Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Mobile Opportunity by Interstate Licensure Endorsement Act (MOBILE Act), which simplifies the process for professionals moving to Florida to obtain licensure by endorsement.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation on Friday designed to simplify the licensure process for professionals moving to Florida from other states.
The legislation, known as the Mobile Opportunity by Interstate Licensure Endorsement Act (MOBILE Act), seeks to enhance workforce mobility and address professional shortages in various fields by allowing easier licensure by endorsement.
The bill, Senate Bill 1600, introduced by Sen. Jay Collins, establishes new guidelines for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Department of Health (DOH) to streamline the endorsement process, serving to to reduce bureaucratic barriers, making it more straightforward for qualified professionals from other states to practice in Florida.
Under the MOBILE Act, professionals seeking licensure by endorsement must have held a valid, current license from another U.S. state or territory for at least five years and must have been actively practicing their profession for at least three of the past four years. Additionally, applicants are required to pass a recognized national licensing exam if such an exam is mandated for their profession. They must also meet any specific federal regulation, training, or certification requirements relevant to their profession.
“An applicable board, or the department if there is no board, shall issue a license to practice in this state to an applicant who … Holds an active, unencumbered license issued by another state, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United States in a profession with a similar scope of practice,” the bill reads.
Furthermore, applicants must complete Florida-specific continuing education courses or pass a jurisprudential examination that covers state laws and rules pertinent to their profession.
The measure also includes specific provisions that requires applicants not be the subject of any disciplinary proceedings at the time of their application and that they have not had any disciplinary actions taken against them in the five years immediately preceding their application. Additionally, applicants must meet financial responsibility requirements if such requirements are mandated for their profession.
The legislation further mandates that the DBPR and DOH issue a license within seven days of receiving all required documentation from a qualified applicant.