How to Get Your LPN License in Florida (2026)

## How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Florida Florida's healthcare market is one of the largest in the United States — driven by a massive retirement-age population, major academic medical centers, a sprawling SNF and assisted living sector, and high-volume urban hospitals across Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and Jacksonville. LPNs are in high demand across nearly every segment of the Florida healthcare system. Here's everything you need to know about earning your Florida LPN license. ### Step 1: Complete an Accredited Practical Nursing Program Florida requires graduation from a practical nursing program approved by the Florida Board of Nursing (FBON) under the Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA), part of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Florida has extensive PN program offerings through its state college system — programs are offered at Florida State College at Jacksonville, Hillsborough Community College, Miami Dade College, St. Petersburg College, Valencia College, and many others. Programs run 12–18 months and include supervised clinical rotations in medical-surgical, pediatric, obstetric, psychiatric, and long-term care settings. Florida has specific clinical hour requirements — confirm that your program meets all current FBON program approval standards before enrolling, as requirements have been updated in recent cycles. ### Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-PN Exam The NCLEX-PN is required before Florida will issue your LPN license: 1. **Apply to the Florida Board of Nursing (MQA/DBPR)** for NCLEX eligibility and receive your Authorization to Test (ATT). 2. **Register with Pearson VUE** and schedule your exam at a Florida testing center (locations in Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, and others) or via remote proctoring. 3. **Pay the Pearson VUE examination fee** ($200). 4. **Complete the exam** within your 90-day ATT window. The NCLEX-PN is CAT-based, ranging from 85–150 questions under the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) framework, which emphasizes clinical judgment across all competency areas. Results are typically available within 2 business days via Pearson VUE Quick Results. The Florida Board receives passing results directly from Pearson VUE. ### Step 3: Apply for Your Florida LPN License Florida LPN license applications are submitted through the MQA online portal at floridasHealthFinder.gov or via the DBPR licensing portal. Required materials: - Completed online application - Official transcripts from your PN program sent directly to the Florida Board of Nursing - NCLEX-PN results (transmitted automatically by Pearson VUE) - Fingerprint-based background check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and FBI (submitted via LiveScan) - Application fee of approximately **$75–$100** (confirm the current fee on the MQA website before applying — Florida fees are set by statute and updated periodically) Florida LPN licenses renew on a two-year cycle. Processing times for complete applications vary from 4–10 weeks. Florida's MQA system is high-volume given the state's population, and applicants are encouraged to submit all materials promptly and complete to avoid delays. ### eNLC Compact Membership Florida is a member of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). A Florida multistate LPN license is valid in all other compact-member states — currently 40+ — without additional licensing fees or applications. Florida's compact membership is significant given the large number of healthcare workers who relocate to Florida and the state's position as both a major travel nursing destination and a source of LPNs who take travel contracts elsewhere. To hold a Florida compact license, Florida must be your primary state of residence. New Florida residents who previously held compact licenses in other states should update their home state designation with the Florida Board of Nursing upon establishing Florida residency. ### Continuing Education Requirements Florida has one of the most specific mandatory CE structures in the compact. Florida LPNs must complete **24 continuing education hours** per two-year renewal cycle, with the following **mandatory topics** required within those 24 hours: - **2 hours — HIV/AIDS** (Florida-specific mandate under Florida Statute 456.033) - **2 hours — Domestic violence** (Florida-specific mandate under Florida Statute 456.031) - **2 hours — Prevention of medical errors** (Florida-specific mandate under Florida Statute 456.013) - **1 hour — HIPAA/Florida information privacy** (Florida-specific mandate) That accounts for 7 of your 24 hours as locked mandatory topics — the remaining 17 hours may be completed in any nursing-relevant CE subject. Failure to complete mandatory CE topics results in license renewal denial regardless of whether you have completed other CE hours. Florida's mandatory CE structure is more prescriptive than most other compact states and requires careful planning before renewal. Approved CE can be completed through ANCC-accredited providers, Relias, Nurse.com, Florida Nurses Association (FNA) programs, and other FBON-recognized online platforms. Retain all CE documentation for a minimum of four years. ### Florida LPN Salary Ranges Florida LPN compensation varies considerably by market and setting: - **Tampa Bay metro (Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater):** $42,000–$57,000/year - **Orlando metro:** $41,000–$56,000/year - **Miami-Dade and Broward County:** $44,000–$60,000/year — elevated by South Florida cost of living - **Jacksonville:** $40,000–$54,000/year - **Rural and North Florida (Panhandle, Nature Coast):** $36,000–$48,000/year Florida's massive SNF and assisted living sector is one of the top LPN employment markets in the country. The state has one of the highest concentrations of skilled nursing facilities per capita nationally, driven by the retirement-age population. SNF LPN roles in Florida typically pay $22–$32/hour with consistent availability of full-time, part-time, and per diem shifts. Bilingual LPNs — particularly those fluent in Spanish — command meaningful premium pay in South Florida, where a large Spanish-dominant patient population creates sustained demand for bilingual clinical staff. ### Top Employers for LPNs in Florida - **AdventHealth (Orlando, Tampa Bay, Daytona, and statewide)** — One of the largest health systems in Florida; significant LPN hiring across hospitals, urgent care, and outpatient clinics - **HCA Florida Healthcare (Tampa Bay, South Florida, Jacksonville, Gainesville)** — Operates more Florida hospitals than any other system; system-wide LPN demand - **BayCare Health System (Tampa Bay)** — 15-hospital system serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and Polk counties; large LPN workforce - **Jackson Health System (Miami)** — Miami-Dade's public health system and Level I trauma center; LPN positions in an urban, high-acuity environment - **UF Health (Gainesville and Jacksonville)** — Academic medical center with LPN hiring in specialty clinics and inpatient settings - **Florida Health Care Plans / Florida Blue** — Managed care and clinic-based LPN roles in central Florida - **Kindred Healthcare, Consulate Health Care, Amedisys, and SNF operators** — Long-term care and post-acute rehabilitation LPN hiring across all major Florida markets; this is the single largest LPN employment segment in the state - **Florida Department of Corrections** — Correctional facility LPN positions statewide with state benefit packages The Tampa, Orlando, and Miami markets are characterized by year-round hiring, competitive pay for experienced LPNs, and strong demand for bilingual candidates. The state's combination of large SNF volume, eNLC compact membership, and diverse patient populations makes Florida one of the most dynamic LPN job markets in the country.