Annual Report and Long-Range Plan | Fiscal Year 2022-23 18 Designed to keep health care workers up-to-date on medical advances, CE credits are an educational requirement for professionals with health care careers as they fill the gap between current care and optimal care. In FY 2022-23, MQA received 566 and approved 553 applications for CE providers to be able to offer courses pursuant to Florida laws and statutes (Figure 5). Another way to keep up with the latest advancements, improve skills, and advance patient outcomes is by upgrading health care licensure and certifications after an initial license is issued. As shown by Figure 6, MQA received and issued the highest number of upgrade applications in FY 2022-23 (30,137 and 26,655, respectively). In fact, 73.1% more licenses were upgraded this year than were issued five years ago (26,655 in FY 2022-23 compared to 15,394 in FY 2018-19). Of all the professions to upgrade, nursing accounted for the most upgrade licenses (52.5%), followed by pharmacy (43.7%). That is 14,002 nurses (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses/ APRN, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Registered Nurses) upgraded to either autonomous practice APRN or the Nurse Licensure Compact, while 11,652 pharmacies and registered pharmacy technicians received certifications to administer immunizations, collaboratively practice with a physician, and/or conduct point-of-care testing and diagnostic services for minor, nonchronic health conditions (test and treat).. What are Autonomous APRNs and the Nurse Licensure Compact? APRNs are eligible to practice autonomously if they meet certain legislatively mandated eligibility criteria per section 464.0123, Florida Statutes. Autonomous APRNs (A-APRNs) are permitted to practice in primary care settings including family medicine, general pediatrics, and general internal medicine, as defined by the Florida Board of Nursing’s rule. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an interstate compact that allows a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse to have a multistate license in the primary state of residency, permitting the nurse to practice in other member states subject to each state’s practice laws. Figure 5: CE Applications Received vs. Approved Figure 6: Upgrade Applications Received vs. Issued
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