INNOVATION We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely. ACCOUNTABILITY We perform with integrity and respect. COLLABORATION We use teamwork to achieve common goals and solve problems. RESPONSIVENESS We achieve our mission by serving our customers. EXCELLENCE We promote quality outcomes through learning and continuous performance improvement. VISION To be the healthiest state in the nation. MISSION To protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts. VALUES
TABLE OF CONTENTS Message From the State Surgeon General Message From the Director Executive Summary About MQA Composition Boards Councils Department Regulated Professions and Facilities Program Areas Office of Veteran Licensure Services Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Unlicensed Activity Program Long-Range Policy Planning Purpose Partners Strategic Goals Annual Performance Results Reduction of Year-Old Cases Disciplinary Guidelines Appendix I: Information Tables Appendix II: Resources Customer Resources Executive Directory 04 05 06 08 08 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 13 14 20 21 23 88 88 90
MESSAGE FROM THE STATE SURGEON GENERAL I am pleased to present the Florida Department of Health’s (Department) Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Annual Report and Long-Range Plan. This report captures the Department’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of all Floridians. At the heart of a strong public health system is a highly competent health care workforce. MQA serves a critical role in protecting the public by ensuring that Florida’ s health care practitioners meet established standards of safety, ethics, and competence. This work is not just a regulatory necessity—it is a foundational component of our state’s broader health infrastructure. Florida remains committed to advancing solutions that reduce regulatory barriers, suppor t professional mobility, and maintain accountability. Through the timely licensure of qualified pra ctitioners and the enforcement of fair and consist ent standards, MQA continues to partner with regulatory boards and councils to strengthen the deliv ery of health services in Florida’s communities. In fact, in an era marked by rapid advancements and evolving challenges, MQA has remained steadfast in its mission to license, enforce, and inform. In FY 2024-25, MQA processed more than 154,000 licensure applications and issued over 127,000 new licenses, helping to meet the growing demand in our workforce for statewide health care practitioners. MQA also received 34,994 complaints and completed 8,129 investigations, ensuring accountability across a workforce of more than 1.5 million licensees. Beyond these numbers, MQA continues to prioritize modernization efforts that emphasize clarity, speed, and transparency. Whether streamlining systems, updating standards, or expanding access to information, MQA has remained focused on serving both the public and the practitioners who care for them. These efforts align with the Department’s mission to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts. By continuing to bolster the systems that regulate our health care practitioners, we will ensure that Florida is the healthiest state in the nation and a trusted place to practice and receive care. I am confident that, together, we will continue to make meaningful strides toward this collective goal. Sincerely, Joseph A. Ladapo MD, PhD, State Surgeon General | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 4
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR It is with pride and gratitude that I present the FY 2024–25 Annual Report and Long-Range Plan for MQA. This past year, MQA has continued to elevate regulatory excellence in Florida’s health care landscape, advancing public protection through statutory compliance, enhanced transparency, and thoughtful modernization. As stewards of public health and safety, our work this year centered on implementing new legislative requirements that reflect the evolving needs of our state. Notably, in response to House Bill 197 (2024), MQA established new reporting mechanisms and compliance protocols related to the regulation of massage therapists and establishments. We launched Table 8B in this report to summarize investigations, complaints, and disciplinary actions specific to massage therapy licensees, ensuring timely transparency and statutory fidelity. To further support industry compliance, MQA and the Board of Massage Therapy conducted three statewide Massage Establishment Inspection Workshops, educating stakeholders on the inspection program and fostering a culture of accountability and safety. In parallel, the 2024 Live Healthy legislative package (Senate Bill 7016) paved the way for greater licensure mobility and workforce expansion. MQA responded with swift and coordinated implementation efforts, especially in advancing Florida’s participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) and streamlining endorsement pathways. This year’s report features two additional new tables, Tables 4A and 8A, which capture information around the licensure and discipline of practitioners licensed via MOBILE Act endorsement. These initiatives make it easier for qualified practitioners to enter Florida’s workforce while upholding the integrity and rigor of our licensure standards. Behind every initiative are the dedicated professionals of MQA, whose responsiveness and innovation continue to define our success. Our teams not only supported compliance and reporting efforts across multiple statutes but also worked cross-functionally to continue strengthening modernization initiatives like the Florida Health Care Complaint Portal, the Nursing Program Portal, and our AI-powered virtual agent, ELI, which serves web and voice chats across all professions. These tools underscore our commitment to regulatory efficiency and customer service. As we look to the future, MQA remains steadfast in its mission to protect, promote, and improve the health of all Floridians. Through data-driven decision-making, responsive oversight, and meaningful collaboration with our boards, councils, and partners, we are building a resilient and forward-looking regulatory environment. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership in this important work. Sincerely, Jennifer L. Wenhold, MSW, CPM MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 5
Growing to Meet Florida’s Health Care Needs Since FY 2015–16, Florida’s health care licensee population has surged by 32.3%, outpacing the state’s overall population growth of 15.9%. In FY 2024–25 alone: • MQA recorded a total of 1,572,475 licensed practitioners in Florida—a 2.3% increase over last year. • Licensure growth averaged 3.2% annually over the past five years. • MQA processed 154,990 initial applications and issued 127,779 initial licenses. • A record 644,406 license renewals were processed—an all-time high. Enhancing Access To support a mobile, adaptable workforce: • 16,361 License upgrades were issued (an average 21.3% annual growth over five years). • 7,489 Licensed practical nurses and registered nurses upgraded to a multistate license (MSL), comprising 45.8% of all upgrades. • Under the new MOBILE Act (effective July 1, 2024): → 16,322 applications were received → 8,863 licenses were issued • 1,465 Medical doctors and osteopathic physicians received a license through the IMLC. • 567 Continuing education (CE) provider applications were reviewed, with 534 approvals. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PROTECTING PATIENTS. EMPOWERING PRACTITIONERS. LEADING WITH INNOVATION. In a year of record growth for Florida’s health care workforce, MQA remained focused on its core mission: to protect the public while ensuring timely access to a robust, qualified health care workforce. As Florida’s population continues to grow—and with it, the demand for licensed practitioners—MQA has delivered innovative solutions, record-breaking results, and steadfast public protection. LEADING WITH TECHNOLOGY: MQA’s Virtual Agent, ELI As part of its commitment to innovation and customer service, MQA leveraged artificial intelligence to improve practitioner support: • ELI handled: → 839,339 voice calls → 280,650 web chats • In Quarter Four, ELI Voice was added to MQA’s background screening phone line, offering more efficient, on-demand support to callers. Safeguarding the Public with Vigilant Enforcement MQA enforced high standards of care and accountability: • 34,994 Complaints were received (↓ 30.2% from the previous year). • 19,282 Inspections were completed. • 8,129 Investigations completed (↑54.8% over the prior year). • 346 Emergency Orders issued: → 281 Emergency Suspension Orders (ESOs) → 65 Emergency Restriction Orders (EROs) • 1,566 Unlicensed activity complaints led to 609 cease and desist orders (↑ 20.6% orders from the previous year). • 1,236 Cases were resolved through a final order (↓ 17.4% since FY 2020–21). | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 6
To provide greater transparency and support for evolving licensure and compliance needs, this year’s Annual Report includes several new data tables and features: New Compliance Table, 8B, Disciplinary Cases Against Massage Therapists and Massage Establishments Introduced in response to House Bill 197 (2024), Table 8B presents detailed information on massage therapy establishment compliance, including investigations, complaints, and disciplinary actions. This table enhances visibility into regulatory oversight of massage therapy and supports statutory compliance. Expanded Licensure Mobility Tables (Tables 4A and 8A) Reflecting the impact of the MOBILE Act, these updated tables capture new licensure pathways and endorsement, offering a clearer picture of Florida’s efforts to expand health care workforce mobility. New Pathways and Upgrades in Licensure (Tables 1 and 5) This year marks Florida’s first year of participation in the IMLC following the passage of Senate Bill 7016 (2024); as such, eligible allopathic and osteopathic physicians applying through the IMLC began receiving a full Florida license. These licenses are reflected within the medical doctor and osteopathic physician counts in Table 1, Summary of Licensed Practitioners. To capture additional nuance, Table 5, Upgrade Applications Received and Upgrade Licenses Issued, distinguishes between two important categories of IMLC activity: • IMLC Redesignation Application (State of Principal Licensure) – Some physicians who already held a Florida license elected to “upgrade” by designating Florida as their state of principal licensure. This included 117 medical doctors and 19 osteopathic physicians. • Expedited Licenses Issued – This refers to physicians already licensed in Florida but not yet participating in the Compact who subsequently made the decision to participate and declare Florida as the State of Principal Licensure. This included 1,155 medical doctors and 174 osteopathic physicians. Together, these data illustrate Florida’s early integration into the IMLC and underscore the increasing role of IMLC in streamlining licensure pathways for physicians practicing across multiple states. WHAT’S NEW IN THIS REPORT MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 7
ABOUT MQA COMPOSITION MQA comprises three bureaus championing public protection and regulatory efficiency through licensure, enforcement, and information processes. Bureau of Health Care Practioner Regulation Operational Support Services Bureau of Enforcement Director’s Office Prosecution Services Unit Bureau of Operations MQA ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 8
BUREAU OF ENFORCEMENT BUREAU OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER REGULATION BUREAU OF OPERATIONS Office of Veteran Licensure Services Compliance Management Unit Licensure Support Services System Support Services Background Screening and Practitioner Notification Services Consumer Services Unit Investigative Services Unit Board Offices Prescription Drug Monitoring Program 22 Boards Four Councils Acts as the compliance and investigative arm of MQA, where complaints about practitioners are received and investigated and violations and administrative actions are established according to Florida Statutes and rules. The 11 field offices throughout the state facilitate the investigations of complaints and inspections of health care facilities. Consists of seven board offices and one program area that work with the 22 regulatory boards and four councils to implement rules into policy and advise on budget matters. Applications for licensure are reviewed, diciplinary hearings are conducted, and rules are promulgated in partnership with the boards and councils. Provides operational and infrastructure support to MQA and the boards and councils through four main units. Key functions range from document, contract, asset, and database management to license maintenance and renewal, background screening services, and voice, email, and AI-powered customer contact. MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 9
BOARDS AND COUNCILS Boards and Councils The composition of Florida’s 22 regulatory boards and four councils varies but typically includes Governor-appointed members representing individual practitioners from the regulated profession, public members serving as consumers, and other members from complementary professions. Department Regulated Professions and Facilities MQA inspects Department regulated facilities prior to opening, permitting, and licensing, after receiving a change in ownership or location application, and routinely to ensure compliance and patient safety. Professions • Certified Master Social Workers • Emergency Medical Technicians • Genetic Counselors • Medical Physicists • Paramedics • Radiologic Technologists • School Psychologists Facilities • Dental Laboratories • Dental Sedation Offices • Electrolysis Facilities • Massage Establishments • Office Surgery Registrations • Optical Establishments • Pain Management Clinics • Pharmacies Acupuncture Hearing Aid Specialists Athletic Training Massage Therapy Chiropractic Medicine Medicine Clinical Laboratory Personnel Nursing Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling Nursing Home Administrators Dentistry Occupational Therapy Board or Council Appointment Interest? If interested in an appointment to a health care regulatory board or council, complete the Gubernatorial Appointments Questionnaire at FLgov.com/eog/leadership/appointments for a board, or the Florida Department of Health Questionnaire at FL-Appointment.AzureWebsites. net for a council. | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 10
PROGRAM AREAS MQA’s programmatic activities provide value by supporting regulatory work and ensuring that high standards of performance are maintained. Prescription Drug Monitoring Program The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), also known as E-FORCSE, facilitates the collection, storage, maintenance, and analysis of controlled substance dispensing data reported by pharmacies and dispensing health care practitioners. For more information about the PDMP, please visit FLHealth.gov/ statistics-and-data/e-forcse. Unlicensed Activity Program The Unlicensed Activity (ULA) Program protects Florida residents and visitors from the potentially serious and dangerous consequences of receiving medical and health care services from an unlicensed person. MQA investigates and refers for prosecution all unlicensed health care activity complaints and allegations. To learn more about the signs of unlicensed activity and the ULA Program, visit FLHealthSource.gov/ ULA. Office of Veteran Licensure Services In 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 139, establishing the Office of Veteran Licensure Services (OVLS) within MQA to assist veterans and their spouses with the health care licensure process. In partnership with Veterans Florida, OVLS facilitates a referral program to assist veterans and their spouses with obtaining training, education, and employment in Florida’s health care professions. By implementing special fee waivers and expedited licensing, the Department can better support service members as they advance in their career, practice while stationed in their state, or settle in Florida after their service. For more information about licensing for military members and spouses, visit FLHealthSource.gov/OVLS. Opticianry Podiatric Medicine Optometry Psychology Orthotists and Prosthetists Respiratory Care Osteopathic Medicine Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Pharmacy Physical Therapy COUNCILS Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Electrolysis Licensed Midwifery Physician Assistants Electronic-Florida Online Reporting of Controlled Substances Evaluation MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 11
LONG-RANGE POLICY PLANNING PURPOSE MQA plays a pivotal role in supporting Department goals and state priorities by developing and executing a long-range policy planning and monitoring framework in partnership with its 22 regulatory boards and four councils. This ensures regulatory practices are both efficient and cost-effective, per section 456.005, Florida Statutes. PARTNERS • Agency for Health Care Administration • Agency for Persons with Disabilities • Office of Insurance Regulation • Department of Business and Professional Regulation • Department of Children and Families • Department of Elder Affairs • Department of Financial Services • Department of Law Enforcement 1. STATE • Department of Veterans’ Affairs • Greater Palm Beach County Task Force • Governor-appointed boards • Local Law Enforcement • Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation • North Florida Task Force • Office of the Attorney General • State Surgeon General-appointed councils • University of Florida • Chain pharmacies • CE compliance organizations • Federation of Health Care Regulatory Boards • Federation of State Medical Boards • Florida PDMP Foundation, Inc. • Florida Society of Health System Pharmacists • Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians • Impaired practitioner monitoring programs • Insurance companies 2. PRIVATE • Drug Enforcement Administration • Department of Health and Human Services • Department of Justice • Federal Bureau of Investigation • Food and Drug Administration • Office of Justice Programs • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 3. FEDERAL | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 12
STRATEGIC GOALS MQA supports the regulatory efficiency and health care workforce priorities of the state through timely, accessible, and accurate licensure, enforcement, and information activities for health care applicants, practitioners, and consumers. PRIORITY AREA: Regulatory efficiency GOAL: Establish a regulatory structure that supports the state’s strategic priorities related to global competitiveness and economic growth. *Time is referred to as average number of business days and uses the weighted average method. Reduce the Average Time* to Issue an Initial License to a Qualified Health Care Practitioner FY 2019-20 FY 2020-21 FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 CHANGE 51.18 50.64 47.4 50.21 47.3 51.56 ↑ 0.74% Decrease the Average Time* to Register Out-of-State Telehealth Health Care Practitioners FY 2019-20 FY 2020-21 FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 CHANGE 20.0 20.5 14.2 19.9 19.9 21.9 ↑ 9.35% Reduce the Average Time* to Issue an Initial License to a Health Care Facility or Establishment FY 2019-20 FY 2020-21 FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 CHANGE 50.13 40.45 43.31 44.88 41.28 62.03 ↑ 23.74% MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 13
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS LICENSING Over the last decade, Florida’s health care workforce has undergone steady and significant growth. This sustained increase has led to a rising share of licensed health care practitioners from within the state’s overall population. As of FY 2024-25, 6.7% of Floridians are licensed health care practitioners, up from 5.8% in FY 2014-15. This equates to about 6,732 licensed practitioners per 100,000 residents—a figure that continues to rise year over year. As shown in Figure 1, both Florida’s general population and licensee population have grown over the past decade; however, the health care licensee population has grown at more than twice the rate of the general population (32.4% vs. 15.9%). This trend reflects both the expanding demand for health care services and MQA’s capacity to scale its licensing systems efficiently to meet that demand. This year, the five largest licensed health care practitioner groups remained consistent with previous years: registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, medical doctors, licensed practical nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses (Figure 2). Together, these professions accounted for 54.6% of all licensed practitioners in Florida. | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 14 FIGURE 2: LARGEST NUMBER OF LICENSED HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS • Registered Nurse • Certified Nursing Assistant • Medical Doctor • Licensed Practical Nurse Advanced Practice Registered Nurse FIGURE 1: LICENSEE GROWTH COMPARED TO FLORIDA POPULATION Licensee Population FL Population Percentage of Health Care Licensees FY 14-15 FY 15-16 FY 16-17 FY 17-18 FY 18-19 FY 19-20 FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FY 20-21 In Thousands FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25
Beyond individual licensure, MQA also regulates certain health care facilities and establishments. As of the end of FY 2024-25, MQA licensed 24,726 facilities, representing a 4.5% increase over the prior year. The two largest categories of licensed establishments were pharmacies (10,441 or 42.2%) and massage establishments (8,995 or 36.4%). INITIAL LICENSURE AND TELEHEALTH REGISTRATION During FY 2024–25, MQA received 154,990 initial license applications, a 4.0% increase over the prior year. After thorough review, 127,779 initial licenses were issued to qualified applicants (Figure 3). Additionally, the number of out-of-state telehealth providers registered to serve Florida patients continued to rise. This year, MQA received 8,186 initial applications for telehealth providers and 7,221 were authorized, marking a 17.8% increase from the previous year. MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 15 FIGURE 3: INITIAL APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AND ISSUED VS. AVERAGE DAYS TO ISSUE AN INITIAL LICENSE FOR A QUALIFIED APPLICANT Initial Applications Received Initial Licenses Issued Average Business Days to Issue FY 20-21 In Thousands FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25
WORKFORCE MOBILITY AND LICENSING INNOVATIONS Following the enactment of the MOBILE Act, effective July 1, 2024, MQA received 16,322 applications and issued 8,863 licenses to qualified practitioners. The majority of MOBILE licenses were issued to registered nurses (34.8%) and medical doctors (11.5%). Of all MOBILE applications, only five were denied, while 1,135 were withdrawn—66.8% of which were due to applicants not meeting active practice requirements outlined in Chapter 456, Florida Statutes. Practitioners also pursued license upgrades for professional advancement and to qualify for multistate practice. In FY 2024–25, MQA issued 16,361 upgrade licenses, a 2.3% increase over the previous year (Figure 4). Notably, 7,489 MSLs were issued to registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, comprising 45.8% of all upgrade licenses. The continued demand for multistate licenses has significantly contributed to the upward trend in license upgrades. Following the 2024 legislative session, MQA implemented the IMLC, which enables Floridalicensed physicians to practice across multiple states. In its first year, MQA received 1,682 IMLC applications and issued 1,465 licenses through this expedited pathway. RENEWALS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION License renewals also experienced record activity. In FY 2024–25, MQA processed 644,406 license renewals, a 25% increase from the prior year. Of these, 96.6% were completed online (Figure 5). Renewal schedules vary by profession and are aligned to biennial cycles to ensure timely processing by boards and councils. CE credits are essential for health care practitioners to stay current with medical advancements and bridge the gap between Online Renewal Usage FIGURE 5: TOTAL OF RENEWALS PROCESSED COMPARED TO ONLINE RENEWAL USAGE Renewals Processed (In Thousands) FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25 | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 16 FIGURE 4: 10-YEAR TREND OF UPGRADE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED VS. UPGRADE LICENSES ISSUED In Thousands Renewals Processed Online Renewal Usage Upgrade Applications Received Upgrade Licenses Issued FY 15-16 FY 16-17 FY 17-18 FY 18-19 FY 19-20 FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25
current and optimal care. In FY 2024-25, MQA received 567 CE provider applications and approved 534 providers to offer CE courses. ENFORCEMENT MQA remains committed to public protection through robust enforcement activities. In FY 2024-25, MQA received 34,994 complaints against health care practitioners, representing a 30.2% decrease from the previous fiscal year. Additionally, 9,102 cases were found legally sufficient, marking a 68.3% increase in actionable complaints (Figure 6). The investigative arm of MQA completed 8,129 investigations this year, representing a 54.8% increase from the previous year (Figure 7). Additionally, 19,282 inspections were conducted, including routine and new facility inspections—a 3.4% increase year-over-year. Notably, massage establishments accounted for 9,599 inspections (49.6%), followed by pharmacies with 6,235 inspections (32.3%). These efforts highlight MQA’s vigilance in monitoring health care facilities. A total of 346 Emergency Orders were issued during FY 2024-25, 81.2% of which were ESOs and 18.8% of which were EROs; ESOs increased by 65.3% compared to the prior year, while EROs decreased by 30.1% (Figure 8). 87 184 125 170 281 135 108 75 93 65 FIGURE 6: TOTAL OF COMPLAINTS RECEIVED COMPARED TO LEGALLY SUFFICEINT CASES Complaints Received (In Thousands) Legally Sufficient Cases (In Thousands) Complaints Received Legally Sufficient Cases FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25 FIGURE 7: TOTAL OF COMPLETED INVESTIGATIONS COMPARED TO YEAR-OVER-YEAR GROWTH RATE Completed Investigations (In Thousands) Growth FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25 Completed Investigations Year-Over-Year Growth FIGURE 8: TOTAL EMERGENCY ORDERS ISSUED FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25 EROs ESOs MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 17
LEGEND < 500 500-999 1.000-1,499 1,500-1,999 2,000-2,399 2400 + FIGURE 9: TOTAL OF COMPLETED INSPECTIONS BY INVESTIGATIVE REGION IN FY 2024-25 The highest number of Emergency Orders were issued to registered nurses (76), followed by massage establishments (72), certified nursing assistants (66), massage therapists (43), and licensed practical nurses (25) (Figure 10). Probable cause was determined in 1,586 cases, an increase of 9.2% from the previous year, particularly involving massage-related professions and certified nursing assistants. No probable cause was found in 3,564 cases, an 8.3% increase year-over-year (Figure 11). FIGURE 11: TREND OF PROBABLE CAUSE FOUND FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25 Probable Cause No Probable Cause FIGURE 10: EMERGENCY ORDERS ISSUED BY TOP FIVE LICENSE TYPES NursingLicensed Practical Nurse Massage Therapy- Massage Therapist NursingCertified Nursing Assistant Massage Therapy- Massage Establishment NursingRegistered Nurse EROs ESOs 8 5 3 37 17 38 63 72 39 | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 18
FIGURE 14: TOP FIVE PROFESSIONS WITH ULA COMPLAINTS RECEIVED FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25 Massage TherapyMassage Therapist Massage Therapy- Massage Establishment MedicineMedical Doctor DentistryDentist PharmacyPharmacy Complaints Received (In Hundreds) FIGURE 13: ULA COMPLAINTS RECEIVED COMPARED TO YEAR-OVER-YEAR GROWTH RATE FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25 Complaints Received Year-Over-Year Growth Complaints Received (In Hundreds) Growth As shown by Figure 12, 1,236 cases were resolved through a final order this year. UNLICENSED ACTIVITY ENFORCEMENT MQA’s ULA Program plays a critical role in protecting Floridians from unqualified individuals providing health care services. In FY 2024–25, MQA received a record 1,566 ULA complaints, a 5.2% increase over the prior year (Figure 13). Of these, 60% (974) involved massage therapy, massage establishments, medical doctors, pharmacies, and dentists. ULA complaints related to pharmacies increased by 284% compared to the prior year (Figure 14). MQA referred 1,467 ULA cases for investigation, underscoring its commitment to follow through on every complaint. As a result, MQA issued 20.6% more cease and desist orders this year compared to past (or 609), effectively stopping unlicensed activities. Additionally, 641 cases were referred to law enforcement, demonstrating MQA’s collaborative approach to protecting public safety and maintaining regulatory integrity. FIGURE 12: TREND IN CASES RESOLVED THROUGH A FINAL ORDER RELATIVE TO LICENSEE POPULATION FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25 Cases Resolved Through Final Order Cases ( In Hundreds) MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 19
REDUCTION OF YEAR-OLD CASES: ADVANCING TIMELY JUSTICE AND PUBLIC PROTECTION The timely resolution of enforcement cases is essential to protecting public safety, maintaining practitioner accountability, and preserving public trust. When complaints remain unresolved for over a year, they can create regulatory backlogs and delay necessary disciplinary action. To address this, MQA has prioritized the reduction of year-old cases—those pending for more than 12 months after a legally sufficient complaint is filed. In FY 2024–25, the Prosecution Services Unit (PSU) experienced a sharp increase in workload, driven largely by a rise in legally sufficient complaints related to new massage establishment inspection requirements. PSU received 7,979 complaints for review, marking a 56.1% increase compared to FY 2023–24. Despite this substantial surge, MQA successfully maintained case processing efficiency. The number of cases older than one year declined slightly to 1,815, down from 1,853 the previous year. This reduction, achieved in the face of increased volume, underscores MQA’s commitment to timely enforcement and public safety. To further ensure resolution, PSU referred a record number of cases to the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH), including over 100 referrals in FY 2024–25. Many of these involved year-old cases that required formal adjudication. By moving these complex cases to DOAH, MQA demonstrated its dedication to advancing them through the legal process and avoiding prolonged delays. As shown in Figure 15, MQA’s ability to reduce year-old cases—even during periods of high complaint volume—reflects its responsiveness, operational efficiency, and strong internal coordination. These efforts support both public protection and practitioner fairness, ensuring that all cases move toward resolution in a timely and accountable manner. FIGURE 15: TOTAL CASES COMPARED TO YEAR AND OLDER CASES Year and Older Cases Year-Over-Year Growth Total Cases * Total cases are the number of legally sufficient complaints transmitted to PSU during FY 2024-25. Growth FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23 FY 23-24 FY 24-25 1,234 3,358 1,156 4,357 1,679 4,940 1,853 5,110 1,815 7.979 | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 20
DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINES: ENSURING CONSISTENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS PROFESSIONS MQA works with Florida’s regulatory boards and councils to uphold clear, consistent disciplinary standards for health care practitioners. As required by section 456.079, Florida Statutes, MQA annually reviews and reports on disciplinary guideline rulemaking, ensuring enforcement actions are fair, transparent, and aligned with statutory requirements to protect public health. In FY 2024–25, the 22 boards and four councils advanced or maintained disciplinary rules that guide the disposition of complaints and enforcement actions. Many rules progressed efficiently from rule development to effective date within six to 12 months, highlighting MQA’s commitment to timely and responsive regulation. Professions with high complaint volumes, including Massage Therapy, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy, have current disciplinary guidelines in place, reinforcing alignment between enforcement activity and regulatory standards. Several boards, such as the Boards of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, completed recent updates in FY 2023–24, demonstrating continued responsiveness to emerging issues, stakeholder input, and legislative changes. Board or Council Rule Number Description Rule Development Published Notice Published Adopted Effective Acupuncture 64B1-9.001 Disciplinary Guidelines 07/09/2021 07/26/2021 09/02/2021 09/22/2021 Athletic Training 64B33-5.001 Disciplinary Guidelines 08/10/2021 08/25/2021 09/24/2021 10/04/2025 Chiropractic Medicine 64B2-16.003 Guidelines for the Disposition of Disciplinary Cases 10/01/2021 10/18/2021 11/19/2021 12/09/2021 Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling 64B4-5.001 Disciplinary Guidelines 02/20/2025 03/07/2025 04/11/2025 05/01/2025 Clinical Laboratory Personnel 64B3-12.001 Disciplinary Guidelines 03/10/2021 04/14/2021 10/19/2021 11/07/2021 Dentistry 64B5-13.005 Disciplinary Guidelines 08/20/2024 09/05/2024 10/17/2025 11/06/2025 Dietetics and Nutrition 64B8-44.003 Disciplinary Guidelines 11/01/2021 11/16/2021 12/14/2021 01/03/2022 Electrolysis 64B8-55.001 Disciplinary Guidelines 04/23/2021 05/03/2023 11/02/2022 11/22/2022 Hearing Aid Specialists 64B6-7.002 Guidelines for the Disposition of Disciplinary Cases 02/24/2023 03/13/2023 04/17/2023 05/07/2023 Massage Therapy 64B7-30.002 Disciplinary Guidelines 09/20/2022 10/05/2022 11/14/2022 12/04/2022 Medical Physicists 64B23-6.001 Penalty-Guidelines 02/09/2022 04/27/2023 09/08/2023 09/28/2023 Medicine 64B8-8.001 Disciplinary Guidelines 06/28/2022 07/13/2022 08/23/2022 09/12/2022 Medicine 64B8-30.015 Disciplinary Guidelines 09/21/2021 10/06/2021 11/16/2021 12/06/2021 Medicine 64B8-31.010 Disciplinary Guidelines 09/16/2021 10/01/2021 11/01/2021 11/21/2021 Midwifery 64B24-8.002 Disciplinary Actions and Guidelines 08/12/2015 12/22/2015 03/02/2016 03/22/2016 Nursing 64B9-8.006 Disciplinary Guidelines 05/19/2023 06/05/2023 07/18/2023 08/07/2023 Nursing 64B9-15.009 Disciplinary Guidelines 12/29/2020 01/13/2021 08/02/2021 08/22/2021 Nursing Home Administrator 64B10-14.004 Disciplinary Guidelines; Range of Penalties; Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances 09/08/2021 09/23/2021 11/10/2021 11/30/2021 MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 21
Board or Council Rule Number Description Rule Development Published Notice Published Adopted Effective Occupational Therapy 64B11-4.003 Standards of Practice; Discipline 09/24/2021 10/08/2021 11/09/2021 11/28/2021 Opticianry 64B12-8.020 Disciplinary Guidelines 09/09/2021 09/23/2021 10/25/2021 11/14/2021 Optometry 64B13-15.005 Designation of Administrative Violations; Major; Minor 09/09/2021 10/07/2021 11/16/2021 12/06/2021 Optometry 64B13-15.006 Designation of Patient Care Violations; Major; Minor 10/07/2021 10/07/2021 11/16/2021 12/06/2021 Orthotists and Prosthetists 64B14-7.003 Disciplinary Guidelines 06/17/2021 07/12/2021 10/12/2021 11/01/2021 Osteopathic Medicine 64B15-19.002 Violations and Penalties 12/28/2022 01/12/2023 03/02/2023 03/22/2023 Pharmacy 64B16-30.001 Disciplinary Guidelines 09/09/2021 10/04/2021 02/21/2022 03/13/2022 Physical Therapy 64B17-7.001 Disciplinary Guidelines 09/08/2021 09/23/2021 10/28/2021 11/17/2021 Podiatric Medicine 64B18-14.002 Disciplinary Guidelines 08/31/2021 09/14/2021 12/09/2021 12/29/2021 Psychology 64B19-17.002 Disciplinary Guidelines 09/11/2023 09/27/2023 10/26/2023 11/15/2023 Respiratory Care 64B32-5.001 Disciplinary Guidelines 08/25/2021 09/09/2021 12/01/2021 12/21/2021 School Psychology 64B21-504.001 Disciplinary Guidelines 05/23/2022 09/01/2022 12/09/2022 12/29/2022 Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology 64B20-7.001 Disciplinary Guidelines 04/26/2024 05/14/2024 07/01/2024 07/21/2024 | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 22
APPENDIX 1 INFORMATION TABLES Table 1: Summary of Licensed Practitioners Table 1A: Licensure Compact Statistics Table 2: Summary of Licensed Facilities and Establishments Table 3: Recognized Continuing Education Providers Table 4: Initial Applications Received and Initial Licenses Issued Table 4A: MOBILE Endorsement Table 5: Upgrade Applications Received and Upgrade Licenses Issued Table 6: Online Renewals Table 7: Emergency Orders Issued Table 8: Reports Received, Complaints Received, and Investigations Completed Table 8A: Disciplinary Cases Against MOBILE Endorsement Practitioners Table 8B: Disciplinary Cases Against Massage Therapists and Massage Establishments Table 9: Probable Cause Actions Table 10: Disciplinary Cases Table 11: Medical Malpractice Claims Table 12: Hospital Annual Report Claims Table 13: Unlicensed Activity Table 14: Student Loan Defaults Table 15: Revenues, Expenditures, and Cash Balances Table 16: Projected Cash Balances Table 17: Review of the Adequacy of Renewal Fees 24 31 32 33 35 42 50 52 57 59 64 65 66 70 74 77 78 82 83 84 85 MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 23
TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF LICENSED PRACTITIONERS Profession In-State Out-of-State Military Active Retired Total Active Inactive Delinquent Active Inactive Delinquent Acupuncture Acupuncturist 2,343 26 107 288 34 55 6 152 3,011 Athletic Training Athletic Trainer 2,519 6 430 382 4 123 16 91 3,571 Certified Social Worker Certified Master Social Worker 3 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 7 Chiropractic Medicine Certified Chiropractic Physician Assistant 414 4 90 2 1 2 0 6 519 Chiropractic Faculty Certificate 9 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 18 Chiropractic Physician 6,905 60 193 808 151 160 16 566 8,859 Clinical Laboratory Personnel Clinical Laboratory Personnel 15,116 152 1,166 2,554 126 855 40 1,160 21,169 Clinical Laboratory Trainee 523 0 0 16 0 0 0 0 539 Clinical Laboratory Training Program 39 0 1 20 0 2 0 0 62 Clinical Social Work Licensed Clinical Social Worker 14,437 68 447 3,089 103 332 18 703 19,197 Provisional Clinical Social Worker Licensee 144 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 151 Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern 5,394 0 0 159 0 0 0 0 5,553 Dentistry Dental Expert Witness Certificate 12 0 0 60 0 0 0 0 72 Dental Hygienist 16,899 103 559 2,410 140 288 102 1,117 21,618 A total of 1,572,475 health care practitioners were licensed by the end of FY 2024-25, marking a 2.3% increase from the previous year. This growth highlights MQA’s dedication to improving technology and streamlining the licensure process, allowing practitioners to join the workforce more efficiently and effectively. | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 24
Profession In-State Out-of-State Military Active Retired Total Active Inactive Delinquent Active Inactive Delinquent Dental Radiographer 33,885 0 0 281 0 0 0 0 34,166 Dental Residency Permit 487 0 0 21 0 0 0 0 508 Dental Teaching Permit 256 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 260 Dental Temporary Certificate 30 0 10 10 0 2 0 0 52 Health Access Dental 43 0 8 9 0 3 0 9 72 Dentist 14,960 47 347 3,286 200 280 71 1,354 20,545 Dietetics and Nutrition Dietetics and Nutritionist 5,186 22 561 1,771 27 668 13 217 8,465 Nutrition Counselor 30 2 13 5 0 3 0 20 73 Electrolysis Electrologist 3,204 20 505 60 2 22 2 70 3,885 Emergency Medical Services Emergency Allergy Treatment Licensee 75 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 82 Emergency Medical Technician 40,526 136 14,397 1,375 29 1,430 203 0 58,096 Paramedic 34,898 207 4,218 1,909 31 1,404 74 0 42,741 Genetic Counseling Genetic Counselor 153 0 6 574 0 103 0 0 836 Temporary Genetic Counselor 18 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 19 Hearing Aid Specialist Hearing Aid Specialist 968 6 111 58 3 26 1 89 1,262 Hearing Aid Specialist Trainee 319 165 0 7 0 0 0 0 491 Marriage and Family Therapy Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 2,833 12 80 554 15 57 1 161 3,713 Provisional Marriage and Family Therapist Licensee 50 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 51 Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern 792 0 0 40 0 0 0 0 832 MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 25
Profession In-State Out-of-State Military Active Retired Total Active Inactive Delinquent Active Inactive Delinquent Massage Therapy Approved Massage School 209 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 209 Massage Therapist 34,688 354 3,085 5,228 96 831 177 1,895 46,354 Medical Physicist Diagnostic Radiological Physicist 49 0 2 64 0 9 0 7 131 Medical Health Physicist 24 0 5 9 0 2 0 4 44 Medical Nuclear Radiological Physicist 33 0 0 23 0 5 0 6 67 Medical Physicist In Training 55 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 73 Therapeutic Radiological Physicist 331 0 23 175 1 49 0 14 593 Medicine Anesthesiologist Assistants 794 0 24 87 2 14 0 5 926 Graduate Assistant Physician 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 House Physician 314 0 0 16 0 0 0 0 330 Limited License Medical Doctor 85 0 15 8 0 5 0 31 144 Medical Doctor 62,069 96 1,940 24,782 433 3,260 124 6,771 99,475 Medical Doctor Expert Witness Certificate 36 0 0 2,016 0 0 0 0 2,052 Medical Doctor Limited to Cleveland Clinic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Medical Doctor Limited to Mayo Clinic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Medical Doctor Public Health Certificate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Medical Doctor Public Psychiatry Certificate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Medical Doctor Visiting Faculty Certificate 1 0 0 19 0 0 0 0 20 Medical Faculty Certificate 70 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 83 Physician Assistant 12,959 26 449 2,275 70 513 80 380 16,752 TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF LICENSED PRACTITIONERS CONTINUED | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 26
Profession In-State Out-of-State Military Active Retired Total Active Inactive Delinquent Active Inactive Delinquent Resident Registration 8,441 0 1 1,980 0 0 0 0 10,422 Temporary Area of Critical Need – Medical Doctor 1,028 1 50 102 2 43 0 27 1,253 Temporary Area of Critical Need – Physician Assistant 46 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 60 Mental Health Counseling Licensed Mental Health Counselor 16,881 73 405 2,538 58 164 13 739 20,871 Provisional Mental health Counselor Licensee 143 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 152 Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern 5,974 0 0 142 0 0 0 0 6,116 Midwifery Midwife 234 4 13 18 1 7 1 30 308 Nursing Advanced Practice Registered Nurse 50,378 119 1,225 10,596 172 2,406 67 1,637 66,600 Certified Nursing Assistant 152,738 0 30,115 5,299 0 2,818 168 0 191,138 Certified Nursing Assistant Program 193 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 193 Licensed Practical Nurse 62,230 285 6,859 4,103 92 1,406 158 2,612 77,745 Nursing Education Program – Licensed Practical Nurse 194 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 194 Nursing Education Program – Registered Nurse 318 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 319 Registered Nurse 347,857 1,180 13,908 31,664 889 9,762 497 17,347 423,104 Temporary Area of Critical Need – Advanced Practice Registered Nurse 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 Nursing Home Administrator Nursing Home Administrator 1,614 30 151 179 19 58 5 251 2,307 Occupational Therapy Occupational Therapist 10,580 50 615 1,331 53 611 40 432 13,712 TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF LICENSED PRACTITIONERS CONTINUED MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 27
Profession In-State Out-of-State Military Active Retired Total Active Inactive Delinquent Active Inactive Delinquent Occupational Therapy Assistant 5,907 49 642 341 16 219 10 167 7,351 Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Exemption Registration 200 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 222 Opticianry Apprentice Optician 1,373 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 1,378 Optician 3,743 33 196 193 33 33 6 185 4,422 Optometry Optometric Faculty Certificate 13 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 14 Optometrist 3,238 10 71 705 80 88 39 223 4,454 Orthotist and Prosthetist Orthotic Fitter 91 0 13 2 0 0 0 12 118 Orthotic Fitter Assistant 38 0 7 0 0 0 0 10 55 Orthotic Resident 21 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 22 OrthoticProsthetic Resident 11 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 13 Orthotist 73 0 27 14 0 3 0 23 140 Orthotist and Prosthetist 267 0 17 21 1 2 0 36 344 Pedorthist 85 0 6 3 0 0 0 18 112 Prosthetic Resident 26 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 28 Prosthetist 66 0 5 8 0 3 0 16 98 Osteopathic Medicine Osteopathic Limited License 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 4 Osteopathic Physician 9,461 12 247 3,188 102 387 57 557 14,011 Osteopathic Physician Expert Witness Certificate 3 0 0 54 0 0 0 0 57 Osteopathic Resident Registration 1,999 0 0 259 0 0 0 0 2,258 Temporary Area of Critical Need – Osteopathic Medicine 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF LICENSED PRACTITIONERS CONTINUED | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 28
Profession In-State Out-of-State Military Active Retired Total Active Inactive Delinquent Active Inactive Delinquent Pharmacy Consultant Pharmacist 3,136 89 442 202 20 52 2 306 4,249 Nuclear Pharmacist 156 0 11 52 2 5 0 21 247 Pharmacist 27,780 64 585 9,999 254 671 96 1,796 41,245 Pharmacist Intern 7,237 0 0 7,052 0 0 0 0 14,289 Registered Pharmacy Technician 49,173 141 12,133 1,194 16 578 61 26 63,322 Physical Therapy Physical Therapist 18,707 123 663 3,055 358 817 105 640 24,468 Physical Therapist Assistant 12,184 106 742 802 69 247 59 291 14,500 Podiatric Medicine Certified Podiatric X-Ray Assistant 529 1 269 2 0 1 0 4 806 Podiatric Physician 1,589 11 90 312 39 33 5 228 2,307 Podiatric Resident Registration 170 0 0 40 0 0 0 0 210 Psychology Limited License Psychologist 7 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 11 Provisional Psychologist 38 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 43 Psychologist 5,754 15 93 1,372 40 90 11 563 7,938 Radiologic Technology Radiologic Technology 27,530 9 11,304 3,417 6 5,274 32 0 47,572 Radiologist Assistant 45 0 5 5 0 6 0 0 61 Respiratory Care Certified Respiratory Therapist 1,975 16 281 247 8 167 11 123 2,828 Registered Respiratory Therapist 9,842 42 652 1,561 43 1,296 22 395 13,853 Respiratory Care Practitioner Critical Care 14 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 19 Respiratory Care Practitioner NonCritical Care 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF LICENSED PRACTITIONERS CONTINUED MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 29
• IN-STATE ACTIVE - Total number of in-state practitioners in an active status for the correlating profession as of the end of the FY. • IN-STATE INACTIVE - Total number of in-state practitioners in an inactive status for the correlating profession as of the end of the FY. • IN-STATE DELINQUENT - Total number of in-state practitioners in a delinquent status for the correlating profession as of the end of the FY. • OUT-OF-STATE ACTIVE - Total number of out of state practitioners in an active status for the correlating profession as of the end of the FY. • OUT-OF-STATE INACTIVE - Total number of out of state practitioners in an inactive status for the correlating profession as of the end of the FY. • OUT-OF-STATE DELINQUENT - Total number of out of state practitioners in a delinquent status for the correlating profession as of the end of the FY. • MILITARY ACTIVE - Total number of practitioners in a military status for the correlating profession as of the end of the FY. • RETIRED - Total number of practitioners in a retired status for the correlating profession as of the end of the FY. • TOTAL - Total number of practitioners in a renewable status for the correlating profession as of the end of the FY. Profession In-State Out-of-State Military Active Retired Total Active Inactive Delinquent Active Inactive Delinquent School Psychology School Psychologist 1,137 9 44 71 0 12 2 65 1,340 Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Audiologist 1,288 5 61 315 4 60 2 39 1,774 Audiology Assistant 210 2 97 2 0 1 0 1 313 Provisional Audiologist 24 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 28 Provisional Speech-Language Pathologist 922 0 0 55 0 0 0 0 977 Speech-Language Pathologist 12,612 21 665 1,775 31 583 19 261 15,967 Speech-Language Pathology Assistant 3,398 8 828 110 1 70 0 51 4,466 Telehealth Provider Telehealth Provider (Out-of-State) 0 0 0 32,290 0 0 0 0 32,290 TOTALS 1,186,114 4,021 112,338 181,245 3,877 38,477 2,432 43,971 1,572,475 TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF LICENSED PRACTITIONERS CONTINUED | MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 30
TABLE 1A: LICENSURE COMPACT STATISTICS Compact and Practitioner Type Number of Practitioners Authorized to Practice in Florida through a Compact NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT * Registered Nurse Multistate License (MSL) 4,195 Licensed Practical Nurse Multistate License (MSL) 549 PSYPACT ** Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) 12,986 Temporary Authorization to Practice (TAP) 865 TOTAL 18,595 * These MSLs differ from those recorded in Table 5: Upgrade Licenses Issued; This number reflects the number of nurses from other compact states that have voluntarily reported practicing in Florida whereas Table 5 reflects the total number of Florida nurses who have upgraded their licenses to include MSL. While the NLC does represent the number of nurses who have the privilege to practice in Florida, it does not indicate the number of those who are actively utilizing that privilege. ** Practicing unlimited telepsychology under the authority of PSYPACT requires that a psychologist obtain an APIT. Conducting temporary practice under the authority of PSYPACT requires that a psychologist obtain a TAP, which allows for 30 days of face-to-face practice in Florida per calendar year. As part of the PSYPACT Commission’s strategic plan, PSYPACT is working on improving data. As a result, the PSYPACT Commission can now more accurately report on active authorization holders, not those that have expired. The number of APITs are a little lower than before due to this data reporting change. Florida currently participates in five compacts: • The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), joined in 2016, which allows registered nurses and licensed practical nurses with an MSL to practice in any participating state. • The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PYSPACT), joined in 2023, which authorizes psychologists to practice telepsychology under the APIT credential and temporary in-person practice under the TAP credential. • The Counseling Compact, joined in 2022, which will allow eligible licensed counselors to practice across member states once operational. • The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASPL-IC) and the IMLC, both authorized by Senate Bill 7016 in 2024. While the NLC allows registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who hold licensure in one compact state to practice across state lines without having to obtain separate licenses in each state, the PSYPACT allows for the purchase of permissions with authorize psychologists to practice telepsychology with the APIT credential and temporary in-practice with the TAP credential. The IMLC differs from other compacts in that physicians applying through the IMLC are issued a full Florida license, rather than a compact privilege. As such, these licensees are included in the totals reported in Table 1: Summary of Licensed Practitioners, not as separate counts in Table 1A. A notation is provided in Table 5 to highlight how many physicians utilized the IMLC pathway to licensure, either by redesignating Florida as their state of principal licensure or by adding Florida to their IMLC privileges. Whereas Table 1 captures Florida licensees, Table 1A reflects practitioners authorized to practice in Florida through compact privileges (e.g., NLC and PSYPACT) without being issued a Florida license. A licensure compact is a multijurisdictional model best known for its agreement among states to mutually recognize each other’s licenses, which improves licensure mobility for health care practitioners and increases consumers’ access to care. These agreements allow practitioners to provide services across state lines under a single license or through compact privileges, rather than obtaining licenses in each state. MQA • Annual Report • FY 2024-25 | 31
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