SB 254 — Nursing Education Programs

(b) The board shall develop a remedial course in consultation with the Florida Center for Nursing.

The course must be made available on the board’s website free of charge to applicants experiencing hardship, as defined by the board.

(6)(a) The department shall issue a temporary provisional license to an applicant who is eligible to take the licensure examination under subsection (1) and who seeks to practice as a graduate professional nurse or graduate practical nurse, as applicable.

(b) A temporary provisional license issued under this Page 4 of 18 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 SBCS 254 31-00436B-26 2026254__ requirements for licensureSB as254 a603-03211-26 licensed2026254c1 practicalsubsection: nurse.

(d) Has the ability to communicate in the English language, which may be determined by an examination given by the department.

(5)(a) The department shall issue a temporary provisional license to an applicant who is eligible to take the licensure examination under subsection (1) and who seeks to practice as a graduate registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, as applicable.

(b) A temporary provisional license issued under this subsection:

Automatically expires upon the applicant passing the licensure examination and the department issuing of a full license, or upon the applicant’s failure to pass the examination.

Subsections (1)(1), through(2), (6)(3), (5), and (8) and paragraph (f) of subsection (11) of section 464.019, Florida Statutes, are amendedamended, and paragraph (c) is added to subsection (6) of that section, to read:

464.019 Approval of nursing education programs.— (1) PROGRAM APPLICATION.—An educational institution that wishes to conduct a program in this state for the prelicensure Pageeducation 4of professional or practical nurses must submit to the department a program application and review fee of 18$1,000 CODING:for each prelicensure nursing education program to be offered at the institution’s main campus, branch campus, or other instructional site.

The program application must include the legal name of the educational institution, the legal name of the nursing education program, the legal name of the nursing education program director, the status and outcome of any pending or closed disciplinary case against the applicant in another regulatory jurisdiction in the United States, and, if such institution is Page 5 of 18 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 31-00436B-26603-03211-26 2026254__2026254c1 educationaccredited, of professional or practical nurses must submit to the departmentname a program application and review fee of $1,000 for each prelicensure nursing education program to be offered at the institution’saccrediting mainagency. campus, branch campus, or other instructional site.

The program application must include the legal name of the educational institution, the legal name of the nursing education program, the legal name of the nursing education program director, and, if such institution is accredited, the name of the accrediting agency.

Fifty percent clinical training in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession or territory of the PageUnited 5States offor 18a CODING:practical nursing education program, an associate degree professional nursing education program, or a professional diploma nursing education program.

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Florida Senate - 2026 SB 254 31-00436B-26 2026254__ United States for a practical nursing education program, an associate degree professional nursing education program, or a professional diploma nursing education program.

(c)Page No6 more than 50 percent of the18 program’sCODING: clinical training consists of clinical simulation.

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 603-03211-26 2026254c1 (c) No more than 50 percent of the program’s clinical training consists of clinical simulation.

For community-based clinical experiences that involve Pagestudent 6participation ofin 18invasive CODING:or complex nursing activities, students must be directly supervised by a program faculty member or clinical preceptor and such arrangement must be approved by the community-based clinical facility.

4.

For community-based clinical experiences not subject to subparagraph 3., indirect supervision may occur only when a supervising program faculty member is available to the student Page 7 of 18 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 31-00436B-26603-03211-26 2026254__2026254c1 student participation in invasive or complex nursing activities, students must be directly supervised by atelephone. program faculty member or clinical preceptor and such arrangement must be approved by the community-based clinical facility.

4.

For community-based clinical experiences not subject to subparagraph 3., indirect supervision may occur only when a supervising program faculty member is available to the student by telephone.

A professional Pagenursing 7education ofprogram 18must CODING:also provide theoretical instruction and clinical application in interpersonal relationships and leadership skills;

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Florida Senate - 2026 SB 254 31-00436B-26 2026254__ nursing education program must also provide theoretical instruction and clinical application in interpersonal relationships and leadership skills;

The admission criteria must, at a minimum, identify those studentsPage who8 areof likely18 toCODING: need additional preparation and educational support to be successful program graduates.

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 603-03211-26 2026254c1 students who are likely to need additional preparation and educational support to be successful program graduates.

(k) Beginning August 1, 2027, a program with a passage rate more than 10 percentage points lower than the average national passage rate during the same calendar year for graduates of Pagecomparable 8degree programs who are United States-educated, first-time test takers on the NCLEX, as calculated by the contract testing service of 18the CODING:National Council of State Boards of Nursing, offers a graduate nursing preceptorship to its graduates.

If a graduate from such a program does not pass the NCLEX at the conclusion of his or her preceptorship, the professional or practical nursing education program must offer Page 9 of 18 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 31-00436B-26603-03211-26 2026254__2026254c1 comparableremediation degreeto programs who are United States-educated, first-time test takers on the NCLEX, as calculated by the contract testing service of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, offers a graduate nursingfor preceptorshipfree. to its graduates.

If a graduate from such a program does not pass the NCLEX at the conclusion of his or her preceptorship, the professional or practical nursing education program must offer remediation to the graduate for free.

464.008(5)464.008(6) may participate in such preceptorships.

A program application is deemed Pagecomplete 9upon ofthe 18department’s CODING:receipt of:

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Florida Senate - 2026 SB 254 31-00436B-26 2026254__ complete upon the department’s receipt of:

(b)Page Following10 the department’s receipt of a18 completeCODING: program application, the board may conduct an onsite evaluation if necessary to document the applicant’s compliance with subsection (1).

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 603-03211-26 2026254c1 (b) Following the department’s receipt of a complete program application, the board may conduct an onsite evaluation if necessary to document the applicant’s compliance with subsection (1).

Page(e) 10The ofboard 18may CODING:consider adverse actions taken against a nursing education program by another regulatory jurisdiction in the United States in determining program approval.

The program director of an approved program must notify the board within 15 days after any adverse action is taken against the program by another regulatory jurisdiction in the United States.

1.

The board shall deny an application from an applicant if Page 11 of 18 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 31-00436B-26603-03211-26 2026254__2026254c1 (e)another Theregulatory boardjurisdiction shallin denythe anUnited applicationStates from a program that has hadterminated adverseor actionotherwise takenrevoked againstits itauthority byto anotheroperate regulatorya jurisdictionnursing ineducation theprogram. United States.

The2. board may also revoke the approval of an existing approved program that has had adverse action taken against it by another regulatory jurisdiction in the United States.

ForThe purposesboard ofmay thisinvestigate paragraph, the termnature “adverseof action”an meansadverse anyaction. administrative, civil, or criminal action imposed by a licensing board or other state authority against a program.

TheIn terminstances includesof actionsadverse suchaction asother revocation,than suspension,termination probation, or anyrevocation otherof encumbrancea affecting the program’s authorizationauthority to operate.operate, the board may:

a.

Approve the application;

b.

Approve the application with conditions;

or c.

Deny the application.

3.

The board may impose disciplinary remedies on an approved program against which an adverse action has been taken by another regulatory jurisdiction in the United States.

The board may impose remedies up to and including revocation of a program’s approval pursuant to rules adopted under this section.

ThePage board12 must terminate the program pursuant to chapter 120 if the requirements of this18 subsectionCODING: are not met.

Upon request, Page 11 of 18 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 31-00436B-26603-03211-26 2026254__2026254c1 theThe board maymust giveterminate anthe extensionprogram forpursuant good cause not to exceedchapter 60120 daysif for a program to meet the requirements of this subsection.subsection are not met.

Upon request, the board may give an extension for good cause not to exceed 60 days for a program to meet the requirements of this subsection.

(4) INTERNET WEBSITE.—The board shall publish the following information on its Internet website:

(a) A list of each accredited program conducted in the state and the program’s graduate passage rates for the most recent 2 calendar years, which the department shall determine through the following sources:

1.

For a program’s accreditation status, the specialized accrediting agencies that are nationally recognized by the United States Secretary of Education to accredit nursing education programs.

2.

For a program’s graduate passage rates, the contract testing service of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

(b) The following data for each approved program, which includes, to the extent applicable:

1.

All documentation provided by the program in its program application.

2.

The summary description of the program’s compliance submitted under subsection (3).

3.

The program’s accreditation status, including identification of the accrediting agency.

4.

The program’s probationary status.

5.

The program’s graduate passage rates for the most recent 2 calendar years.

Page 12 of 18 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 SB 254 31-00436B-26 2026254__ 6.

Each program’s retention rates for students tracked from program entry to graduation.

(c) The average passage rates for United States educated, first-time test takers on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination for the most recent 2 calendar years, as calculated by the contract testing service of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

The average passage rates shall be published separately for each type of comparable degree program listed in subparagraph (5)(a)1., and individually for each approved nursing program.

The information required to be published under this subsection shall be made available in a manner that allows interactive searches and comparisons of individual programs selected by the website user.

The board shall update the Internet website at least quarterly with the available information.

Professional nursing education programs that terminate Pagein 13a ofbachelor’s 18degree. CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 SB 254 31-00436B-26 2026254__ in a bachelor’s degree.

If an approved program’s graduate passage rates do not equal or exceed the required passage rates for 2 consecutive calendarPage years,13 theof board18 mustCODING: shall place the program on probationary status pursuant to chapter 120 and the program director must submit a written remediation plan to the board.

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 603-03211-26 2026254c1 calendar years, the board must shall place the program on probationary status pursuant to chapter 120 and the program director must submit a written remediation plan to the board.

The board must terminate a program pursuant to chapter 120 if the program director fails to submit a written remediation plan or fails to appear before the board and present the remediation plan nowithin later than 6 months after the date of the program being placed on probation.

Upon the program’s achievement of a graduate passage rate that equals or exceeds the required passage rate, the Pageboard, 14at its next regularly scheduled meeting following release of 18the CODING:program’s graduate passage rate by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, shall remove the program’s probationary status.

If the program, during the 2 calendar years following its placement on probationary status, does not achieve the required passage rate for any 1 calendar year, the board must may extend the program’s probationary status for 1 additional year, provided the program has demonstrated adequate Page 14 of 18 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 31-00436B-26603-03211-26 2026254__2026254c1 board,progress attoward its next regularly scheduled meeting following release of the program’s graduate passage rate goal by themeeting Nationala Councilmajority of Statethe Boardsbenchmarks ofestablished Nursing,in shall remove the program’sremediation probationaryplan. status.

If the program, during the 2 calendar years following its placement on probationary status, does not achieve the required passage rate for any 1 calendar year, the board must may extend the program’s probationary status for 1 additional year, provided the program has demonstrated adequate progress toward the graduate passage rate goal by meeting a majority of the benchmarks established in the remediation plan.

The notification must include an explanation of the implications of the program’s probationary Pagestatus 15on ofthe 18students CODING:or applicants.

(d) If students from a program that is terminated pursuant to this subsection transfer to an approved or an accredited program under the direction of the Commission for Independent Education, the board must shall recalculate the passage rates of the programs receiving the transferring students, excluding the test scores of those students transferring more than 12 credits.

(e) Duly authorized agents or employees of the department Page 15 of 18 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 31-00436B-26603-03211-26 2026254__2026254c1 statusmay onconduct theonsite studentsevaluations or applicants.inspections at any time during business hours to ensure that approved programs or accredited programs are in full compliance with this chapter, or to determine whether this chapter or s.

(d) If students from a program that is terminated pursuant to this subsection transfer to an approved or an accredited program under the direction of the Commission for Independent Education, the board must shall recalculate the passage rates of the programs receiving the transferring students, excluding the test scores of those students transferring more than 12 credits.

(e) Duly authorized agents or employees of the department may conduct onsite evaluations or inspections at any time during business hours to ensure that approved programs or accredited programs are in full compliance with this chapter, or to determine whether this chapter or s.

(6) DISCLOSURE OF GRADUATE PASSAGE RATE DATA.— (a)(c) ForThe each graduate of the program includeddirector inshall theensure calculationthat of the program’s graduate passage rate,rates thefor department shall disclose to the programmost director,recent upon2 hiscalendar oryears, heras writtenpublished request,by the name,board examinationon date,its andwebsite determinationpursuant of whether each graduate passed or failed the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination, if such information is provided to thesubsection department(4), byare theconspicuously contractposted testingon service of the Nationalprogram’s Councilwebsite. of State Boards of Nursing.

The departmentprogram’s shallwebsite disclosemust toinclude theonly program director the averagegraduate passage raterates forspecific graduatesto fromthat itsprogram. program written request must specify the calendar years for which the Page 16 of 18 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 SB 254 31-00436B-26 2026254__ information is requested.

(b) A program director to whom confidential information exempt from public disclosure pursuant to s.

456.014 is disclosed under this subsection must maintain the confidentiality of the information and is subject to the same penalties provided in s.

456.082 for department employees who unlawfully disclose confidential information.

(c) The program director shall ensure that the graduate average passage rate, as reported by the department, is posted on the program’s website.

The board mayPage not16 imposeof any18 conditionCODING: or requirement on an educational institution submitting a program application, an approved program, or an accredited program, except as expressly provided in this section.

(11) ACCREDITATION REQUIRED.— (f) An approved nursing education program may, no sooner Page 17 of 18 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 31-00436B-26603-03211-26 2026254__2026254c1 thanmay 90not daysimpose beforeany thecondition deadlineor forrequirement meetingon thean accreditationeducational requirementsinstitution ofsubmitting thisa subsection,program applyapplication, toan theapproved boardprogram, foror an extensionaccredited ofprogram, theexcept accreditationas deadlineexpressly forprovided ain periodthis whichsection. does not exceed 2 years.

(11) ACCREDITATION REQUIRED.— (f) An approved nursing education program may, no sooner than 90 days before the deadline for meeting the accreditation requirements of this subsection, apply to the board for an extension of the accreditation deadline for a period which does not exceed 2 years.

The applicable deadline under this paragraph is tolled from the datePage on17 whichof an18 approvedCODING: program applies for an extension until the date on which the board issues a decision on the requested extension.

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 254 603-03211-26 2026254c1 date on which an approved program applies for an extension until the date on which the board issues a decision on the requested extension.

Subsection (4) of section 464.022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

464.022 Exceptions.—No provision of this part shall be construed to prohibit:

(4) The practice of nursing by graduates of prelicensure nursing education programs listed in s.

464.008(1)(c), pending the result of the first licensing examination for which they are eligible following graduation, provided they practice under direct supervision of a registered professional nurse;

or by temporary provisional licensees practicing under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, as applicable.

The board shall by rule define what constitutes direct supervision.

Section 4.