Working in Florida on an out-of-state nursing license
Last verified against Florida Board of Nursing.
The five facts
- Compact status
- Member (implemented), January 19, 2018
- Endorsement fee
- $110
- Temporary permit
- None
- Processing
- Up to 10 business days for initial review; license issued within 7 days once all requirements are met. Florida law requires an initial review within 30 days.
- Portal
- MQA Online Services
Check your own licence against Florida
Your Texas multistate license already authorizes practice in Florida.
- No Florida application, fee, or verification is required.
- You practice under Florida's nurse practice act while your patient is located there.
- Keep your Texas license active and unencumbered; a restriction in any state suspends the multistate privilege everywhere.
- Earliest start
- Today
- Fee
- $0
Data as of September 2, 2026.
Nothing you enter here is stored. Trust keeps credentials on your phone, not on our servers.
If you hold a multistate license
Florida honors it. You can work in Florida today, in person or by telehealth, with no Florida application, fee, or verification. You follow the Florida nurse practice act while your patient is located in Florida.
If you move your primary residence to Florida you have 60 days after the move to apply for a Florida license by endorsement (NLC Rule 402(2), effective January 2, 2024). Your former multistate license is deactivated when the Florida license issues — you do not hold two.
Licensure by endorsement in Florida
- 01
Open a MQA Online Services account
Create your MQA Online Services account and start the RN licensure-by-endorsement application with the Florida Board of Nursing.
- 02
Request Nursys verification
Request license verification through Nursys for every state that applies to you. Florida accepts Nursys verification.
- 03
Complete fingerprints and the background check
Florida requires a fingerprint-based criminal background check: Electronic Livescan through an FDLE-approved vendor (ORI EDOH4420Z); out-of-state applicants have a hard card converted by an approved vendor. Paper cards are not accepted..
- 04
Clear the course requirements
Prevention of Medical Errors course from a Florida-approved provider (traditional endorsement route) (2 hours) Florida laws and rules course within 6 months of licensure — only under the 2-of-3-years practice pathway
- 05
Pay the application fee
The endorsement fee is $110. Confirm the amount on the board's fee page before you pay.
- 06
Plan for the wait
Florida issues no temporary permit, so plan on the full processing time before your first shift.
- 07
Wait for the permanent license
Up to 10 business days for initial review; license issued within 7 days once all requirements are met. Florida law requires an initial review within 30 days. Verify the license on the board's public lookup, then store the expiration in Trust.
MOBILE route: active unencumbered license, 3 years of active practice within the last 4, no discipline or NPDB reports in 5 years.
Florida requires a valid U.S. Social Security number on the endorsement application.
Two routes: traditional (Rule 64B9-3.008) and MOBILE (Mobile Opportunity by Interstate Licensure Endorsement, 2024). MOBILE lists no course requirement.
HIV/AIDS and human trafficking courses are renewal requirements, not licensure requirements.
What it costs, all in
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Endorsement application | $110 |
| Level II Livescan background screening | varies |
| Nursys verification | $30 |
| Upgrade an existing Florida single-state license to multistate | $100 |
How long it takes
Up to 10 business days for initial review; license issued within 7 days once all requirements are met. Florida law requires an initial review within 30 days.
With no temporary permit, your first Florida shift waits on the permanent license. Start Nursys verification and fingerprints the day you open the application — those steps set the pace, not the board’s review.
EMTs and paramedics
Florida — EMS Compact: Not a member.
Florida is not an EMS Compact member, so there is no privilege to practice. Apply for reciprocity through the Florida state EMS office; most states ask for current NREMT certification and a background check.
After you’re licensed
A new license starts a new renewal clock. The Florida RN renewal guide covers the cycle length, the CE the board counts, and the fee — read it once, then let Trust hold the date.
Questions people ask
Is Florida a compact state?
Yes. Florida is an implemented member of the Nurse Licensure Compact as of January 19, 2018, so a multistate license from another implemented member state authorizes practice there.
Can I work in Florida with a multistate license from another state?
Yes, if your primary state of residence issued the multistate license and it is active and unencumbered. No Florida application or fee is required, and you practice under Florida's nurse practice act while your patient is there. Moving your residence to Florida starts a 60-day clock to apply by endorsement.
How much does it cost to transfer an RN license to Florida?
The Florida Board of Nursing endorsement fee is $110. Budget for the extras too: Level II Livescan background screening (varies), Nursys verification $30, Upgrade an existing Florida single-state license to multistate $100.
Does Florida offer a temporary permit while my endorsement is pending?
No. Florida issues no temporary permit to endorsement applicants — you wait for the permanent license.
How long does Florida RN endorsement take?
Up to 10 business days for initial review; license issued within 7 days once all requirements are met. Florida law requires an initial review within 30 days.
Do I need fingerprints for a Florida nursing license?
Yes. Electronic Livescan through an FDLE-approved vendor (ORI EDOH4420Z); out-of-state applicants have a hard card converted by an approved vendor. Paper cards are not accepted.
What courses does Florida require before it issues an endorsement license?
Prevention of Medical Errors course from a Florida-approved provider (traditional endorsement route) (2 hours) Florida laws and rules course within 6 months of licensure — only under the 2-of-3-years practice pathway
Do I need recent nursing practice to endorse into Florida?
MOBILE route: active unencumbered license, 3 years of active practice within the last 4, no discipline or NPDB reports in 5 years.
Sources
Last verified .
- https://floridasnursing.gov/licensing/licensed-practical-nurse-registered-nurse-by-mobile-endorsement/
- https://floridasnursing.gov/applications/MOBILEApp-BoardofNursing-DH-5102-MQA.pdf
- https://floridasnursing.gov/applications/lpn-rn-endorse-app.pdf
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-64B9-3-008
- https://www.nursecompact.com/
- https://www.emscompact.gov/