Which set of authorities governs nursing licensure and practice in Florida?

• A. Florida Statute XXXII; Chapter 456; Chapter 464
• B. Florida Administrative Code & Register
• C. Florida Administrative Code: Title 64B9
• D. Department of Health: Rules and Regulations

Answer: (A)

Licensure and regulation of nurses in Florida come from the state's statutes that establish and authorize the profession’s rules, not merely from administrative rules alone. The Nursing Practice Act is found in Chapter 464, Florida Statutes, and it sets the standards for who can be licensed, the scope of nursing practice, and the grounds for discipline. The broader framework for licensing professional practitioners is outlined in Chapter 456, which covers professional practice and the creation and authority of the boards (including the Board of Nursing) that oversee licensure. The Florida Administrative Code (and its Title 64B9 for nursing) provides the implementing rules that carry out those statutes—spelling out the specific licensing procedures, continuing education requirements, and disciplinary processes. Together, these statutory chapters and their implementing rules govern nursing licensure and practice in Florida.