Florida Nursing License Requirements 2026
Florida licenses RNs and LPNs through the Florida Board of Nursing. Graduates of approved programs apply by examination and pass the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN through Pearson VUE. Out-of-state nurses with an active license apply by endorsement. Florida is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, meaning a multistate license is valid here without a separate Florida application.
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The Florida Board of Nursing licenses both registered nurses and practical nurses and sets the rules for nursing practice statewide. For candidates trained in Florida, the process starts with a Board-approved or accredited program and ends with an NCLEX pass, but there are several steps in between, including Livescan fingerprinting, an application through the Florida Health Source portal, and Pearson VUE registration before you can be authorized to test.
Florida has been a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state since 2018. That changes the calculation for nurses moving to Florida from another compact state, and for out-of-state compact license holders who want to practice in Florida without applying for a separate license.
This page covers LPN and RN licensure by examination and by endorsement. For certified nursing assistant requirements, see CNA requirements in Florida. For advanced practice licensure, see Florida ARNP requirements.
Use the links below to jump to the section you need.
- LPN Requirements in Florida
- RN License Requirements in Florida
- Out-of-State Applicants and Endorsement
- Florida and the Nurse Licensure Compact
- License Renewal in Florida
- Resources
LPN Requirements in Florida
LPN Education Requirements
Florida requires LPN candidates to complete an approved practical nursing program. The Florida Board approves programs operating within the state. Programs accredited by the ACEN (formerly NLNAC) or by another state board are also acceptable, as are military programs that have been issued an NCLEX code by the NCSBN.
One route is specific to Florida: the Practical Nursing Equivalency, or PNEQ. Students who begin a professional nursing program at the RN level may qualify for LPN licensure if their completed coursework is equivalent to a full practical nursing program. This is a narrow path, but it’s worth knowing if you’re already enrolled in an RN program and want LPN credentials before completing the full degree.
For help evaluating accredited options, see “Choosing an LPN Program in Florida” or “Becoming an LPN in Florida” for a full overview of the path.
LPN Application Process and the NCLEX-PN
Once you complete an approved program, you apply through the Florida Health Source portal at flhealthsource.gov. The application includes Livescan electronic fingerprinting. Make sure you have the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) number so prints reach the Florida Board. The Board reviews your application and, once eligible, notifies Pearson VUE. You then receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) and can schedule your NCLEX-PN.
If you don’t pass after three attempts at the same exam level, regardless of jurisdiction, you must complete a Florida Board-approved remedial training program before applying for a fourth attempt. The program includes both classroom and clinical components.
Current application fees are listed on the Florida Board of Nursing website. Fees are subject to change.
Out-of-State LPNs Seeking Florida Licensure
LPNs licensed in other jurisdictions apply by endorsement and provide verification of their existing license. Those who passed the NCLEX don’t need to retake it. Candidates licensed in another state based on passing a different exam generally must take the NCLEX, with one exception: Florida accepts California’s former state-specific exam. Canadian LPNs who are not already licensed in a U.S. state or territory must apply by examination.
RN License Requirements in Florida
RN Education Requirements
Candidates for RN licensure must graduate from a professional nursing program approved by the Florida Board of Nursing or accredited by ACEN or CCNE. Florida runs its own approval process for programs operating within the state. Both national accrediting bodies, ACEN and CCNE, are recognized as meeting Florida’s standards.
For help selecting a program, see Choosing an RN Program in Florida. For a broader look at what the RN role involves in this state, see RN career paths in Florida.
The NCLEX-RN and Application Process
The process mirrors the LPN path. Apply through the Florida Health Source portal, complete Livescan fingerprinting with the correct ORI number, and wait for Board review. Once the Board approves your application, it notifies Pearson VUE, and you receive your ATT. After passing the NCLEX-RN, your license is typically issued within 7 to 10 business days.
Three failed attempts at the NCLEX-RN require completion of a Board-approved remedial program before a fourth attempt. Current fees are listed on the Board site.
Out-of-State Applicants for RN Licensure in Florida
Applicants already licensed as an RN in another U.S. state or territory may apply by endorsement through the Florida Health Source portal. You’ll need license verification from both your current licensing state and your original state, if different. Nursys handles verification for most states. Military spouses may apply for temporary licensure using standard documents, military orders, and proof of marriage, and must hold an active, unencumbered license in another jurisdiction.
International candidates whose education falls outside the NCSBN’s jurisdiction must apply to take the NCLEX. Canadian RNs who took the CNATS before August 8, 1995, may qualify for endorsement if their scores fall within an acceptable range. Those who took the exam after that date must take the NCLEX unless already licensed in another U.S. state. Candidates whose nursing coursework was not completed in English must demonstrate English competency through an accepted exam.
Out-of-State Applicants and Endorsement
The endorsement process in Florida is consistent across LPN and RN applicants. You apply through Florida Health Source, provide license verification, complete fingerprinting, and meet Florida’s background check requirements. If your license was issued on the basis of passing the NCLEX or a recognized equivalent, you won’t need to test again.
One scenario worth knowing: if your primary state of residence is another NLC compact state and you’re not relocating to Florida, your existing multistate license already authorizes practice in Florida. You don’t apply for a Florida endorsement unless Florida becomes your primary residence.
Florida and the Nurse Licensure Compact
Florida joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2018. The NLC allows nurses with a multistate license to practice in any member state without applying for a separate license in each one.
If Florida is your primary state of residence, you apply for a Florida multistate license rather than a single-state license. That license covers practice in all other NLC member states. If your primary residence is already in another compact state, your current multistate license covers Florida. No separate application is needed unless you establish Florida as your home state.
Nurses who held a single-state Florida license before the compact took effect can apply to convert to a multistate license through the Florida Board of Nursing.
License Renewal in Florida
Florida nursing licenses renew on a two-year cycle. RNs and LPNs must complete 24 continuing education hours each renewal period. Several topics are mandatory regardless of how you accumulate the rest of your hours:
- Florida laws and rules: 2 hours
- Prevention of medical errors: 2 hours
- Human trafficking awareness: 2 hours
- Recognizing impairment in the workplace: 2 hours (required every other renewal)
- Domestic violence: 2 hours (required every third renewal)
- HIV/AIDS awareness: 1 hour (required at first renewal only)
Florida uses CE Broker as its official continuing education tracking system. Nurses are responsible for ensuring the required CE is properly reported and documented. Renewal applications are submitted through the Florida Health Source portal. Always verify current renewal requirements with the Florida Board of Nursing before renewing, as requirements are periodically updated.
Resources
Florida Nurses Foundation
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Florida accept out-of-state nursing licenses?
Yes. Nurses licensed in another U.S. state may apply for Florida licensure by endorsement without retaking the NCLEX. If you hold a compact multistate license and Florida is not your primary state of residence, your existing license authorizes you to practice in Florida.
What is PNEQ in Florida nursing?
PNEQ stands for Practical Nursing Equivalency. It applies to students enrolled in a professional RN-level nursing program who have completed coursework equivalent to a full practical nursing program. Florida allows these students to apply for LPN licensure through the PNEQ route rather than enrolling in a separate LPN program.
How many times can you fail the NCLEX in Florida?
After three failed attempts at the same exam level, Florida requires candidates to complete a Board-approved remedial training program, which covers both classroom and clinical components, before applying for a fourth attempt.
Is Florida a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Florida joined the NLC in 2018. Nurses with a multistate compact license can practice in Florida without a separate endorsement, provided Florida is not their primary state of residence. If Florida is your primary residence, you apply for a Florida multistate license.
How do I renew my Florida nursing license?
Florida nursing licenses renew every two years. RNs and LPNs must complete 24 CE hours with mandatory topics, reported through CE Broker, then submit a renewal application through the Florida Health Source portal.
Key Takeaways
- Apply through Florida Health Source — The current application portal for both examination and endorsement applicants is flhealthsource.gov. The former appsmqa portal is no longer in use.
- Florida is an NLC member state — Nurses with a compact multistate license can practice in Florida without a separate endorsement unless Florida is their primary state of residence.
- Three NCLEX failures require remediation — After three failed attempts at either level, candidates must complete a Board-approved classroom and clinical program before a fourth attempt.
- PNEQ is a Florida-specific LPN route — RN program students can apply for LPN credentials through the Practical Nursing Equivalency option if their completed coursework qualifies.
- CE renewal is every two years — RNs and LPNs need 24 hours of CE tracked through CE Broker, with mandatory topics including Florida laws and rules, medical errors, and human trafficking.
Find Florida-approved nursing programs, compare accreditation status, and get application links for the Florida Board of Nursing.