Professional Licensure – Florida

Licensing Agency

Florida Commission for Independent Education

Georgia Southern University is authorized to operate in Florida through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). 

Athletic Training 

State Board

Florida Board of Athletic Training

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Science in Athletic Training program meets educational requirements to qualify for Athletic Trainer licensure in Florida. Upon graduation eligible students must take and pass the Board of Certification Examination to obtain licensure in Florida.

Accounting

State Board

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Distance Education Disclosure
Georgia Southern University is authorized to deliver the online Master of Accounting (WebMAcc) program in Florida through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Exam Requirements

Applicants for the uniform CPA exam in Florida must complete a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited institution that includes 120 semester hours. Of those, 24 hours must be in upper division accounting courses to include auditing and cost accounting, 3 hours of financial accounting, and 3 hours of taxation. In addition, 24 hours must be in upper division general business courses, including 3 hours of business law. 

Licensure Requirements 

Applicants for Florida CPA licensure must complete 150 semester hours of postsecondary education, including completion of a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited institution. Of those, 30 hours must be in upper division accounting to include auditing and cost accounting, 3 hours of financial accounting, and 3 hours of taxation. In addition, 36 hours must be in general business to include 3 hours of business law. 

Licensure Disclosure

Coupled with an undergraduate accounting degree or an appropriate number of accounting courses, completion of either Georgia Southern University’s Master of Accounting or Georgia Southern University’s online Master of Accounting (WebMAcc) meets educational requirements to apply for the uniform CPA exam and/or apply for a CPA license in Florida.

Florida does not require an ethics exam to obtain a CPA license. 

Communication Sciences and Disorders 

State Board

Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Science in Communication Sciences Disorders meets educational requirements for Speech-Language Pathologist in Florida.

This program also meets the educational requirements for a Certification in the Area of Speech-Language Impaired (Grades K-12)-Academic Class.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Science in Communication Sciences Disorders or the  Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders meets the educational requirements for a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SPL-A) in Florida.

Education

State Board

Florida Department of Education

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern is authorized to offer the following online programs in Florida through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA): Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education in Curriculum Instruction – Accomplished Teaching, Master of Education in Educational Leadership, Master of Education in Instructional Technology, Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology, Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership, Graduate Certificate in School Library Media

Licensure Disclosure (Distance Education Programs)

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education does meet educational requirements for Elementary Education teaching certification in Florida. Florida accepts approved teacher preparation programs from other states for initial certification, provided that: the program area is also a subject in which Florida offers certification, and the training was completed at the same degree level required in Florida for that subject. If you are a graduate of an approved teacher preparation program from an institution located in another state, you will likely qualify for a Temporary Florida Educator’s Certificate. The Temporary Certificate allows you to begin teaching full-time while you complete the certification exams for the Professional Certificate.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Arts in Teaching does meet educational requirements initial teaching certification in Florida. Florida accepts approved teacher preparation programs from other states for initial certification, provided that: the program area is also a subject in which Florida offers certification, and the training was completed at the same degree level required in Florida for that subject. If you are a graduate of an approved teacher preparation program from an institution located in another state, you will likely qualify for a Temporary Florida Educator’s Certificate. The Temporary Certificate allows you to begin teaching full-time while you complete the certification exams for the Professional Certificate.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction – Accomplished Teaching does NOT meet educational requirements for Curriculum and Instruction teaching certification in Florida because it is not a recognized pathway in Florida.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership does meet educational requirements for Tier 1 teacher/leader certification in Florida. Florida accepts approved teacher preparation programs from other states for initial certification, provided that: the program area is also a subject in which Florida offers certification, and the training was completed at the same degree level required in Florida for that subject. If you are a graduate of an approved teacher preparation program from an institution located in another state, you will likely qualify for a Temporary Florida Educator’s Certificate. The Temporary Certificate allows you to begin teaching full-time while you complete the certification exams for the Professional Certificate.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Instructional Technology does NOT meet educational requirements for Instructional Technology teaching certification in Florida because it is not a recognized pathway in Florida.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology does NOT meet educational requirements for Instructional Technology teaching certification in Florida because it is not a recognized pathway in Florida.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership does NOT meet educational requirements for Tier 1 teacher/leader certification in Florida because it is not a recognized pathway in Florida.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in School Library Media does NOT meet educational requirements for School Library Media teacher/leader certification in Florida.

Licensure Disclosure (On-Campus Programs)

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education does meet educational requirements for Health and Physical Education teaching certification in Florida. Florida accepts approved teacher preparation programs from other states for initial certification, provided that: the program area is also a subject in which Florida offers certification, and the training was completed at the same degree level required in Florida for that subject. If you are a graduate of an approved teacher preparation program from an institution located in another state, you will likely qualify for a Temporary Florida Educator’s Certificate. The Temporary Certificate allows you to begin teaching full-time while you complete the certification exams for the Professional Certificate.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education  does meet educational requirements for Middle Grades Education teaching certification in Florida. Florida accepts approved teacher preparation programs from other states for initial certification, provided that: the program area is also a subject in which Florida offers certification, and the training was completed at the same degree level required in Florida for that subject. If you are a graduate of an approved teacher preparation program from an institution located in another state, you will likely qualify for a Temporary Florida Educator’s Certificate. The Temporary Certificate allows you to begin teaching full-time while you complete the certification exams for the Professional Certificate.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education does meet educational requirements for Secondary Education teaching certification in Florida. Florida accepts approved teacher preparation programs from other states for initial certification, provided that: the program area is also a subject in which Florida offers certification, and the training was completed at the same degree level required in Florida for that subject. If you are a graduate of an approved teacher preparation program from an institution located in another state, you will likely qualify for a Temporary Florida Educator’s Certificate. The Temporary Certificate allows you to begin teaching full-time while you complete the certification exams for the Professional Certificate.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Special Education does meet educational requirements for Special Education teaching certification in Florida. Florida accepts approved teacher preparation programs from other states for initial certification, provided that: the program area is also a subject in which Florida offers certification, and the training was completed at the same degree level required in Florida for that subject. If you are a graduate of an approved teacher preparation program from an institution located in another state, you will likely qualify for a Temporary Florida Educator’s Certificate. The Temporary Certificate allows you to begin teaching full-time while you complete the certification exams for the Professional Certificate.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Counseling Education, Concentration in School Counseling does meet educational requirements for School Counselor certification in Florida. Florida accepts approved teacher preparation programs from other states for initial certification, provided that: the program area is also a subject in which Florida offers certification, and the training was completed at the same degree level required in Florida for that subject. If you are a graduate of an approved teacher preparation program from an institution located in another state, you will likely qualify for a Temporary Florida Educator’s Certificate. The Temporary Certificate allows you to begin teaching full-time while you complete the certification exams for the Professional Certificate.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Counseling Education, Concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling does NOT meet to meet educational requirements for either National Certified Counselor (NCC) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certification in Florida.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Education Specialist in School Psychology does meet educational requirements for School Psychologist certification in Florida. Florida accepts approved teacher preparation programs from other states for initial certification, provided that: the program area is also a subject in which Florida offers certification, and the training was completed at the same degree level required in Florida for that subject. If you are a graduate of an approved teacher preparation program from an institution located in another state, you will likely qualify for a Temporary Florida Educator’s Certificate. The Temporary Certificate allows you to begin teaching full-time while you complete the certification exams for the Professional Certificate.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Art Education teaching certification in Florida.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Music in Music Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Music Education teaching certification in Florida.

Engineering

State Board

Florida Board of Professional Engineers

Florida Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers

Licensure Disclosure

State licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) is not required to work in the field of engineering. However, many employment opportunities require a PE license.

Georgia Southern’s Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering are EAC-ABET-accredited.

The minimum requirements for a PE license include completion of a BS degree in Engineering from an EAC-ABET accredited engineering program; successful completion of the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) Exam; successful completion of the Professional Engineer (PE) Exam; and 4-years of work experience as specified by the state’s licensing board.

Completion of Georgia Southern’s Bachelor of Science Programs in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Manufacturing Engineering meet the educational requirements to begin the licensure process in New Hampshire, by providing the coursework necessary to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination. Software Engineering does not have a specific PE examination. It is typically recommended that candidates sit for their FE exam toward the end of their senior year, or soon after graduation.

Georgia Southern’s embedded Surveying-Geomatics certificate meets the educational requirement to sit for the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) examination to become a land surveyor intern or land surveyor in training (LSIT) which is the first step in becoming a PLS in Maryland.

To apply for a professional land surveyor license (PLS) in Florida you must:

The applicant has received a bachelor’s degree, its equivalent, or higher in surveying and mapping or a similarly titled program, including, but not limited to, geomatics, geomatics engineering, and land surveying, from a college or university recognized by the board and accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).The applicant must also have a specific experience record of 4 or more years as a subordinate to a professional surveyor and mapper in the active practice of surveying and mapping, which experience is of a nature indicating that the applicant was in responsible charge of the accuracy and correctness of the surveying and mapping work performed. Work experience acquired as a part of the education requirement may not be construed as experience in responsible charge.

Geology 

State Board

Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Geosciences with a Concentration in Geology does meet the educational requirements to apply for a Geologist license in Florida. The state of Florida requires 5 years work experience before sitting for ASBOG Practice of Geology (PG) exam and final licensure.

Interior Architecture and Design

State Board

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Interior Design does meet education requirements for licensure in Florida for Registered Interior Designer. To qualify for licensure, students need to have passed the NCIDQ- National Exam, which requires 60 semester hours of post-secondary interior design coursework that encompasses a degree, certificate or diploma from an accredited program (e.g. CIDA). Students are eligible to take the first of three tests during senior year after 60 semester hours are met.

Medical Laboratory Science 

State Board

Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern is authorized to offer the online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science, MLT to BSMLS and Fast Track Degree Completion program in Florida. through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science does meet education requirements for Medical Laboratory Scientist licensure in Florida. 

Completion of the online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science, MLT to BSMLS and Fast Track Degree Completion program does meet education requirements for Medical Laboratory Scientist licensure in Florida. 

Nursing 

State Board

Florida Board of Nursing

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern is authorized to offer the following online programs in Florida through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA): RN-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Post-BSN-DNP, and Post-MSN APRN Certificates. DNP and Post-MSN APRN Certificates are only authorized for the online didactic portion of the program in Florida. All clinical work must occur in Georgia or South Carolina.

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program does meet the educational requirements for Registered Nurse licensure in Florida.

Completion of the DNP, BSN to DNP, or Post-MSN APRN Certificate (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) programs meets educational requirements to sit for national specialty certifications in the chosen advanced practice specialty track and to apply for an APRN license (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) in Florida. Georgia and South Carolina residents with a valid Florida RN license can apply for APRN licensure in Florida upon graduation. 

Physical Therapy

State Board

Florida Board of Physical Therapy

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program does meet educational requirements for Physical Therapist licensure in Florida. Upon completion, eligible students must also pass the National Physical Therapist Examination, which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Additional testing, background clearance, and other requirements may also need to be met prior to applying for admission through the  Florida Board of Physical Therapy

Psychology

State Board

Florida Board of Psychology

Licensure Disclosure

Florida does not require a state board exam for licensure for Behavior Analyst Certification. 

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology does meet education requirements for psychologist licensure in Florida.

Radiologic Sciences 

State Board

Florida Department of Health (Radiologic Technology)

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern University is authorized to offer the online Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences, RT to BSRS Bridge Degree Completion program in Florida through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science, Concentration in Radiography does meet educational requirements for Radiologic Technologist Registered-Radiography RT (R) in Florida. Florida certification is required of all Radiologic Technology professionals practicing in Florida. See s. 468.302, F.S., for further information. Persons with current ARRT licensure can apply for certification by endorsement in Florida as long as they meet all other requirements. “For those applying to become General Radiographers, Nuclear Medicine Technologists, and Radiation Therapists the requirement for an approved educational program means they must have successfully completed a two-year accredited Radiologic Technology Program. Under s. 468.3065, F.S., applicants may be certified by endorsement if they meet all the requirements listed above and can demonstrate that they hold a current Radiologic Technology certificate, license, or registration in another jurisdiction which is substantially equivalent (in the Department’s opinion) to the Florida certificate.”

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science, Concentration in Cardiovascular Interventional Science does meet educational requirements for Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) licensure in Georgia. 

FL is a non-licensure state for sonography. The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) is the gold standard for the clinical setting.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science, Concentration in Nuclear Medicine does meet educational requirements for Radiologic Technologist Registered – Nuclear Medicine RT(N) licensure in Georgia. Florida certification is required of all Nuclear Medicine Technologists practicing in the State of Florida. See s. 468.302, F.S., for further information. Persons with current NMTCB licensure can apply for endorsement in Florida as long as they meet all other requirements. “For those applying to become General Radiographers, Nuclear Medicine Technologists, and Radiation Therapists the requirement for an approved educational program means they must have successfully completed a two-year accredited Radiologic Technology Program. Under s. 468.3065, F.S., applicants may be certified by endorsement if they meet all the requirements listed above and can demonstrate that they hold a current Radiologic Technology certificate, license, or registration in another jurisdiction which is substantially equivalent (in the Department’s opinion) to the Florida certificate.”

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science, Concentration in Radiation Therapy does meet educational requirements for Radiologic Technologist Registered – Radiation Therapy RT(T) licensure in Georgia. Florida certification is required of all Radiologic Technology professionals practicing in Florida. See s. 468.302, F.S., for further information. Persons with current ARRT licensure can apply for certification by endorsement in Florida as long as they meet all other requirements. “For those applying to become Radiation Therapists the requirement for an approved educational program means they must have successfully completed a two-year accredited Radiologic Technology Program. Under s. 468.3065, F.S., applicants may be certified by endorsement if they meet all the requirements listed above and can demonstrate that they hold a current Radiologic Technology certificate, license, or registration in another jurisdiction which is substantially equivalent (in the Department’s opinion) to the Florida certificate.”

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Clinical Specialist in Advanced Imaging Certificate, Mammography concentration does meet educational requirements in Florida. Florida certification is required of all Radiologic Technology professionals practicing in Florida. See s. 468.302, F.S., for further information. Persons with current ARRT licensure can apply for certification by endorsement in Florida as long as they meet all other requirements. An applicant for specialty technologist certification shall submit: proof of current certification from an approved national organization in an advanced, post-primary, or specialty area of radiologic technology.  The following are approved as national organizations for certain advanced, post-primary or specialty areas of radiologic technologist certification, and for the technologists’ duties (also known as practice standards):  1) The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for the Mammography (M) area of certification.   2) The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) for the Mammography (M) practice standards. 

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Clinical Specialist in Advanced Imaging Certificate, Computed Tomography Concentration does meet educational requirements in Florida. Florida certification is required of all Radiologic Technology professionals practicing in Florida. See s. 468.302, F.S., for further information. Persons with current ARRT licensure can apply for certification by endorsement in Florida as long as they meet all other requirements. An applicant for specialty technologist certification shall submit: proof of current certification from an approved national organization in an advanced, post-primary, or specialty area of radiologic technology.  The following are approved as national organizations for certain advanced, post-primary or specialty areas of radiologic technologist certification, and for the technologists’ duties (also known as practice standards):  1) The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for  Computed Tomography (CT) registry. Each certificate is valid for 2 years during which the certificate holder must obtain 12 hours of continuing education. The department evaluates each continuing education course and furnishes a list of approved course providers to each technologist.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Clinical Specialist in Advanced Imaging Certificate, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Concentration does meet educational requirements in Florida. Florida certification is required of all Radiologic Technology professionals practicing in Florida. See s. 468.302, F.S., for further information. Persons with current ARRT licensure can apply for certification by endorsement in Florida as long as they meet all other requirements. “To become certified, each applicant must demonstrate competency typically in areas such as radiation protection, equipment operation and maintenance, image production and evaluation, procedures, and patient care. Each certificate is valid for 2 years during which the certificate holder must obtain 12 hours of continuing education. The department evaluates each continuing education course and furnishes a list of approved course providers to each technologist. Department inspectors verify the certification of each technologist during the inspection of medical x-ray machines, nuclear medicine facilities and radiation therapy facilities.”

Respiratory Therapy

State Board

Florida Board of Respiratory Care

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern University is authorized to offer the online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy, RRT to BS Career Ladder Degree Completion in Florida through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program does meet educational requirements to qualify for Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) licensure in Florida

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy, RRT to BS Career Ladder Degree Completion does meet educational requirements to qualify for Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) licensure in Florida.