StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Florida

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$310
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Florida Board of Nursing, Florida Department of Health

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No Florida Board of Nursing source reviewed states a minimum age for LPN licensure, so left null. Following Florida House Bill 975 (2024 legislative session), all initial LPN applicants must complete a Level II background check, including electronic fingerprinting through a Livescan service provider, submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the application cannot be approved until this is completed. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Florida requires graduation from a Florida-approved or accredited practical nursing education program (or an equivalent program with an NCLEX code issued by NCSBN). No specific clock-hour minimum for LPN programs was found on the Board's own nurse-RN-LPN page, so left null rather than guessed. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). Computerized adaptive test (CAT) delivered at Pearson VUE test centers. National exam-registration fee paid directly to Pearson VUE, separate from Florida's own $110 application/licensing fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Florida Board of Nursing, Florida Department of Health with the $110 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Florida Board of Nursing, Florida Department of Health issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Florida.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $110
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $75
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Renewal after expiration (active to active) [3] $130
120-day delinquent renewal notice [3] $210
Fingerprint retention fee (renewal, if applicable) [3] $43.25
NCLEX-PN registration (Pearson VUE, national) [3] $200

Florida's combined application-and-licensing fee is $110, with no separate license-issuance fee. Livescan electronic-fingerprinting/background-screening cost varies by service provider and is paid directly to that vendor rather than the Board. On-time renewal is $75; late renewal (after expiration) is $130; renewal after a 120-day delinquency notice is $210.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Florida LPN licenses renew biennially. 24 total continuing-education hours are required per cycle: 16 general hours plus mandatory topic-specific hours — Prevention of Medical Errors (2 hrs), Florida Laws & Rules (2 hrs), Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace (2 hrs, every other renewal), Human Trafficking (2 hrs, every renewal), and a one-time 1-hour HIV/AIDS course before the first renewal. A Domestic Violence course (2 hrs) is required every third biennium IN ADDITION to the 24-hour total. All mandatory courses (except Human Trafficking, which may come from a non-approved source meeting state criteria) must be reported through CEBroker.com via approved Florida Board of Nursing providers.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).

Florida implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact on Jan. 19, 2018, per the compact commission's official implementation-date table (NurseCompact.com / NCSBN NLC_Map.pdf). Florida also offers licensure by endorsement for LPNs licensed in another state or territory.

41 state-approved training providers in Florida — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $110
  • $200
Total$310

Frequently asked questions

What license does Florida issue to practical nurses?

Florida issues the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license through the Florida Board of Nursing.

Is Florida part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Yes. Florida implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact on January 19, 2018, so LPNs with a multistate compact license from another NLC state may practice in Florida without a separate Florida license.

How much does it cost to apply for an LPN license in Florida?

The application and licensing fee is $110, plus the separate $200 national NCLEX-PN registration fee paid to Pearson VUE and a variable Livescan fingerprinting/background-check fee paid to the Livescan vendor.

How much continuing education does Florida require to renew an LPN license?

24 total contact hours per 2-year renewal cycle, including mandatory courses in medical-error prevention, Florida laws and rules, human trafficking, workplace-impairment recognition (every other renewal), and a one-time HIV/AIDS course. A domestic-violence course is also required every third biennium, in addition to the 24 hours.

Does Florida require a background check for LPN licensure?

Yes. All initial applicants must complete a Level II background check, including electronic fingerprinting through a Livescan service provider submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as required by 2024's House Bill 975.

Sources

  1. [1] floridasnursing.gov/nurse-rn-lpn/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] floridasnursing.gov/renewals/licensed-practical-nurse/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] nursecompact.com — accessed 2026-07-10