational institution conducting the program must comply with paragraph (7)(b).
b. Does not apply to become an approved program pursuant to sub-subparagraph a., the program shall be deemed an approved program from the date the program ceased to be accredited until the 31st day after that date. On the 31st day after the program ceased to be accredited, the program shall be closed and the educational institution conducting the program must comply with paragraph (7)(b).

A list of all the approved and accredited pre-licensure nursing education programs in Florida are available on website entitled “Compare Florida Prelicensure Nursing Education Programs”.

An “approved” nursing education program is a program for the prelicensure education of professional or practical nurses that is conducted in Florida at an educational institution that is approved and regulated under s. 464.019, Florida Statutes. Approved RN nursing education programs are required to obtain accreditation within five years after enrolling the program’s first students, pursuant to S. 464.019(11), Florida Statute.

An “accredited” nursing education program, as defined by s. 464.003, Florida Statutes, is a program for the prelicensure education of professional or practical nurses that is conducted in the United States at an educational institution, whether in Florida, another state, or the District of Columbia, and that is accredited by a specialized nursing accrediting agency that is nationally recognized by the United States Secretary of Education to accredit nursing education programs Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)) or National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA).

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0400-0499/0464/Sections/0464.019.html

Graduates of both approved and accredited nursing education programs are eligible to apply to the Florida Board of Nursing for licensure by examination.

Accredited programs included on the Florida Board of Nursing’s comparative website are programs that have a physical presence in the state of Florida. Program status of out-of-state nursing education programs may be verified through the specific Board of Nursing that issued approval or through a national nursing accrediting body (ACEN, CCNE, or NLN CNEA).

Yes. Graduates of nursing education programs with Approved/probationary status are eligible to apply to the Florida Board Nursing for licensure by examination.

The comparison search data is refreshed nightly and may not reflect information for newly approved or accredited programs. The program may also not be an approved or accredited nursing education program based in Florida. Please contact the Florida Board of Nursing at MQA.NursingEducationCorrespondence@flhealth.gov to confirm the nursing education program status.

The “Accrediting Body” category identifies the specific accrediting agency. The “Accreditation” category indicates the status applied to each nursing education program by the Florida Board of Nursing to indicate whether the program has specialized nursing accreditation, other national or regional educational accreditation, or no accreditation. Nursing education programs may have multiple listings under both categories.

The percentage of the number of students tracked from program entry to graduation.

Both types of these professional nursing educational programs prepare the graduate for eligibility for licensure as a Registered Nurse. A.D.N. or Associate Degree in Nursing programs are usually two year programs. B.S.N. or Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree programs are usually four year programs.

To view an application for an approved nursing education program submitted after July 1, 2009 please visit http://ww10.doh.state.fl.us/pub/bon/

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.