SB 1600, Mobile Endorsement was signed into law with an effective date of July 1, 2024. This legislation establishes a new universal process for licensure by endorsement for health care professions regulated by the Florida Department of Health’s (the Department’s) Division of Medical Quality Assurance. To qualify, the health care practitioner must meet specific criteria, including various testing, training, and experience qualifications for their profession. The bill also repeals existing licensure by endorsement statutes from various individual practice acts.
Each applicable board, or the Department if there is no board, shall adopt rules incorporating application forms for the MOBILE Act licensure pathway within six months after its effective date. Once the application form is finalized and adopted into rule, the DOH will begin accepting applications. Please continue to check the board website for updates.
To be licensed as a Speech-Language Pathologist in Florida through the MOBILE Endorsement pathway you must meet the following requirements in section 456.0145, Florida Statutes:
- Must hold 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, determined by the board or the department, as applicable.
- Must have obtained a passing score on a national licensure examination or hold a national certification recognized by the board;
OR
An applicant for a profession that does not require a national examination or national certification is eligible for licensure if the applicable board, or the department if there is no board, determines that the jurisdiction in which the applicant currently holds an active, unencumbered license meets established minimum education requirements and, if applicable, examination, work experience, and clinical supervision requirements are substantially similar to the requirements for licensure in that profession in this state.
- Must have actively practiced the profession for at least two years during the four-year period immediately preceding the date of submission of this application.
- Must not have ever been reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank, unless the applicant successfully appealed to have the report removed or if the reported adverse action was a result of conduct that would not constitute a violation of any Florida law or rule.
- Must not be the subject of a disciplinary proceeding in a jurisdiction in which he or she holds a license or by the United States Department of Defense for reason related to the practice of the profession for which the applicant is applying.
- Must not have had disciplinary action taken in the five years immediately preceding the date of submission of the application.
Refer to section 456.0145(2)(c), Florida Statutes, for licensure ineligibility criteria.