By: Nurse.org Staff

Medically reviewed by: Kathleen Gaines MSN, RN, BA, CBC

Considering a nursing career in Florida? Here's everything you need to know about being a nurse in the Sunshine State.

Part One Why Work In Florida?

Florida is one of the top employers for nurses nationwide. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Florida ranks #3 for the highest employment of nurses by state. Florida is also one of the most popular states for retirement, which contributes to the significant demand for nurses. 

Although Florida nurses earn a moderate salary compared to other states, the cost of living is among the lowest in the U.S. Additionally, Florida is one of only nine states that don’t collect an individual income tax, allowing nurses the chance to keep expenses low and save money. 

Aside from the huge demand for nurses, many are drawn to Florida for the lifestyle. The state boasts 8 of the top 27 beaches in America as reported by U.S. News. The weather is beautiful year-round, amusement parks such as Disney World are in your backyard, and cruise ships depart from all coastlines. The cities are rich with eclectic cultures, attracting tourists annually from around the world, in addition to the abundant inhabitants who proudly represent their Caribbean and Latin American roots in communities. 

If Florida seems like it might be the right fit for you, read on to learn more. 

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Part Two Florida Nurse Demand and Outlook

As noted above, Florida is the 3rd largest employer of nurses in the U.S. and demand will only continue to increase. Currently, 183,130 nurses are employed in Florida according to the BLS.

Various factors will contribute to the dire need for Registered Nurses – population growth, increased nurse turnover, increasing numbers of insured residents, and baby boomer nurses retiring - 40% in the next 10 years as forecasted by the Florida Center for Nursing. According to research, the nurse workforce in Florida lost about 1,300 nurses to retirement in 2016-17.

Florida, one of the most popular states for retirement, will deal with a growing and aging population who will require acute and long-term care through home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities. 

Another report used data starting from 2010 (5,900 Florida RN vacancies), along with current trends in healthcare, to project more than 50,300 Florida RN vacancies by 2025. Unfortunately, there are no updated numbers as the study was halted because, after 2015 hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, public health departments and hospices stopped sharing the information through a voluntary statewide survey.

Part Three Florida Nurse Salary & Benefits

The BLS most recent data reports a mean annual salary of $69,510 for Registered Nurses in Florida. Average hourly wage is reported to be $33.42 per hour.

According to ZipRecruiter.com, the average annual pay for a RN Nurse in Florida is $56,639 a year or $27.23 an hour. Top paying cities in Florida include, 

Pay varies by source of employment (outpatient vs inpatient setting), specialty area, ASN vs BSN degree, and geographical location. Typically, nurses work 3 12-hour shifts in a hospital setting or 4 10-hour shifts for outpatient centers. Florida nurses who work 12 hours shifts (unless in the ED) typically work straight nights or straight days, rotating shifts are not common. 

Overtime is typically available to nurses by hourly rate past 40 hours/week. Due to the nursing shortage, it is common for hospitals to offer sign-on bonuses for specialty nurses for relocation to Florida (up to $10,000). 

Benefits are available for Full-Time Registered Nurses, not typically Part-Time or Per Diem employment. For FT RN’s, benefits packages include the options of enrolling in health insurance, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, dental, vision, cancer, and 401k retirement savings. Benefits also often include discounts or assistance with child-care whether through the healthcare facility or associated third party. Florida does not have specific maternity and paternity leave laws, so most RN’s use short-term disability insurance to cover paternity and maternity leave.  

Part Four Florida State Board Of Nursing

The Florida Board of Nursing licenses, monitors, disciplines, educates and, when appropriate, rehabilitates its licensees to assure competence in providing health care services for the people of Florida. They also ensure that every nurse practicing in Florida meets the minimum requirements for safe practice.

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Part Five Florida Nursing Licenses

All nursing licensure and registration is processed through the Florida Board of Nursing.

RN and LPN by Examination

All applications are processed through the Florida Board of Nursing online portal. In order to qualify for licensure by examination, you must meet the following requirements:

• Graduation from a Florida approved or an accredited nursing education program
• Graduation from an Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited nursing program that has been issued an NCLEX code by NCSBN.
• Graduation from a nursing education program that is approved or recognized by the jurisdiction in which it is based and that has been issued an NCLEX code by the   National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
• Successful examination of the NCLEX (you can submit before your test date, pending a PASS)
• Electronic fingerprinting by a Livescan service provider within Florida or an approved Livescan service provider outside of the state who can process a hard card for electronic submittal 
• Pass a criminal background screening 
• After an application is submitted and upon passing the licensure examination, the initial Florida nursing license is issued within 7-10 days.

The process for application, according to the website, is as follows: 

• Applicant must submit an application with the appropriate fees to the Board of Nursing and begin registration with Pearson VUE, the testing vendor.
• Applicant schedules an electronic fingerprint appointment with a Livescan service provider and is fingerprinted.
• Once all materials are submitted, an application specialist will review them. It may be necessary for the application specialist to request additional information.
• If eligibility requirements are met, applicant will receive an eligibility letter with instructions regarding registration with Pearson VUE. Approval is transferred to Pearson VUE.
• Upon passing the licensure examination the initial license is issued within 7-10 days.

Total Fees:

• $200 for cost of examination to Pearson VUE, Testing Vendor
• $110 for application and licensing fee to Florida Board of Nursing
• Cost varies by Livescan Service Provider

RN and LPN by Endorsement

All applications are processed through the Florida Board of Nursing online portal. In order to qualify for licensure by endorsement, you must meet the following requirements:

• Must hold a valid license to practice professional nursing in another state or territory in the U.S.
• OR - the applicant has successfully completed the NCLEX or State Board Test Pool Exam
• OR - the applicant has actively practiced nursing in another U.S. state or territory for 2 of the 3 preceding years without the restriction of license 
• Verification of initial and active license(s) sent to the Florida Board of Nursing 
• Electronic fingerprinting by a Livescan service provider within Florida or an approved Livescan service provider outside of the state who can process a hard card for electronic submittal 
• Pass a criminal background screening

Total Fees:

• $110 for application and licensing fee to the Florida Board of Nursing
• Cost varies by Livescan Service Provider
• Cost varies for License Verification

Although not explicitly stated on the FBN website, multiple sources for nurses estimate processing time for licensure by endorsement at 2-4 weeks once a complete application is received. 

Compact Nursing License

Since January 2018, Florida has been part of the Nurse Licensure Compact which grants a multi-state license to any nurse licensed in one of the following states:

Ohio and Pennsylvania have passed laws and are awaiting implementation from the state. Additionally, Vermont is set to implement the compact license on 2/1/2022. 

In order to be eligible to have a Florida compact license, you must meet the following requirements: 

• You must hold a Clear, Active, Florida license.
• You must declare Florida your primary state of residency. (Primary state of residence as defined by the Compact means the person’s declared fixed, permanent, and principal home for legal purposes; domicile.) Proof of residence may include one of the following: driver’s license, voter registration card, federal income tax return, or a W2.
• Your license status must be unencumbered (“Encumbrance” means a revocation or suspension of, or any limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice of nursing imposed by a licensing board.)
• Livescan results must be submitted no more than 90 days prior to the submission of the application and fees or anytime within a year of applying.
• You must not have a felony conviction.
• You must not have a misdemeanor related to the practice of nursing.
• You must not be enrolled with IPN or any other treatment program for the impaired.
• You must have a social security number.
• You must have passed the NCLEX.
• Foreign education must be evaluated by an independent credentials review agency.
• Foreign education not completed in English will require an English Competency exam.
• There is a $100 fee for this license. 

License Renewal

Renewals for nursing licenses in Florida occur in three different groups during the month of  April (2 groups) and July. Renewals are completed online through the Florida Health Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) portal. CE requirements are verified through CEBroker.com and the application requires a fee of $75. Fees vary if the status of your Florida license has lapsed to inactive or retired. 

Part Six Magnet Hospitals in Florida 

The American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards hospitals who demonstrate a high degree of quality nursing, according to set standards, with the Magnet status.

Nurses who work at Magnet hospitals report higher job satisfaction, fewer injuries and more opportunities for advancement. These hospitals represent some of the most renowned facilities in the country, which also means that they have a highly competitive hiring process that only selects the best of the best. 

Part Seven Continuing Education Requirements

CE requirements are listed on the Florida Board of Nursing website. All hours must be board approved. 

Biennium Requirements:

• General Hours = 16 hours (must be accredited by state or national organization)
• Prevention of Medical Errors = 2 hours
• Florida Laws & Rules = 2 hours
• Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace = 2 hours (required every other biennium)
• Human Trafficking = 2 hours (required every other biennium)
• Domestic Violence = 2 hours (required every third biennium)
• HIV/AIDS = 1 hour (one-time requirement prior to first renewal) 

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Part Eight Best Nursing Schools in Florida

In order to be licensed as a nurse in Florida, an applicant must complete a nursing education program that is either “approved” or “accredited.” (Education Requirements)

An “approved” education program is not required to be accredited, but is approved and regulated under s.464.019 of Florida Statutes.

An “accredited” education program is recognized by a specialized accrediting nursing body that is nationally recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as defined by Florida Statute s.464.003. Programs can be verified by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 

Types of Nursing Degrees:

Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) – quickest length of program (usually about a year) and geared toward technical nursing care support in healthcare

Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) – generally two years of full-time study, available at most public state colleges in Florida 

Dual Enrollment Concurrent ASN-BSN – some colleges and universities offer a limited-access program for ASN students to concurrently complete ASN and BSN courses which allows graduates to complete an ASN degree and BSN degree two semesters after (6-7 semesters total)

Post-Licensure RN-BSN bridge programs – intended for ASN-prepared Registered Nurses who wish to earn a BSN, typically full-time and part-time plans available 

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) – traditional education path for an undergraduate who seeks a BSN, typically allowing junior students who are accepted into a full-time nursing program at college or university

Second Degree BSN (or Accelerated BSN Degree) – intended for students with an undergraduate degree in a field other than nursing, with required prerequisites, who complete an accelerated-style nursing program and graduate with their BSN

Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Examples include Nurse Practitioners, Nursing Leadership and Management, Nursing Education, and Clinical Simulation. Doctorate of Nursing programs are also available for clinical or didactic concentration. 

Best Florida Nursing Schools

Florida’s Top 5 Nursing Schools: 

• University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
• University of North Florida (Jacksonville, FL)
• University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL)
• Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)
• University of South Florida (Tampa, FL)

Scholarships and Loans

The Florida Nurses Association provides annual scholarships available for students currently enrolled in approved or accredited nursing programs in the state. In addition, individual schools, universities, and private donors give nursing students thousands of dollars towards education each year. 

For those students who needed to take out a loan to pay for their nursing education, Florida assists licensed nurse professionals (LPN, RN, ARNP) to take part in the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program. Certain requirements for eligibility apply, but approved individuals can benefit from saving on loan payments up to $4,000 per year for four years. 

Part Ten Florida Labor Unions

Florida law denies state employees the right to strike.

Labor unions are not common practice in Florida, but the biggest active union is National Nurses United (NNU). There are few unionized hospitals in Florida but in 2015, Registered Nurses Associated with the 17 Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) hospitals reached a deal with the NNU to enact improved staffing ratios, break scheduling, and wages. In coming years, it is likely the Florida RN’s will continue to fight for safe patient ratios and fair wages. 

Part Eleven Florida Nursing News

In July 2021, RNs at 10 hospitals along Florida’s Gulf Coast and in Central Florida have overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement that they say includes important improvements in health and safety protections for nurses and patients and other substantial gains.