Continuing Education: Requirements & Licensure Renewal
Exemptions: Any licensee who is a member of the U.S. military on active duty who was in good standing with the board at the time of becoming active and was entitled to practice or engage in the practice of medicine in Florida may be eligible to be exempted from renewal requirements for the duration of active duty, and for a period of six months after discharge, but not practicing the profession in the private sector for profit. For more exemptions, visit https://floridasosteopathicmedicine.gov/ renewals.
Retirement Status for Licenses If you are a physician considering retirement but are not ready to give up the practice of medicine, you may be questioning your options. Placing your license in retirement status prohibits you from practicing medicine in any form, but there is another option. Physicians can convert their full medical license to a limited license, in order to practice on a volunteer basis. Physicians with limited licenses who are working without compensation are not required to pay renewal fees. Limited licenses, however, are restricted to areas of critical need.
Physician Assistants Licenses for physician assistants expire Jan. 31 of even-numbered years. Prescribing physician assistants must complete 10 hours of CME in each specialty area of the supervising physician. These hours are included in the 98 general CME. Effective January 1, 2017, three of the 10 specialty hours must consist of a course on the safe and effective prescribing of controlled substance medications given by a statewide professional association of physicians in this state accredited to provide educational activities designated for the American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award Category I credit or designated by the American Academy of Physician Assistants as a Category I credit. First renewal:
• One hour of HIV/AIDS (Must be Category I.)
• Two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors
• 97 general CME hours or current National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certification
• Every renewal thereafter: • Two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors
• Two hours of Domestic Violence (Required every third biennium, included in the total 100 hours required.)
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• One hour of Human Trafficking (May be included in the total general hours required and must be completed by Jan. 1, 2021.)
• 98 general CME hours Nursing All Florida-licensed registered nurses (RN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) are in a two-year licensure cycle. First renewal: For the first renewal, LPNs and RNs initially licensed by examination during the current biennium are exempt from general CEU requirements. LPNs and RNs initially licensed by endorsement during the current biennium and took the exam in another state within the biennium are also exempt from general CEU hours. Both those licensees must complete two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors, two hours of Florida Laws and Rules, two hours of Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace, two hours of Human Trafficking, and one
hour of HIV/AIDS. Initial licenses that were issued for less than 24 months are required to complete one hour for each month that the license was valid for. First licenses are not generally valid for a full two years. If your Florida license was not issued for the full two-year biennium you must complete one hour of CE for each month that you hold the license. Every renewal thereafter:
• Two hours of Florida Laws and Rules
• Two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors
• Two hours of Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace (Required every other renewal.)
• Two hours of Human Trafficking (Does not have to be a Florida Board of Nursing approved course. Became effective October 1, 2017. Licenses expiring after Jan. 1, 2019 are required to complete the course every renewal/biennium.)
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