Florida nursing license renewal requirements for CE, fees and deadlines in 2026
Florida nurses renew through MQA Online Services. The safest renewal path is to confirm your license type, complete and report the correct continuing education in CE Broker, check whether fingerprints or background-screening retention applies, pay the right fee, and verify the renewed status after submission.
Most Florida RN and LPN renewals use a 24-hour CE structure that includes 16 general hours plus required subjects such as medical errors, Florida laws and rules, impairment, human trafficking, and cycle-specific courses. RN and APRN licenses renew in three groups, while the current Florida LPN renewal page lists July 31, 2027 as the LPN expiration date. Always check your own MQA record before relying on any general deadline.
Florida renewal facts that affect your next move
Renewal is tied to your MQA record
The Renew My License option usually appears in your dashboard no later than 90 days before your license expiration date.
CE must be reported
Florida tells nurses not to send CE certificates to the Board. Report CE through the Department tracking system powered by CE Broker.
Late renewal costs more
For RN and LPN, Active to Active is listed at $75 before expiration and $130 after expiration. A 120-day notified delinquent stage costs more.
Do not keep practicing on an expired or invalid license. Renewal submission, CE completion, or a payment receipt should be checked against the official Florida license record.
Choose the correct Florida nursing renewal action
This tool does not query Florida databases. It points you to the safest official action based on your license type and status.
Florida RN and LPN continuing education requirements
Florida lists the same core CE structure for RN and LPN renewal. Course timing can depend on first renewal, every-other-renewal and every-third-biennium rules.
| Required subject | Hours | Important Florida rule |
|---|---|---|
| General hours | 16 | Must be approved by a state or national organization empowered to accredit nursing continuing education. |
| Prevention of medical errors | 2 | Must be board approved and reported through the CE tracking system. |
| Florida laws and rules | 2 | Board-approved course required. |
| Recognizing impairment in the workplace | 2 | Required every other renewal. |
| Human trafficking | 2 | Required every renewal or biennium for affected licensees; exemption based on specialty certification does not remove this requirement. |
| Domestic violence | 2 | Required every third biennium and the hours are in addition to the 24 hours required for renewal. |
| HIV/AIDS | 1 | One-time requirement prior to the first renewal. |
First-biennium rules can be different. Florida states that some nurses initially licensed by examination or endorsement during the current biennium may be exempt from general CE hours but still must complete required subject courses.
How to renew a Florida nursing license online
Check your exact license expiration date
Do not rely only on a general article deadline. Open your MQA account or verify your license record to confirm your expiration date, status and renewal window.
Verify a Florida health care licenseComplete the required CE
Use CE Broker to confirm reported courses. If a provider does not report automatically, follow Florida instructions for reporting CE from your MQA dashboard.
Open CE BrokerSign in to MQA Online Services
Go to FL HealthSource or the MQA Services Portal, enter your identifying information, and open the renewal action when it appears.
Open MQA Online ServicesUpdate profile, address and required disclosures
Make sure your email, mailing address, practice information and any required profile information are accurate before submitting.
Handle background screening or fingerprint retention if prompted
Florida renewal pages describe mandatory background screening or fingerprint retention for affected licensees. Pay or complete the required step when your record requires it.
Open background screening informationPay and verify the renewed license
After payment, check the official license lookup and keep your receipt. Employers should verify the official record rather than relying only on a screenshot.
Florida nursing renewal fees to check before paying
Fees can change, and your live MQA transaction controls the amount. The table below summarizes the official renewal-page amounts visible for common 2026 planning.
| License or status | Before expiration | After expiration | 120-day notified delinquent |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN or LPN, Active to Active | $75 | $130 | RN page lists $205; LPN page lists $210 |
| RN or LPN, Inactive to Inactive | $65 | $120 | $185 |
| RN or LPN, Active to Inactive | $65 | $175 | $185 |
| RN or LPN, Inactive to Active | $130 | $240 | RN page lists $260; LPN page lists $265 |
| APRN, Active to Active | $60 | $115 | $175 |
| Retired option | $55 listed for RN/LPN/APRN retired status | Higher delinquent amounts may apply | Check MQA transaction |
Fingerprint-retention, background-screening, dispensing registration or other fees may be added when they apply to your record.
Florida nursing renewal deadlines and status traps
RN renewal groups
Florida lists RN renewal in three groups: Group 1 expires April 30, 2028; Group 2 expires July 31, 2028; Group 3 expires April 30, 2027.
LPN listed date
The current LPN renewal page states that current LPN licenses expire at midnight Eastern Standard Time on July 31, 2027.
APRN renewal groups
Florida lists APRN renewal in three groups with the same displayed group dates as RN renewal.
If you take no action, Florida says a license goes delinquent after expiration and becomes Null and Void two years after expiration. Once Null and Void, the license cannot be reactivated and the person must reapply under current requirements.
Extra renewal checks for Florida APRN and Autonomous APRN
Profile and practice address
APRN renewal requires a current primary place of practice address and an updated practitioner profile.
National certification
APRNs who were required to be nationally certified at original licensure must submit current national certification.
Controlled substances CE
APRN renewal includes a 3-hour Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances requirement. Autonomous APRNs have additional graduate-level course requirements.
Florida also states that APRNs are not required to renew their Florida RN license; it is optional. Check your own role, authority and MQA record before deciding what to renew.
Florida compact-state renewal issues
Florida is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. If Florida is your primary state of residence, your Florida multistate license renewal is handled through Florida. If you move your legal residence to another compact state, compact rules can affect whether Florida renews or deactivates the license.
Florida explains that nurses practicing in Florida under the privilege of a different compact-state license are not required to pay Florida renewal fees or complete Florida CE requirements for that privilege. Follow the state that issued your compact license.
Florida Board of Nursing contact, mailing address and map
(850) 488-0595
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.
(850) 245-4125
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
MQA.Nursing@flhealth.gov
Use the Board’s official email for nursing questions.
Official mailing address
Department of Health, Board of Nursing, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-02, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252.
For applications and fees only, Florida lists Department of Health, Board of Nursing, P.O. Box 6330, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330.
Official sources used for this Florida renewal guide
Florida nursing license renewal requirements FAQ
Where do I renew a Florida nursing license?
Renew online through MQA Online Services. The Renew My License option normally appears in the dashboard no later than 90 days before the license expiration date.
How many CE hours do Florida RN and LPN licensees need?
The standard RN and LPN renewal structure is 24 hours, including 16 general hours and required subjects such as medical errors, Florida laws and rules, impairment, and human trafficking. Domestic violence is every third biennium and is in addition to the 24 hours.
Do I send CE certificates to the Florida Board of Nursing?
No. Florida says not to submit CE certificates to the Board. CE should be reported through the Department tracking system powered by CE Broker.
How much is Florida RN or LPN renewal before expiration?
The current Florida renewal pages list RN and LPN Active to Active renewal at $75 before expiration. Other status changes have different fees.
What happens if I renew after expiration?
Florida assesses delinquency fees in addition to applicable renewal fees. A license that remains delinquent can later become Null and Void, which cannot be reactivated.
Does Florida require fingerprints at renewal?
Florida renewal pages describe mandatory background screening or fingerprint retention for affected licensees. Your MQA record and renewal transaction will show whether the requirement applies to your renewal cycle.
Are APRNs required to renew the Florida RN license?
Florida states that APRNs are not required to renew their Florida RN license and that it is optional. APRNs should still check their own MQA record and practice needs before deciding.
Can I practice in Florida with another compact-state license?
If you hold a valid multistate license from another compact state and Florida is not your primary state of residence, compact privilege may allow practice in Florida. Renewal obligations usually follow the state that issued the multistate license.
For nurses
Finish CE early, verify CE Broker reporting, renew in MQA Online Services, and confirm the official license status after payment.
For employers
Do not rely only on a renewal receipt. Use the official Florida license verification record before scheduling nursing work.