• The retirement state of Florida offers many nursing jobs for qualified candidates.Nurse in Scrubs image by Mary Beth Granger from Fotolia.com
  
  As a state famous for retirement, Florida offers a plethora of opportunities for a career in nursing. The Florida Board of Nursing issues licenses for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. Each license requires completion of an approved or accredited nursing education program. Aspiring Florida nurses should learn the methods for selecting a qualifying program. Students who complete a program can then sit for the nursing exam and apply for a Florida nursing license.
  
  

Required Nursing Programs

• Applicants seeking to become a Florida registered nurse (RN) must graduate from an educational RN nursing program approved at the state level or accredited by an accrediting agency that specializes in accreditation for nursing programs. Similarly, candidates trying to obtain a license as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) must graduate from an approved or accredited LPN nursing program. The state does not require a specific associate or bachelor's degree. Some programs grant a diploma or certificate instead of a traditional degree.
  
  

Approved Programs

• Florida law prescribes a method by which the state government approves professional and practical nursing programs. Approved programs exist only in Florida and may, but need not be, accredited. Therefore, nursing students wishing to go to nursing school in Florida can choose either an approved program or an accredited program. Students in Florida may select from the Division of Medical Quality Assurance's list of approved and accredited programs in Florida (see Resources). Additionally, students may use the "Compare Florida Nursing Education Programs" page to compare the available nursing programs in the state (see Resources).
  
  

Accredited Programs

• Nursing students seeking a Florida license may attend an accredited nursing program either inside or outside of Florida. According to Florida law, only programs accredited by a specialized accrediting body for nursing programs qualify as accredited programs under this rule. In addition, the program must have recognition from the United States Department of Education. As of July 2010, only the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education have such recognition from the Department of Education for RN and LPN programs.
  
  

Foreign Nursing Programs

• Applicants who completed nursing programs in a different country must obtain a "Full Education Course-by-Course Report." The Florida Board of Nursing maintains a list of approved credentialing agencies for this purpose (see Resources). Applicants must individually contact and purchase this report from one of the agencies. The agency sends the report directly to the Board of Nursing. The board then decides whether the nursing program is acceptable under Florida law.