Which entity develops long-range plans for governing licensed and unlicensed professionals?

• A. Florida Center for Nursing
• B. Department of Health
• C. Florida Board of Nursing
• D. Agency for Health Care Administration

Answer: (B)

In Florida, long-range regulatory planning for health professionals is handled by the Department of Health. This state agency oversees licensing, regulation, and policy coordination for health professionals, working with the boards to ensure a cohesive framework that governs both licensed practitioners and those who practice under regulatory oversight without a specific license.

The Florida Board of Nursing sits within this system but focuses on nursing-specific licensure, standards, and discipline rather than broad, cross-professional planning. The Florida Center for Nursing concentrates on understanding and addressing the nursing workforce needs, data, and education pathways, not on regulatory governance across all professions. The Agency for Health Care Administration regulates health care facilities, services, and payment programs, not the overarching regulation of professional practice.

So the Department of Health is the entity responsible for developing long-range plans for governing licensed and unlicensed professionals.