Florida ARNPs license & application information

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Below is information for renewing or applying for an ARNP license. FMES is an approved ce provider by the Florida Board of Nursing. We offer approved nursing continuing education for florida nurses. We offer the initial Medical Error Prevention program, one and 3 hour HIV/AIDS, and the 2 hour Domestic Violence. Get Started Now!

A registered nurse who also holds a current Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) certificate may satisfy the continuing education requirements for both licenses by completing appropriate courses for a registered nurse, or may satisfy up to 50% of the requirement by completing continuing medical education coursework.

ARNP Questions

Q: Where can I find the application for ARNP?
A: You can find the application at: Florida licensure application for ARNP.pdf

Q: Are there different applications for Florida RNs upgrading to ARNP and ARNPs from other states?
A: The applications are the same and can be found at the website in the first ARNP FAQ answer.

Q: How long will it take to get my license?
A: We are allowed 30 days to issue a letter regarding any deficiencies in your application. However, we have made great strides to reduce this time and it is often less than 21 days. How long it takes to issue a license depends on how quickly any deficiencies are completed.

Q: What must I qualifications must I have completed to qualify as an ARNP?
A: Effective July 1, 2006, all specialties of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner applying for licensure in Florida must provide proof of National Certification.
Exception: A one year provisional license may be issued to Certified Nurse Midwives and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who have graduated from an out of state program within one year from the date of Florida application and who are not Nationally Certified. These applicants must provide original Verification of Successful Completion (VSC) and original transcript(s).

Q: What do I need to send?
A: If you are a CRNA or CNM, send a notarized copy of your current certification marked as a "true and correct copy" with your application. For those not yet certified and for all other specialties, order an official and final copy of your transcript, directly from the school to be mailed directly to the Board office. Also, fill out the top portion of the Verification of Successful Completion form and send it to your school for completion. When these are received in the Board office and are complete (and you have a current Florida RN license), your file will be reviewed.

Q: Do I need malpractice insurance to be licensed?
A: Yes, in order to issue your advanced practice certificate, you will need to show proof of malpractice or reason for exemption. If an employer is going to supply the insurance, have them send a letter on their letterhead stating that you are covered, naming the carrier and what is paid per incident and aggregate (minimum of $100,000/300,000 respectively). If you are a state or federal employee or if you are not working as an ARNP in Florida, you must fill out the form for exemption.

Q: Do I need National Certification?
A: Effective July 1, 2006, all specialties of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner applying for licensure in Florida must provide proof of National Certification.

Q: What national nursing specialty certification boards are recognized by the Florida Board of Nursing (Board)?
A: Professional or national nursing specialty boards recognized by the Board include, but are not limited to:

(a) Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists, or Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists, or their predecessors.
(b) American College of Nurse Midwives.
(c) American Nurses Association (American Nurses Credentialing Center) Nurse Practitioner level examinations only.
(d) National Certification Corporation for OB/GYN, Neonatal Nursing Specialties (nurse practitioner level examination only).
(e) National Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Associates (Pediatric Nurse Associate/Practitioner level examinations only).
(f) American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (nurse practitioner level examination only).

Q: Do all nurse practitioners need to file protocols?
A: Yes, as long as they are practicing as ARNPs in Florida. If they are not practicing in Florida a protocol does not need to be filed

Q: Where and when does the protocol get filed?
A: The ARNP’s original is filed with the Board of Nursing, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3252. They are filed at the time of the ARNP’s licensure renewal or when there is a change. The protocol must contain all original signatures. If the Board office cannot tell if the signatures are original the protocol will be returned and we will ask all signatures be in blue ink. We ask this because it is much easier to determine if the signature is original if it is in blue ink.

Q: Are the protocols reviewed or approved by the Board of Nursing?
A: The protocol is reviewed by the Board of Nursing.

Q: Should a copy of the protocol be kept at the practice site?
A: Yes, a copy of the original protocol and a copy of the notice required by section 458.348(1), F.S. should be kept at the site of practice of each party of the protocol. After the expiration of the protocol each party is responsible for insuring that a copy of the protocol is maintained for future reference for a period of four (4) years.

Q: Should the protocol state which medications can be prescribed?
A: Yes, you must list all medications that the supervising physician has agreed you may prescribe. You may want to use generic names and/or categories of medications instead of using trade names, i.e., antibiotics, antiemetics, etc.

Q: Can nurse practitioners have their own prescription pad?
A: Yes.

Q: Do I need to apply for prescriptive privileges?
A: No, writing of the protocols and approval of the collaborative practice physician gives you prescriptive privileges. You cannot prescribe controlled substances.

Q: What type of information should be included in the prescription pad?
A: Pharmacy rules require that all the information necessary to properly label the prescription container be included on the prescription. The pharmacist is required to put the prescriber's name on the medication label [Rule 64B16-28.402(1)(b)].

Q: Can a nurse practitioner write prescriptions for controlled substances?
A: No, federal law requires that anyone prescribing controlled substances have a DEA license number. All prescriptions for controlled substances should be written and signed by a licensed physician.

Q: Do I need a dispensing license?
A: If it is in your protocols that you are to dispense medications for a fee, then you must contact be authorized by the Board office to dispense. Dispensing is writing and filling a prescription and selling the medication to a patient. Giving samples is not dispensing. The dispensing license must also be renewed when renewing your ARNP license. You can find the dispensing practitioner application at: Dispensing application for ARNP (pdf - 57kb)

Q: How many contact hours do I need for a full biennium?
A: All Florida-licensed RN's and LPNs, ARNPs and CNSs are now in a 24-month renewal cycle and must complete 24 hours of appropriate continuing education during each renewal period. The 24 hours must include two (2) hours on Prevention of Medical Errors. HIV/AIDS is now a one-time, 1-hour CE requirement to be completed prior to the first renewal. Domestic Violence (DV) CE is now a 2-hour requirement every third renewal. Since Domestic Violence (DV) is a 2-hour requirement, the licensee will have 26 hours of CE during the renewal period when DV is taken. For example, if you renew your license on July 31, 2008 and completed DV during the 2006-2008 licensure cycle, you are required to complete the Domestic Violence CE before the July 31, 2014 renewal.

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