Florida licensing boards
What Florida's own boards ask for before you can work in a licensed job: the requirement, the exam, the fee where the board publishes it, and renewal. National exams are written by national bodies, but the license comes from the state.
Professional licenses
Each card links the national license page on this site (education, national exams and other states).
LPN / LVN
Florida Board of Nursing
Apply for licensure by examination, then sit the NCLEX. Electronic fingerprinting is required under House Bill 975 (2024). Florida joined the Nurse Licensure Compact on 19 January 2018 and offers a multistate upgrade.
Source: Florida BON
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Social Work
Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
Licensed clinical social worker: a CSWE-accredited MSW with 24 semester hours of clinical coursework, 2 years of post-master's supervision (100 hours of supervision, 1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy), the ASWB clinical exam and an 8-hour Florida laws and rules course.
Source: Florida 491 Board
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Counseling
Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
Licensed Mental Health Counselor: from 1 July 2025 a 60-semester-hour master's in mental health counseling from a CACREP, MPCAC or equivalent program; 2 years of supervision (1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy); the national exam; and Florida laws and rules (8 hours) and HIV/AIDS (3 hours) courses.
Source: Florida 491 Board
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EMT / Paramedic
Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance
Uses the NREMT exam. Florida-trained applicants must pass within 2 years of finishing the course or retake the course. Paramedic students must graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited program (or one with a CoAEMSP letter of review).
Source: Florida DOH
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Real Estate
Florida Real Estate Commission (DBPR)
Sales associate: a 63-hour FREC-approved prelicensing course (valid 2 years), application with electronic fingerprints, the state exam with at least 75, then a 45-hour post-licensing course before the first license expires. Broker: 24 months of experience in the last 5 years, a 72-hour course, the broker exam with at least 75 and a 60-hour post-licensing course.
Source: myfloridalicense.com answers automated reads with 403; read from the Internet Archive capture of 5 May 2025. myfloridalicense.com answers automated reads with 403; read from the Internet Archive capture of 5 May 2025.Florida DBPR
Florida DBPR
Mortgage Loan Originator
Florida state agency (NMLS state page)
20 hours, with 2 of the 12 elective hours on Florida law. Continuing education: 8 hours a year including 1 hour of Florida law; MLOs cannot apply to renew without it.
Source: NMLS
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Teaching
Florida Department of Education
Temporary certificate (5 school years, not renewable): a bachelor's degree and subject area knowledge (an exam, or subject specialization with a 2.5 GPA); issued once a Florida school hires you and your fingerprints clear. Professional certificate (5 years, renewable): adds general knowledge and professional preparation and education competence.
Source: FLDOE
View sourceFLDOE
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Interior design
Board of Architecture and Interior Design (DBPR)
A certificate of registration as a registered interior designer and a seal need written proof of passing the CIDQ exam (or an equivalent). Anyone licensed as an interior designer in good standing on 1 July 2020 may obtain the registration.
Source: Fla. Stat.
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Cosmetology & barber
Board of Cosmetology; Barbers' Board (DBPR)
Cosmetologist: at least 16 or a high school diploma and 1,200 hours (exam allowed after 1,000). Barber: at least 16 and 900 hours (exam allowed after 600).
Source: Fla. Stat.
View sourceFla. Stat.
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Trade licenses
Each card links the trade's page on this site (training route, apprenticeship and pay).
Electrician
Counties and cities (Fla. Stat. s. 489.5335)
No state journeyman license: counties and cities issue it. The law requires a proctored exam (75% to pass) and a registered, state-approved apprenticeship or 12,000 hours of on-the-job training. Every Florida county and city must recognize a journeyman license issued by another.
Source: Fla. Stat.
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Plumber
Counties and cities (Fla. Stat. s. 489.1455)
Counties and cities issue journeyman licenses in plumbing, pipe fitting, mechanical and HVAC: a proctored exam (75% to pass) and a registered, state-approved apprenticeship or 12,000 hours of on-the-job training. Other Florida counties and cities must recognize it.
Source: Fla. Stat.
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HVAC technician
Construction Industry Licensing Board; counties and cities
The state certifies Class A (unlimited) and Class B (up to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 Btu of heating per system) air-conditioning contractors. Counties and cities issue HVAC journeyman licenses (exam + apprenticeship or 12,000 hours).
Source: Fla. Stat.
View sourceFla. Stat.
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Elevator and escalator installer
Division of Hotels and Restaurants (Fla. Stat. s. 399.01)
Elevator certificate of competency: 4 years of work experience on conveyances plus a state-approved written exam, a registered elevator apprenticeship, or a substantially equal license from another state. $50, valid 1 year, 8 hours of continuing education to renew.
Source: Fla. Stat.
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State and city government jobs
Government jobs are filled through each government's own hiring system; some need a civil service exam.
People First (State of Florida Careers)
Florida Department of Management Services, People First
- Search state jobs by career field or location on jobs.myflorida.com.
- For help, the People First Service Center answers at (877) 562-7287, Monday to Friday.
Source: People First
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Licensed somewhere else?
Licenses do not move automatically between states. Each national license page shows interstate compacts (nursing, EMS and others) and what other states' boards publish.
Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- Nursing (RN & LPN): licensure by examination · Florida Board of Nursing checked 2026-10-20
- Licensed clinical social worker: license by examination · Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling checked 2026-10-20
- Licensed mental health counselor: license by examination · Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling checked 2026-10-20
- Emergency medical technicians and paramedics · Florida Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance checked 2026-10-20
- Real Estate Associate Requirements for licensure in the State of Florida · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Florida Real Estate Commission checked 2026-10-20
- Real Estate Broker Requirements for licensure in the State of Florida · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Florida Real Estate Commission checked 2026-10-20
- State-Specific Education Requirements: Florida · Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) checked 2026-10-20
- Certificate Types and Requirements · Florida Department of Education checked 2026-10-20
- General Knowledge · Florida Department of Education checked 2026-10-20
- Florida Statutes s. 481.209 (Examinations: registered interior designer) · The Florida Legislature checked 2026-10-21
- Florida Statutes s. 477.019 (Cosmetologists; qualifications; licensure) · The Florida Legislature checked 2026-10-21
- Florida Statutes s. 476.114 (Barbering: examination; prerequisites) · The Florida Legislature checked 2026-10-21
- Florida Statutes s. 489.5335 — Journeyman; reciprocity; standards (electrical) · The Florida Senate checked 2026-10-20
- Florida Statutes s. 489.1455 — Journeyman; reciprocity; standards (plumbing, mechanical, HVAC) · The Florida Senate checked 2026-10-20
- Florida Statutes s. 489.105 — Definitions (contractor classes) · The Florida Senate checked 2026-10-20
- Florida Statutes s. 399.01 (Elevator Safety Act: definitions, elevator certificate of competency) · The Florida Legislature checked 2026-10-21
- State of Florida Careers: People First · State of Florida, Department of Management Services checked 2026-10-21