# Fla. Stat. § 464.008: 464.008 Licensure by examination > Florida · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.008 ## Section - **Citation:** Fla. Stat. § 464.008 - **Heading:** 464.008 Licensure by examination - **Jurisdiction:** Florida - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Florida Code / Title XXXII / Chapter 464 / Part I / Section 464.008 ## Text (1) Any person desiring to be licensed as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse shall apply to the department to take the licensure examination. The department shall examine each applicant who: (a) Has completed the application form and remitted a fee set by the board not to exceed $150 and has remitted an examination fee set by the board not to exceed $75 plus the actual per applicant cost to the department for purchase of the examination from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing or a similar national organization. (b) Has provided sufficient information on or after October 1, 1989, which must be submitted by the department for a statewide criminal records correspondence check through the Department of Law Enforcement. (c) Is in good mental and physical health, is a recipient of a high school diploma or the equivalent, and has completed the requirements for: 1. Graduation from an approved program; 2. Graduation from a prelicensure nursing education program that the board determines is equivalent to an approved program; 3. Graduation on or after July 1, 2009, from an accredited program; or 4. Graduation before July 1, 2009, from a prelicensure nursing education program whose graduates at that time were eligible for examination. Courses successfully completed in a professional nursing education program that are at least equivalent to a practical nursing education program may be used to satisfy the education requirements for licensure as a licensed practical nurse. (d) Has the ability to communicate in the English language, which may be determined by an examination given by the department. (2)(a) Each applicant who passes the examination and provides proof of meeting the educational requirements specified in subsection (1) shall, unless denied pursuant to s. 464.018, be entitled to licensure as a registered professional nurse or a licensed practical nurse, whichever is applicable. (b) An applicant who resides in this state, meets the licensure requirements of this section, and meets the criteria for multistate licensure under s. 464.0095 may request the issuance of a multistate license from the department. (c) A nurse who holds a single-state license in this state and applies to the department for a multistate license must meet the eligibility criteria for a multistate license under s. 464.0095 and must pay an application and licensure fee to change the licensure status. (d) The department shall conspicuously distinguish a multistate license from a single-state license. (3) Any applicant who fails the examination three consecutive times, regardless of the jurisdiction in which the examination is taken, shall be required to complete a board-approved remedial course before the applicant will be approved for reexamination. After taking the remedial course, the applicant may be approved to retake the examination up to three additional times before the applicant is required to retake remediation. The applicant shall apply for reexamination within 6 months after completion of remediation. The board shall by rule establish guidelines for remedial courses. (4) A person holding an active multistate license in another state pursuant to s. 464.0095 is exempt from the licensure requirements of this section. History: ss. 1, 6, ch. 79-225; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 6, 17, 18, ch. 86-284; s. 12, ch. 88-205; s. 10, ch. 88-219; s. 34, ch. 89-162; s. 58, ch. 91-137; s. 5, ch. 91-156; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 94, ch. 92-149; s. 5, ch. 96-274; s. 78, ch. 97-264; s. 116, ch. 99-397; s. 95, ch. 2001-277; s. 3, ch. 2010-37; s. 2, ch. 2014-92; s. 5, ch. 2016-139; s. 28, ch. 2016-224; s. 10, ch. 2022-71. ## Nearby sections - [Fla. Stat. § 464.001 464.001 Short title.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.001.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.002 464.002 Purpose.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.002.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.003 464.003 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.003.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.004 464.004 Board of Nursing; membership; appointment; terms.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.004.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.005 464.005 Board headquarters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.005.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.006 464.006 Rulemaking authority.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.006.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.008 464.008 Licensure by examination.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.008.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.009 464.009 Licensure by endorsement.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.009.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.012 464.012 Licensure of advanced practice registered nurses; fees; controlled substance prescribing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.012.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.013 464.013 Renewal of license or certificate.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.013.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.014 464.014 Inactive status.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.014.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.015 464.015 Titles and abbreviations; restrictions; penalty.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.015.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.016 464.016 Violations and penalties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.016.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 464.017 464.017 Sexual misconduct in the practice of nursing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.017.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXXII_C464_PI_S464.008. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.