The Medical Expert Witness Process: How Lawyers and Physicians Work Together

Osteopathic (DO)

Current licenses expire at midnight on March 31.

FIRST RENEWAL FOR LICENSES ISSUED SUBSEQUENT TO JULY 1 OF THE SECOND YEAR OF THE BIENNIUM FIRST RENEWAL FOR LICENSES ISSUED PRIOR TO JULY 1 OF THE SECOND YEAR OF THE BIENNIUM EVERY RENEWAL THEREAFTER

• One hour of Florida Laws and Rules/ Professional and Medical Ethics (live/ participatory)

• Two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors (live/ participatory) • One hour of Florida Laws and Rules/ Professional and Medical Ethics (live/ participatory)

• Two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors (live/participatory) • One hour of Florida Laws and Rules/ Professional and Medical Ethics (live/ participatory)

• Two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors (live/participatory)

• 40 total continuing medical education (CME) hours, including the required hours above. Of those hours, 20 must be American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Category 1-A hours. These hours may include any required course above if the required course is certified in Category 1-A by the AOA. Only eight total home study hours may be used for renewal requirements. No more than six hours of CME can be used per biennium for attendance at a board meeting. • Two hours of Prescribing Controlled Substances (Only applies to licensees registered with the DEA and authorized to prescribe controlled substances.) • Two hours of Prescribing of Controlled Substances (Only applies to licensees registered with the DEA and authorized to prescribe controlled substances.)

• One hour of HIV/AIDS • Two hours of Domestic Violence (Required every third biennium renewal.)

• 40 total continuing medical education (CME) hours, including the required hours above. Of those hours, 20 must be American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Category 1-A hours. These hours may include any required course above if the required course is certified in Category 1-A by the AOA. Only eight total home study hours may be used for renewal requirements. No more than six hours of CME can be used per biennium for attendance at a board meeting. • 40 total continuing medical education (CME) hours, including the required hours above. Of those hours, 20 must be American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Category 1-A hours. These hours may include any required course above if the required course is certified in Category 1-A by the AOA. Only eight total home study hours may be used for renewal requirements. No more than six hours of CME can be used per biennium for attendance at a board meeting.

EXEMPTIONS FOR MDs AND DOs

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. This also includes 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 and https://flboardofmedicine.gov/renewals.

Podiatric Physician (DPM)

Current licenses expire at midnight on March 31.

FIRST RENEWAL

• One full day at a Florida Board of Podiatric Medicine meeting at which disciplinary hearings are conducted as provided in subsection 64B18-17.005, F.A.C.

• Two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors

• One hour of Human Trafficking

• One hour of HIV/AIDS EVERY RENEWAL THEREAFTER

• 36 CE hours

• Two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors

• One hour of Laws and Rules

• One hour of Risk Management

• Two hours of Safe and Effective Prescribing of Controlled Substances (Included within the 36 total general hours required.)

• One hour of Human Trafficking (The one-time human trafficking course shall apply to all licensees and is required of new applicants in their first renewal biennium, as well as, of licensees renewing to active status if the course has not already been taken. The 1-hour course is included in the 36 total general hours required.)

• One hour of HIV/AIDS (Included in the 36 total general hours required.)

Physician Assistants

Licenses for physician assistants expire at midnight, Eastern Time, on 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 ten 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 SECOND RENEWALS AND BEYOND

• 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 • Two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors

• Two hours of Domestic Violence (Required every third biennium, included in the total 100 hours required.)

• 98 general CME Hours

There are options for you if you are not ready to give up practicing medicine but also are not ready to retire. When your medical license is placed in retirement status, you are prohibited from practicing any form of medicine. Yet, if your license is converted to a limited license status, you can still practice medicine on a volunteer basis to provide uncompensated care for low-income residents. A limited license is restricted to areas of critical need. Since physicians are working without compensation under the limited license status, license renewal fees are waived.

Nursing

All Florida-licensed registered nurses (RN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) are in a two-year licensure cycle.

FIRST RENEWAL EVERY RENEWAL THEREAFTER

• For the first renewal, LPNs and RNs initially licensed by examination during the current biennium are exempt from general CEU requirements. • Two hours of Florida Laws and Rules

• 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. • Two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors

• 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.

Dentistry

Dental licenses must be renewed no later than midnight on Feb. 28.

FIRST RENEWAL EVERY RENEWAL THEREAFTER

• Two hours of HIV/AIDS

• Two hours of Prescribing Controlled Substances • Current CPR certification (Must be a live course.)

• Two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors

• Two hours of Safe and Effective Prescribing of Controlled Substances (May be included in the 30 total general hours required.)

• Two hours of Domestic Violence (Due every third biennium.)

• 28 CE hours • 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. Licenses that expired as of Jan. 1, 2019 are required to complete the course every renewal/biennium.)

• Two hours of Domestic Violence (Required every third biennium in addition to the 24 hours required for renewal.)

• 16 general CE hours