Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 1600
By the Committee on Fiscal Policy; and Senator Collins
594-03830-24 20241600c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to interstate mobility; creating s.
3 455.2135, F.S.; requiring the respective boards of
4 occupations, or the Department of Business and
5 Professional Regulation if there is no board, to allow
6 licensure by endorsement if applicant meets certain
7 criteria; requiring applicants of professions that
8 require fingerprints for criminal history checks to
9 submit such fingerprints before the board or
10 department issues a license by endorsement; requiring
11 the department, and authorizing the board, as
12 applicable, to review the results of the criminal
13 history checks according to specified criteria to
14 determine if the applicants meet the requirements for
15 licensure; requiring that the costs associated with
16 fingerprint processing be borne by the applicant; if
17 fingerprints are submitted through an authorized
18 agency or vendor, requiring such agency or vendor to
19 collect the processing fees and remit them to the
20 Department of Law Enforcement; providing an exception;
21 creating s. 456.0145, F.S.; providing a short title;
22 requiring the applicable health care regulatory
23 boards, or the Department of Health if there is no
24 board, to issue a license or certificate to applicants
25 who meet specified conditions; defining the term
26 “scope of practice”; requiring the department to
27 verify certain information using the National
28 Practitioner Data Bank, as applicable; specifying
29 circumstances under which a person is ineligible for a
30 license; authorizing boards or the department, as
31 applicable, to revoke a license upon a specified
32 finding; requiring boards or the department, as
33 applicable, to issue licenses to qualified applicants
34 within a specified timeframe; authorizing boards or
35 the department, as applicable, to require that
36 applicants successfully complete a jurisprudential
37 examination under certain circumstances; requiring the
38 department to submit an annual report to the Governor
39 and the Legislature by a specified date; providing
40 requirements for the report; requiring the boards or
41 the department, as applicable, to adopt certain rules
42 within a specified timeframe; amending ss. 457.105,
43 458.313, 464.009, 464.203, 465.0075, 467.0125,
44 468.1185, 468.1705, 468.209, 468.213, 468.513, 478.47,
45 480.041, 484.007, 486.081, 486.107, 490.006, and
46 491.006, F.S.; revising licensure by endorsement
47 requirements for the practice of acupuncture,
48 medicine, professional or practical nursing, certified
49 nursing, pharmacy, midwifery, speech-language
50 pathology and audiology, nursing home administration,
51 occupational therapy, dietetics and nutrition,
52 electrology, massage therapy, opticianry, physical
53 therapy, physical therapist assistantship, psychology
54 and school psychology, and clinical social work,
55 marriage and family therapy, and mental health
56 counseling, respectively; amending ss. 486.031 and
57 486.102, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made
58 by the act; authorizing the boards or the Department
59 of Health, as applicable, to continue processing
60 applications for licensure by endorsement, as
61 authorized under the Florida Statutes (2023), for a
62 specified timeframe; providing an effective date.
63
64 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
65
66 Section 1. Section 455.2135, Florida Statutes, is created
67 to read:
68 455.2135 Interstate mobility.—
69 (1) When endorsement based on years of licensure is not
70 otherwise provided by law in the practice act for a profession,
71 the board, or the department if there is no board, shall allow
72 licensure by endorsement for any individual applying who:
73 (a) Has held a valid, current license to practice the
74 profession issued by another state or territory of the United
75 States for at least 5 years before the date of application and
76 is applying for the same or similar license in this state;
77 (b) Submits an application either when the license in
78 another state or territory is active or within 2 years after
79 such license was last active;
80 (c) Has passed the recognized national licensing exam, if
81 such exam is established as a requirement for licensure in the
82 profession;
83 (d) Has no pending disciplinary actions and all sanctions
84 of any prior disciplinary actions have been satisfied;
85 (e) Shows proof of compliance with any federal regulation,
86 training, or certification, if the board or the department
87 requires such proof, regarding licensure in the profession;
88 (f) Completes Florida-specific continuing education courses
89 or passes a jurisprudential examination specific to the state
90 laws and rules for the applicable profession as established by
91 the board or department; and
92 (g) Complies with any insurance or bonding requirements as
93 required for the profession.
94 (2) If the practice act for a profession requires the
95 submission of fingerprints, the applicant must submit a complete
96 set of fingerprints to the Department of Law Enforcement for a
97 statewide criminal history check. The Department of Law
98 Enforcement shall forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau
99 of Investigation for a national criminal history check. The
100 department shall, and the board may, review the results of the
101 criminal history checks according to the level 2 screening
102 standards in s. 435.04 and determine whether the applicant meets
103 the licensure requirements. The costs of fingerprint processing
104 are borne by the applicant. If the applicant’s fingerprints are
105 submitted through an authorized agency or vendor, the agency or
106 vendor must collect the required processing fees and remit the
107 fees to the Department of Law Enforcement.
108 (3) This section does not apply to harbor pilots licensed
109 under chapter 310.
110 Section 2. Section 456.0145, Florida Statutes, is created
111 to read:
112 456.0145 Mobile Opportunity by Interstate Licensure
113 Endorsement (MOBILE) Act.—
114 (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the “Mobile
115 Opportunity by Interstate Licensure Endorsement Act” or the
116 “MOBILE Act.”
117 (2) LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT.—
118 (a) An applicable board, or the department if there is no
119 board, shall issue a license to practice in this state to an
120 applicant who meets all of the following criteria:
121 1. Submits a complete application.
122 2. Holds an active, unencumbered license issued by another
123 state, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United
124 States in a profession with a similar scope of practice, as
125 determined by the board or department, as applicable. The term
126 “scope of practice” means the full spectrum of functions,
127 procedures, actions, and services that a health care
128 practitioner is deemed competent and authorized to perform under
129 a license issued in this state.
130 3.a. Has obtained a passing score on a national licensure
131 examination or holds a national certification recognized by the
132 board, or the department if there is no board, as applicable to
133 the profession for which the applicant is seeking licensure in
134 this state; or
135 b. Meets the requirements of paragraph (b).
136 4. Has actively practiced the profession for which the
137 applicant is applying for at least 3 years during the 4-year
138 period immediately preceding the date of submission of the
139 application.
140 5. Attests that he or she is not, at the time of submission
141 of the application, the subject of a disciplinary proceeding in
142 a jurisdiction in which he or she holds a license or by the
143 United States Department of Defense for reasons related to the
144 practice of the profession for which he or she is applying.
145 6. Has not had disciplinary action taken against him or her
146 in the 5 years immediately preceding the date of submission of
147 the application.
148 7. Meets the financial responsibility requirements of s.
149 456.048 or the applicable practice act, if required for the
150 profession for which the applicant is seeking licensure.
151 8. Submits a set of fingerprints for a background screening
152 pursuant to s. 456.0135, if required for the profession for
153 which he or she is applying.
154
155 The department shall verify information submitted by the
156 applicant under this subsection using the National Practitioner
157 Data Bank, as applicable.
158 (b) An applicant for a profession that does not require a
159 national examination or national certification is eligible for
160 licensure if an applicable board, or the department if there is
161 no board, determines that the jurisdiction in which the
162 applicant currently holds an active, unencumbered license meets
163 established minimum education requirements and, if applicable,
164 examination, work experience, and clinical supervision
165 requirements that are substantially similar to the requirements
166 for licensure in that profession in this state.
167 (c) A person is ineligible for a license under this section
168 if the he or she:
169 1. Has a complaint, an allegation, or an investigation
170 pending before a licensing entity in another state, the District
171 of Columbia, or a possession or territory of the United States;
172 2. Has been convicted of or pled nolo contendere to,
173 regardless of adjudication, any felony or misdemeanor related to
174 the practice of a health care profession;
175 3. Has had a health care provider license revoked or
176 suspended by another state, the District of Columbia, or a
177 territory of the United States, or has voluntarily surrendered
178 any such license in lieu of having disciplinary action taken
179 against the license; or
180 4. Has been reported to the National Practitioner Data
181 Bank, unless the applicant has successfully appealed to have his
182 or her name removed from the data bank.
183 (d) The board, or the department if there is no board, may
184 revoke a license upon finding that the licensee provided false
185 or misleading material information or intentionally omitted
186 material information in an application for licensure.
187 (e) The board, or the department if there is no board,
188 shall issue a license to a qualified applicant within 7 days
189 after receipt of all documentation required for an application.
190 (3) STATE EXAMINATION.—The board, or the department if
191 there is no board, may require an applicant to successfully
192 complete a jurisprudential examination specific to state laws
193 and rules that regulate the applicable profession, if this
194 chapter or the applicable practice act requires such
195 examination.
196 (4) ANNUAL REPORT.—By December 31 of each year, the
197 department shall submit a report to the Governor, the President
198 of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
199 which provides all of the following information for the previous
200 fiscal year, distinguished by profession:
201 (a) The number of applications for licensure received under
202 this section.
203 (b) The number of licenses issued under this section.
204 (c) The number of applications submitted under this section
205 which were denied and the reason for such denials.
206 (d) The number of complaints, investigations, or other
207 disciplinary actions taken against health care practitioners who
208 are licensed under this section.
209 (5) RULES.—Each applicable board, or the department if
210 there is no board, shall adopt rules to implement this section
211 within 6 months after this section’s effective date, including
212 rules relating to legislative intent under s. 456.025(1) and the
213 requirements of s. 456.025(3).
214 Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
215 457.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
216 457.105 Licensure qualifications and fees.—
217 (2) A person may become licensed to practice acupuncture if
218 the person applies to the department and:
219 (c) Has successfully completed a board-approved national
220 certification process, meets the requirements for licensure by
221 endorsement under s. 456.0145 is actively licensed in a state
222 that has examination requirements that are substantially
223 equivalent to or more stringent than those of this state, or
224 passes an examination administered by the department, which
225 examination tests the applicant’s competency and knowledge of
226 the practice of acupuncture and oriental medicine. At the
227 request of any applicant, oriental nomenclature for the points
228 shall be used in the examination. The examination shall include
229 a practical examination of the knowledge and skills required to
230 practice modern and traditional acupuncture and oriental
231 medicine, covering diagnostic and treatment techniques and
232 procedures; and
233 Section 4. Section 458.313, Florida Statutes, is amended to
234 read:
235 (Substantial rewording of section. See
236 s. 458.313, F.S., for present text.)
237 458.313 Licensure by endorsement; requirements; fees.—The
238 department shall issue a license by endorsement to any applicant
239 who, upon applying to the department on forms furnished by the
240 department and remitting a fee set by the board in an amount not
241 to exceed $500, the board certifies has met the requirements for
242 licensure by endorsement under s. 456.0145.
243 Section 5. Section 464.009, Florida Statutes, is amended to
244 read:
245 (Substantial rewording of section. See
246 s. 464.009, F.S., for present text.)
247 464.009 Licensure by endorsement.—
248 (1) The department shall issue the appropriate license by
249 endorsement to practice professional or practical nursing to any
250 applicant who, upon applying to the department and remitting a
251 fee set by the board in an amount not to exceed $100,
252 demonstrates to the board that he or she meets the requirements
253 for licensure by endorsement under s. 456.0145.
254 (2) A person holding an active multistate license in
255 another state pursuant to s. 464.0095 is exempt from the
256 requirements for licensure by endorsement in this section.
257 Section 6. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
258 464.203, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
259 464.203 Certified nursing assistants; certification
260 requirement.—
261 (1) The board shall issue a certificate to practice as a
262 certified nursing assistant to any person who demonstrates a
263 minimum competency to read and write and successfully passes the
264 required background screening pursuant to s. 400.215. If the
265 person has successfully passed the required background screening
266 pursuant to s. 400.215 or s. 408.809 within 90 days before
267 applying for a certificate to practice and the person’s
268 background screening results are not retained in the
269 clearinghouse created under s. 435.12, the board shall waive the
270 requirement that the applicant successfully pass an additional
271 background screening pursuant to s. 400.215. The person must
272 also meet one of the following requirements:
273 (c) Has been deemed by the board as eligible for licensure
274 by endorsement under s. 456.0145 Is currently certified in
275 another state or territory of the United States or in the
276 District of Columbia; is listed on that jurisdiction’s certified
277 nursing assistant registry; and has not been found to have
278 committed abuse, neglect, or exploitation in that jurisdiction.
279 Section 7. Section 465.0075, Florida Statutes, is amended
280 to read:
281 (Substantial rewording of section. See
282 s. 465.0075, F.S., for present text.)
283 465.0075 Licensure by endorsement; requirements; fee.—The
284 department shall issue a license by endorsement to any applicant
285 who, upon applying to the department and remitting a
286 nonrefundable fee set by the board in an amount not to exceed
287 $100, the board certifies has met the requirements for licensure
288 by endorsement under s. 456.0145.
289 Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 467.0125, Florida
290 Statutes, is amended to read:
291 467.0125 Licensed midwives; qualifications; endorsement;
292 temporary certificates.—
293 (1) The department shall issue a license by endorsement to
294 practice midwifery to an applicant who, upon applying to the
295 department, demonstrates to the department that she or he meets
296 all of the requirements for licensure by endorsement under s.
297 456.0145, following criteria:
298 (a) Holds an active, unencumbered license to practice
299 midwifery in another state, jurisdiction, or territory, provided
300 the licensing requirements of that state, jurisdiction, or
301 territory at the time the license was issued were substantially
302 equivalent to or exceeded those established under this chapter
303 and the rules adopted hereunder.
304 (b) Has successfully completed a prelicensure course
305 conducted by an accredited and approved midwifery program.
306 (c) submits an application for licensure on a form approved
307 by the department, and pays the appropriate fee.
308 Section 9. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 468.1185,
309 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
310 468.1185 Licensure.—
311 (3) The board shall certify as qualified for a license by
312 endorsement as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist an
313 applicant who:
314 (a) Holds a valid license or certificate in another state
315 or territory of the United States to practice the profession for
316 which the application for licensure is made, if the criteria for
317 issuance of such license were substantially equivalent to or
318 more stringent than the licensure criteria which existed in this
319 state at the time the license was issued; or
320 (b) Holds a valid certificate of clinical competence of the
321 American Speech-Language and Hearing Association or board
322 certification in audiology from the American Board of Audiology.
323 (3)(4) The board may refuse to certify any person applying
324 for licensure under this section applicant who is under
325 investigation in any jurisdiction for an act which would
326 constitute a violation of this part or chapter 456 until the
327 investigation is complete and disciplinary proceedings have been
328 terminated.
329 Section 10. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
330 468.1705, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
331 468.1705 Licensure by endorsement; temporary license.—
332 (1) The department shall issue a license by endorsement to
333 any applicant who, upon applying to the department and remitting
334 a fee set by the board not to exceed $500, demonstrates to the
335 board that he or she meets the requirements for licensure by
336 endorsement under s. 456.0145:
337 (a) Meets one of the following requirements:
338 1. Holds a valid active license to practice nursing home
339 administration in another state of the United States, provided
340 that the current requirements for licensure in that state are
341 substantially equivalent to, or more stringent than, current
342 requirements in this state; or
343 2. Meets the qualifications for licensure in s. 468.1695;
344 and
345 (b)1. Has successfully completed a national examination
346 which is substantially equivalent to, or more stringent than,
347 the examination given by the department;
348 2. Has passed an examination on the laws and rules of this
349 state governing the administration of nursing homes; and
350 3. Has worked as a fully licensed nursing home
351 administrator for 2 years within the 5-year period immediately
352 preceding the application by endorsement.
353 (2) National examinations for licensure as a nursing home
354 administrator shall be presumed to be substantially equivalent
355 to, or more stringent than, the examination and requirements in
356 this state, unless found otherwise by rule of the board.
357 (2)(3) The department may shall not issue a license by
358 endorsement or a temporary license to any applicant who is under
359 investigation in this or another state for any act which would
360 constitute a violation of this part until such time as the
361 investigation is complete and disciplinary proceedings have been
362 terminated.
363 Section 11. Subsection (3) of section 468.209, Florida
364 Statutes, is amended to read:
365 468.209 Requirements for licensure.—
366 (3) If the board determines that an applicant is qualified
367 to be licensed by endorsement under s. 456.0145 s. 468.213, the
368 board may issue the applicant a temporary permit to practice
369 occupational therapy until the next board meeting at which
370 license applications are to be considered, but not for a longer
371 period of time. Only one temporary permit by endorsement shall
372 be issued to an applicant, and it shall not be renewable.
373 Section 12. Section 468.213, Florida Statutes, is amended
374 to read:
375 468.213 Licensure by endorsement; waiver of examination
376 requirement.—
377 (1) The board may waive the examination and grant a license
378 to any person who meets the requirements for licensure by
379 endorsement under s. 456.0145 presents proof of current
380 certification as an occupational therapist or occupational
381 therapy assistant by a national certifying organization if the
382 board determines the requirements for such certification to be
383 equivalent to the requirements for licensure in this act.
384 (2) The board may waive the examination and grant a license
385 to any applicant who presents proof of current licensure as an
386 occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant in a
387 another state, the District of Columbia, or any territory or
388 jurisdiction of the United States or foreign national
389 jurisdiction which requires standards for licensure determined
390 by the board to be equivalent to the requirements for licensure
391 in this part act.
392 Section 13. Section 468.513, Florida Statutes, is amended
393 to read:
394 468.513 Dietitian/nutritionist; licensure by endorsement.—
395 (1) The department shall issue a license to practice
396 dietetics and nutrition by endorsement to any applicant who
397 meets the requirements for licensure by endorsement under s.
398 456.0145 the board certifies as qualified, upon receipt of a
399 completed application and the fee specified in s. 468.508.
400 (2) The board shall certify as qualified for licensure by
401 endorsement under this section any applicant who:
402 (a) Presents evidence satisfactory to the board that he or
403 she is a registered dietitian; or
404 (b) Holds a valid license to practice dietetics or
405 nutrition issued by another state, district, or territory of the
406 United States, if the criteria for issuance of such license are
407 determined by the board to be substantially equivalent to or
408 more stringent than those of this state.
409 (3) The department shall not issue a license by endorsement
410 under this section to any applicant who is under investigation
411 in any jurisdiction for any act which would constitute a
412 violation of this part or chapter 456 until such time as the
413 investigation is complete and disciplinary proceedings have been
414 terminated.
415 Section 14. Section 478.47, Florida Statutes, is amended to
416 read:
417 478.47 Licensure by endorsement.—The department shall issue
418 a license by endorsement to any applicant who, upon submitting
419 submits an application and the required fees as set forth in s.
420 478.55, demonstrates to the board that he or she meets the
421 requirements for licensure by endorsement under s. 456.0145 and
422 who holds an active license or other authority to practice
423 electrology in a jurisdiction whose licensure requirements are
424 determined by the board to be equivalent to the requirements for
425 licensure in this state.
426 Section 15. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
427 480.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
428 480.041 Massage therapists; qualifications; licensure;
429 endorsement.—
430 (5) The board shall adopt rules:
431 (c) Specifying licensing procedures for practitioners
432 desiring to be licensed in this state who meet the requirements
433 for licensure by endorsement under s. 456.0145 or hold an active
434 license and have practiced in any other state, territory, or
435 jurisdiction of the United States or any foreign national
436 jurisdiction which has licensing standards substantially similar
437 to, equivalent to, or more stringent than the standards of this
438 state.
439 Section 16. Present subsections (3) and (4) of section
440 484.007, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (4)
441 and (5), respectively, a new subsection (3) is added to that
442 section, and subsection (1) of that section is amended, to read:
443 484.007 Licensure of opticians; permitting of optical
444 establishments.—
445 (1) Any person desiring to practice opticianry shall apply
446 to the department, upon forms prescribed by it, to take a
447 licensure examination. The department shall examine each
448 applicant who the board certifies meets all of the following
449 criteria:
450 (a) Has completed the application form and remitted a
451 nonrefundable application fee set by the board, in the amount of
452 $100 or less, and an examination fee set by the board, in the
453 amount of $325 plus the actual per applicant cost to the
454 department for purchase of portions of the examination from the
455 American Board of Opticianry or a similar national organization,
456 or less, and refundable if the board finds the applicant
457 ineligible to take the examination.;
458 (b) Is not younger less than 18 years of age.;
459 (c) Is a graduate of an accredited high school or possesses
460 a certificate of equivalency of a high school education.; and
461 (d)1. Has received an associate degree, or its equivalent,
462 in opticianry from an educational institution the curriculum of
463 which is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized and
464 approved by the United States Department of Education or the
465 Council on Postsecondary Education or approved by the board;
466 2. Is an individual licensed to practice the profession of
467 opticianry pursuant to a regulatory licensing law of another
468 state, territory, or jurisdiction of the United States, who has
469 actively practiced in such other state, territory, or
470 jurisdiction for more than 3 years immediately preceding
471 application, and who meets the examination qualifications as
472 provided in this subsection;
473 3. Is an individual who has actively practiced in another
474 state, territory, or jurisdiction of the United States for more
475 than 5 years immediately preceding application and who provides
476 tax or business records, affidavits, or other satisfactory
477 documentation of such practice and who meets the examination
478 qualifications as provided in this subsection; or
479 2.4. Has registered as an apprentice with the department
480 and paid a registration fee not to exceed $60, as set by rule of
481 the board. The apprentice shall complete 6,240 hours of training
482 under the supervision of an optician licensed in this state for
483 at least 1 year or of a physician or optometrist licensed under
484 the laws of this state. These requirements must be met within 5
485 years after the date of registration. However, any time spent in
486 a recognized school may be considered as part of the
487 apprenticeship program provided herein. The board may establish
488 administrative processing fees sufficient to cover the cost of
489 administering apprentice rules as promulgated by the board.
490 (3) The board shall certify to the department for licensure
491 by endorsement any applicant who meets the requirements for
492 licensure by endorsement under s. 456.0145.
493 Section 17. Section 486.081, Florida Statutes, is amended
494 to read:
495 486.081 Physical therapist; issuance of license by
496 endorsement; issuance of license without examination to person
497 passing examination of another authorized examining board in a
498 foreign country; fee.—
499 (1) The board may cause a license by endorsement to be
500 issued through the department without examination to any
501 applicant who meets the requirements for licensure by
502 endorsement under s. 456.0145 or, without examination, to any
503 applicant who presents evidence satisfactory to the board of
504 having passed the American Registry Examination prior to 1971 or
505 an examination in physical therapy before a similar lawfully
506 authorized examining board of another state, the District of
507 Columbia, a territory, or a foreign country, if the standards
508 for licensure in physical therapy in such other state, district,
509 territory, or foreign country are determined by the board to be
510 as high as those of this state, as established by rules adopted
511 pursuant to this chapter. Any person who holds a license
512 pursuant to this section may use the words “physical therapist”
513 or “physiotherapist” or the letters “P.T.” in connection with
514 her or his name or place of business to denote her or his
515 licensure hereunder. A person who holds a license pursuant to
516 this section and obtains a doctoral degree in physical therapy
517 may use the letters “D.P.T.” and “P.T.” A physical therapist who
518 holds a degree of Doctor of Physical Therapy may not use the
519 title “doctor” without also clearly informing the public of his
520 or her profession as a physical therapist.
521 (2) At the time of making application for licensure under
522 without examination pursuant to the terms of this section, the
523 applicant shall pay to the department a nonrefundable fee set by
524 the board in an amount not to exceed $175 as fixed by the board,
525 no part of which will be returned.
526 Section 18. Section 486.107, Florida Statutes, is amended
527 to read:
528 486.107 Physical therapist assistant; issuance of license
529 by endorsement without examination to person licensed in another
530 jurisdiction; fee.—
531 (1) The board may cause a license by endorsement to be
532 issued through the department without examination to any
533 applicant who presents evidence to the board, under oath, of
534 meeting the requirements for licensure by endorsement under s.
535 456.0145 licensure in another state, the District of Columbia,
536 or a territory, if the standards for registering as a physical
537 therapist assistant or licensing of a physical therapist
538 assistant, as the case may be, in such other state are
539 determined by the board to be as high as those of this state, as
540 established by rules adopted pursuant to this chapter. Any
541 person who holds a license pursuant to this section may use the
542 words “physical therapist assistant,” or the letters “P.T.A.,”
543 in connection with her or his name to denote licensure
544 hereunder.
545 (2) At the time of making application for licensure by
546 endorsement under licensing without examination pursuant to the
547 terms of this section, the applicant shall pay to the department
548 a nonrefundable fee set by the board in an amount not to exceed
549 $175 as fixed by the board, no part of which will be returned.
550 Section 19. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
551 490.006, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
552 490.006 Licensure by endorsement.—
553 (1) The department shall license a person as a psychologist
554 or school psychologist who, upon applying to the department and
555 remitting the appropriate fee, demonstrates to the department
556 or, in the case of psychologists, to the board that the
557 applicant meets the requirements for licensure by endorsement
558 under s. 456.0145:
559 (a) Is a diplomate in good standing with the American Board
560 of Professional Psychology, Inc.; or
561 (b) Possesses a doctoral degree in psychology and has at
562 least 10 years of experience as a licensed psychologist in any
563 jurisdiction or territory of the United States within the 25
564 years preceding the date of application.
565 (2) In addition to meeting the requirements for licensure
566 set forth in subsection (1), an applicant must pass that portion
567 of the psychology or school psychology licensure examinations
568 pertaining to the laws and rules related to the practice of
569 psychology or school psychology in this state before the
570 department may issue a license to the applicant.
571 (3) The department shall not issue a license by endorsement
572 to any applicant who is under investigation in this or another
573 jurisdiction for an act which would constitute a violation of
574 this chapter until such time as the investigation is complete,
575 at which time the provisions of s. 490.009 shall apply.
576 Section 20. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 491.006,
577 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
578 491.006 Licensure or certification by endorsement.—
579 (1) The department shall license or grant a certificate to
580 a person in a profession regulated by this chapter who, upon
581 applying to the department and remitting the appropriate fee,
582 demonstrates to the board that he or she meets the requirements
583 for licensure by endorsement under s. 456.0145:
584 (a) Has demonstrated, in a manner designated by rule of the
585 board, knowledge of the laws and rules governing the practice of
586 clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental
587 health counseling.
588 (b)1. Holds an active valid license to practice and has
589 actively practiced the licensed profession in another state for
590 3 of the last 5 years immediately preceding licensure;
591 2. Has passed a substantially equivalent licensing
592 examination in another state or has passed the licensure
593 examination in this state in the profession for which the
594 applicant seeks licensure; and
595 3. Holds a license in good standing, is not under
596 investigation for an act that would constitute a violation of
597 this chapter, and has not been found to have committed any act
598 that would constitute a violation of this chapter.
599 (2) The fees paid by any applicant for certification as a
600 master social worker under this section are nonrefundable.
601 (2) The department shall not issue a license or certificate
602 by endorsement to any applicant who is under investigation in
603 this or another jurisdiction for an act which would constitute a
604 violation of this chapter until such time as the investigation
605 is complete, at which time the provisions of s. 491.009 shall
606 apply.
607 Section 21. Subsection (3) of section 486.031, Florida
608 Statutes, is amended to read:
609 486.031 Physical therapist; licensing requirements.—To be
610 eligible for licensing as a physical therapist, an applicant
611 must:
612 (3)(a) Have been graduated from a school of physical
613 therapy which has been approved for the educational preparation
614 of physical therapists by the appropriate accrediting agency
615 recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary
616 Accreditation or the United States Department of Education at
617 the time of her or his graduation and have passed, to the
618 satisfaction of the board, the American Registry Examination
619 prior to 1971 or a national examination approved by the board to
620 determine her or his fitness for practice as a physical
621 therapist as hereinafter provided;
622 (b) Have received a diploma from a program in physical
623 therapy in a foreign country and have educational credentials
624 deemed equivalent to those required for the educational
625 preparation of physical therapists in this country, as
626 recognized by the appropriate agency as identified by the board,
627 and have passed to the satisfaction of the board an examination
628 to determine her or his fitness for practice as a physical
629 therapist as hereinafter provided; or
630 (c) Be entitled to licensure by endorsement or without
631 examination as provided in s. 486.081.
632 Section 22. Subsection (3) of section 486.102, Florida
633 Statutes, is amended to read:
634 486.102 Physical therapist assistant; licensing
635 requirements.—To be eligible for licensing by the board as a
636 physical therapist assistant, an applicant must:
637 (3)(a) Have been graduated from a school giving a course of
638 not less than 2 years for physical therapist assistants, which
639 has been approved for the educational preparation of physical
640 therapist assistants by the appropriate accrediting agency
641 recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary
642 Accreditation or the United States Department of Education, at
643 the time of her or his graduation and have passed to the
644 satisfaction of the board an examination to determine her or his
645 fitness for practice as a physical therapist assistant as
646 hereinafter provided;
647 (b) Have been graduated from a school giving a course for
648 physical therapist assistants in a foreign country and have
649 educational credentials deemed equivalent to those required for
650 the educational preparation of physical therapist assistants in
651 this country, as recognized by the appropriate agency as
652 identified by the board, and passed to the satisfaction of the
653 board an examination to determine her or his fitness for
654 practice as a physical therapist assistant as hereinafter
655 provided;
656 (c) Be entitled to licensure by endorsement without
657 examination as provided in s. 486.107; or
658 (d) Have been enrolled between July 1, 2014, and July 1,
659 2016, in a physical therapist assistant school in this state
660 which was accredited at the time of enrollment; and
661 1. Have been graduated or be eligible to graduate from such
662 school no later than July 1, 2018; and
663 2. Have passed to the satisfaction of the board an
664 examination to determine his or her fitness for practice as a
665 physical therapist assistant as provided in s. 486.104.
666 Section 23. Notwithstanding the changes made to the Florida
667 Statutes (2023) by this act, a board as defined in s. 456.001,
668 Florida Statutes, or the Department of Health, as applicable,
669 may continue processing applications for licensure by
670 endorsement as authorized under the Florida Statutes (2023)
671 until the rules adopted by such board or the department to
672 implement the changes made by this act take effect or until 6
673 months after the effective date of this act, whichever occurs
674 first.
675 Section 24. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.