Florida Nursing License Guide (2026)

Florida is the third-largest state for nursing employment, with over 300,000 licensed RNs and 50,000 LPNs. As an NLC compact state, Florida offers multistate licensing that allows practice across 40+ states. This guide covers everything you need to know about Florida nursing licensure.

Florida Board of Nursing

Detail	Information
Licenses	RN, LPN, APRN (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA)
Website	floridasnursing.gov
Phone	(850) 488-0595
Address	4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-02, Tallahassee, FL 32399

The Florida Board of Nursing operates under the Department of Health and oversees all nursing licenses in the state.

Florida Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

Multistate License Benefits

Florida joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2019, meaning:

Benefit	Details
Practice in 40+ states	No additional licenses needed
Single license fee	One renewal covers multistate
Telehealth flexibility	Practice across state lines
Travel nursing ease	Work in compact states freely

Eligibility for Multistate License

To obtain a Florida multistate license, you must:

• Declare Florida as your primary state of residence
• Meet all Florida licensure requirements
• Pass a federal background check
• Have no encumbrances on any nursing license
• Meet uniform licensure requirements

Single-State License Option

You can request a single-state Florida license if:

• Your primary residence is in a non-compact state
• You don’t meet multistate license criteria
• You have license encumbrances

Florida RN License

New Graduate (Examination)

Eligibility requirements:

• Graduate from Florida Board-approved nursing program
• Complete criminal background check
• Submit all required application documents

Application process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Submit online application	$110
2	Submit fingerprints (Livescan)	~$52
3	School submits official transcripts	—
4	Receive ATT from Board	—
5	Register with Pearson VUE	$200
6	Pass NCLEX-RN	—
7	License issued	—

Timeline:

• Application approval: 2-4 weeks
• ATT issuance: Within days of approval
• Total time to license: 4-8 weeks

RN Endorsement

Eligibility for endorsement:

• Active RN license in another state
• No pending disciplinary actions
• Background check clearance
• Meet Florida education requirements

Endorsement process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Submit online endorsement application	$110
2	Submit fingerprints (Livescan)	~$52
3	Verify license through Nursys	$30
4	Await Board review	—
5	Receive Florida license	—

Timeline: 4-8 weeks

RN Fees Summary

Fee Type	Amount
Initial examination application	$110
Endorsement application	$110
Biennial renewal	$80
Late renewal (0-6 months)	$80 + $50
Inactive to active	$80
Duplicate license	$25
License verification (Nursys)	$30

RN Renewal Requirements

Requirement	Details
Cycle	Biennial (every 2 years)
CE hours	None for most RNs
Required courses	HIV/AIDS (1 hour, one-time); Domestic Violence (2 hours, one-time); Recognizing Impairment (2 hours)
Fee	$80
Renewal window	90 days before expiration

Florida is one of the few states without general CE requirements for RN renewal, though specific mandatory courses are required.

Florida LPN License

New Graduate (Examination)

Requirements:

• Graduate from Board-approved practical nursing program
• Criminal background check clearance
• Complete application with required documentation

Application process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Submit online application	$110
2	Submit fingerprints (Livescan)	~$52
3	School submits eligibility	—
4	Receive ATT from Board	—
5	Register with Pearson VUE	$200
6	Pass NCLEX-PN	—
7	License issued	—

Timeline: 4-6 weeks to ATT

LPN Endorsement

Same process as RN endorsement with appropriate application.

Timeline: 4-8 weeks

LPN Fees Summary

Fee Type	Amount
Initial examination application	$110
Endorsement application	$110
Biennial renewal	$80
Late renewal	$80 + $50

LPN Renewal Requirements

Requirement	Details
Cycle	Biennial
CE hours	None for most LPNs
Required courses	HIV/AIDS (1 hour, one-time); Domestic Violence (2 hours, one-time)
Fee	$80

Florida APRN Licenses

Overview

Florida recognizes four APRN roles:

• Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

APRN Requirements

Common requirements for all APRNs:

• Active Florida RN license
• Graduate from accredited APRN program
• National certification in role and population
• Supervisory protocol (for NPs prescribing)

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Practice authority: Florida has restricted practice for NPs:

• Physician supervision required for prescribing controlled substances
• Supervisory protocol required
• 2,000 hours of clinical practice required before supervising PA or NP students

Recent changes: In 2020, Florida expanded NP practice authority, allowing NPs to practice independently after 3,000 hours under supervision. This applies to non-controlled substance prescribing.

Application:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Hold active Florida RN license	—
2	Submit APRN application	$110
3	Submit proof of education	—
4	Submit national certification	—
5	File supervisory protocol	—
6	Apply for controlled substance prescribing	$100

Prescriptive authority:

• Separate application for controlled substances ($100)
• Supervisory protocol must be filed
• DEA registration required for controlled substances
• 3-hour controlled substance prescribing course required

CRNA Practice

CRNAs in Florida:

• Must work under supervision of physician, dentist, or podiatrist
• Can administer all anesthetics
• NBCRNA certification required

CNM Practice

CNMs in Florida:

• Must have supervisory protocol with physician
• Full midwifery scope of practice
• AMCB certification required
• Can prescribe medications with protocol

APRN Fees

Fee Type	Amount
APRN application	$110
Controlled substance prescribing	$100
APRN renewal	$80
Controlled substance renewal	$50

APRN Renewal

Requirement	Details
Cycle	Biennial (with RN renewal)
CE hours	None required by Board
Certification	Must maintain national certification
Controlled substances	3-hour prescribing course every 2 years

Background Check Process

Livescan Fingerprinting

All Florida nursing applicants must complete electronic fingerprinting:

Process:

1. Receive fingerprint form from Board
2. Schedule Livescan appointment at authorized vendor
3. Complete fingerprinting (~$52)
4. Results sent to FDLE and FBI
5. Board reviews for clearance

Timeline: 1-4 weeks for results

Criminal History Review

If you have criminal history:

• Provide certified court documents with application
• Include detailed personal statement
• Board reviews on case-by-case basis
• May require interview or additional documentation

Disqualifying Offenses

Florida Board considers:

• Nature and severity of offense
• Time elapsed since offense
• Evidence of rehabilitation
• Relationship to nursing practice

Certain felonies may result in automatic denial or require additional review.

Continuing Education Requirements

CE Hours

Florida has minimal CE requirements:

License Type	Hours Required	Cycle
RN	0 (with exceptions)	Biennial
LPN	0 (with exceptions)	Biennial
APRN	0 (with exceptions)	Biennial

Mandatory Courses

While Florida doesn’t require general CE hours, specific courses are required:

Course	Hours	Frequency
HIV/AIDS	1	One-time (initial)
Domestic Violence	2	One-time (initial)
Recognizing Impairment	2	Each renewal
Human Trafficking	1	One-time
Medical Errors Prevention	2	Each renewal

Certification Maintenance

While the Board doesn’t require CE, APRNs must maintain national certification, which has its own CE requirements through the certifying body.

Florida Nursing Practice

Scope of Practice

RN Scope:

• Independent nursing assessment and diagnosis
• Development and implementation of care plans
• Administration of medications and treatments
• Patient and family education
• Delegation to LPNs and CNAs

LPN Scope:

• Practice under RN or physician supervision
• Basic nursing care and treatments
• Medication administration
• Data collection and reporting
• IV therapy (with additional training)

Staffing

Florida does NOT have mandated nurse-to-patient ratios. Staffing decisions are facility-based with general safe staffing requirements.

Florida Nurse Practice Act

Key provisions:

• Defines scope of practice for all nursing levels
• Establishes grounds for disciplinary action
• Sets standards for delegation
• Outlines requirements for prescriptive authority

Travel Nursing in Florida

NLC Advantages

Florida multistate license benefits for travel nursing:

• Work in 40+ compact states immediately
• No additional application wait times
• Single license management
• Telehealth across compact states

Florida Market

Factor	Detail
Major markets	Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville
Demand	High, especially geriatrics, acute care
Pay rates	Competitive, varies by region
Cost of living	Moderate, varies significantly by area
Tourism factor	Seasonal population increases demand

Compact Licensing Tips

If moving to Florida from a non-compact state:

1. Apply for Florida endorsement early
2. Request multistate license
3. Keep original state license active during transition
4. Update Nursys with address change
5. Plan for 4-8 week processing time

International Graduates

Requirements

International nursing graduates must:

Step	Requirement
1	CGFNS certificate or VisaScreen
2	Credential evaluation
3	English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS)
4	Florida Board application
5	NCLEX examination

Timeline

International applications typically take 6-12 months due to:

• Credential evaluation delays
• CGFNS processing time
• Additional documentation requirements
• Potential visa processing

Application Tips

Faster Processing

Speed up your Florida application:

1. Apply online — Paper applications take significantly longer
2. Use Nursys — For license verification ($30)
3. Complete fingerprints early — Schedule immediately after applying
4. Check application status — Monitor through online portal
5. Respond promptly — To any Board requests

Common Delays

• Incomplete applications
• Background check holds
• Missing transcripts
• Out-of-state verification delays
• International credential review

Online Resources

Resource	URL
Board website	floridasnursing.gov
Application portal	Online at flhealthsource.gov
License verification	flhealthsource.gov/licenseverification
Fingerprinting	Authorized Livescan vendors

Florida vs. Other States

Advantages of Florida

Factor	Florida Advantage
Compact state	Multistate license available
Minimal CE	No general CE hours required
No state income tax	Higher take-home pay
Large job market	Third-largest nursing workforce
Climate	Year-round warm weather
Growing population	Increasing healthcare demand

Considerations

Factor	Consideration
NP practice	Restricted (changing, but still limited)
No staffing ratios	Facility-dependent
High demand specialties	Geriatrics, home health
Cost of living	Rising in major metros

Next Steps

Ready to get your Florida nursing license?

1. Check specific requirements — Florida RN | Florida LPN
2. Review the NLC compact — Compact guide
3. Schedule fingerprinting — Find authorized Livescan vendor
4. Submit application — flhealthsource.gov
5. Track status — Online portal

Florida offers excellent nursing opportunities with minimal CE requirements and the benefit of multistate licensure through the NLC. The growing population and year-round tourism create consistent demand for healthcare professionals.