An official website of the State of Florida 
Licensing Information
For detailed information about the licensure or renewal process, select the type of license relevant to your profession or program from the list provided below. The Florida Board of Nursing requires licensees to renew their licenses biennially to maintain the right to practice. The Board has made every effort to include all necessary information for both licensure and renewal processes on this website. Resources such as the Help Center, FAQs, and Resources page provide answers to frequently asked questions, along with access to links, forms, and applications. For additional assistance, including specific inquiries about the renewal process, you may contact a renewal specialist.
We highly recommend that you do not accept a job offer until you are licensed
The Florida Board of Nursing general statutes require that you must have a valid Florida nursing license to practice nursing in Florida. We recommend that you do not make any commitments based upon expectation of licensure. We highly recommend that you do not accept a job offer until you are licensed. A premature commitment to employment as a nurse, does not justify expediated processing. One application is not accelerated at the expense of another. We process applications, mail, e-mails, and telephone calls in date order.
All applicants are handled equally and fairly. The application process may take between two to six months to complete. Applications which are complete upon receipt are processed more efficiently. Ensure you are meeting all requirements for licensure at the time you apply.
If anything is deficient you will receive a deficiency letter within approximately 30 days after the receipt of your your application. Please direct questions or comments to MQA.NursingAppStatus@FLHealth.gov.
Florida law provides that an initial application must be reviewed within 30 days.
Below is the average number of days for initial review by license type. Applicants will be notified of any deficiencies associated with an application. Time to licensure is dependent, in part, on the amount of time taken to resolve any noted deficiencies.
Professions
Nursing (RN & LPN)
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Nurse Education & Training Programs
Practical & Registered Nurse Education Program
Nursing Assistant Training Program
Out-of-State Telehealth Provider Registration
Health care practitioners with an out-of-state license or certification that falls under section 456.47(1)(b), F.S, qualify for an out-of-state telehealth provider registration number when they meet the following requirements:
