Public Health Supervisor

Licensure Requirements – Rule 64B3-5.008, F.A.C.

Note: A person licensed by the Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel may work in a public health laboratory at the appropriate level and specialty.

The requirements for licensure for each licensure level in the category of public health are as follows.

Director

Applicants at the Director level must meet the requirements in Rule 64B3-5.007, F.A.C., for licensees at the Director level in chemistry or microbiology.

Supervisor

Applicants at the Supervisor level must meet the requirements in Rule 64B3-5.002, F.A.C., for licensure at the supervisory level.

Technologist

Applicants at the Technologist level in the category of public health microbiology:

• Must have a baccalaureate degree in one of the biological sciences from an accredited institution.
• May use American Society for Microbiology or the National Registry in Microbiology Certification in Public Health Microbiology to qualify for a technologist license in public health microbiology.
• May work in a public health microbiology laboratory.

Applicants at the Technologist level in the category of public health chemistry:

• Must have a baccalaureate degree in one of the chemical, biological, or physical sciences from an accredited institution.
• May use the National Registry of Clinical Chemistry Certification to qualify for a technologist license in public health chemistry.
• May work in a public health chemistry laboratory.

Technician

Applicants at the Technician level:

• Must have a baccalaureate degree in one of the chemical or biological sciences from an accredited institution.
• May obtain a 2-year conditional public health technician license, which may be renewed once.
• May perform testing only under the direct supervision of a licensed pathologist, director, supervisor, or technologist.

Education Equivalency Requirements for Non-U.S. Graduates

Applicants who were educated outside the United States must have their education evaluated to determine U.S. equivalency. Evaluations are acceptable from an accredited U.S. college or university on an official transcript or a credentials evaluation service.

Bachelor’s degrees from Puerto Rico and the Philippines do not need a credentials evaluation; however, official transcripts must be submitted from the institution.

• All graduates who were educated outside the U.S. who intend to utilize credit earned in colleges or universities outside of the United States to qualify for licensure will need to provide evidence of U.S. equivalency of such credit hours.
• The credentials evaluation must be performed by one of the acceptable credential evaluation services and include a breakdown of all college level courses by subject. Board accepted providers can be located at: https://floridasclinicallabs.gov/resources/.
• Credit hours must be listed in semester hours.
• The credentials evaluation should be sent directly to the board office from the evaluator. Please request that the evaluator include the transcript with the evaluation sent to the agency.
• If transcripts cannot be ordered from the non-U.S. education institution, certified copies of the original documents used in the evaluation must be submitted to the agency.

If a “Yes” response is provided to any of the questions in the health history section, provide the following documents directly to the board office:

A letter from a Licensed Health Care Practitioner, who is qualified by skill and training to address the condition identified, which explains the impact the condition may have on the ability to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety. The letter must specify that the applicant is safe to practice the profession without restrictions or specifically indicate the restrictions that are necessary. Documentation provided must be dated within one year of the application date.

A written self-explanation, identifying the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s); and current status.

Applicants with prior disciplinary actions are required to submit the following:

Board Actions – Certified copies of document(s) relative to any disciplinary action taken against any license. The documents must come from the agency that took the disciplinary action and must be certified by that agency.

Self-Explanation – A detailed description of the circumstances surrounding your disciplinary action and a thorough description of the rehabilitative changes in your lifestyle since the time of the disciplinary action which would enable you to avoid future occurrences. It would be helpful to include factors in your life, which you feel may have contributed to your disciplinary action, what you have learned about yourself since that time, and the changes you have made that support your rehabilitation.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following:

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in their own words describing the circumstances of the offense. Include in your letter the date of the original offense, the charge, and the jurisdiction where it occurred.

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   1. For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   2. For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   3. For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

Licensure Requirements

The requirements to add a specialty to an existing Clinical Laboratory Personnel license are as follows. Applicants must:

• Be a Florida licensed Clinical Laboratory Director, Supervisor, Technologist, or Technician. To review licensure requirements for each licensure level, click the “Change Profession” button above and select the appropriate licensure level from the License Type list.
• Meet additional requirements based on the specialty they are applying to add. Review the specialty matrix for your licensure level to ensure that you qualify for the specialty you intend to add to your license.

Director: Rule 64B3-5.007, F.A.C.

Supervisor: Rule 64B3-5.002, F.A.C.

Technologist: Rule 64B3-5.003, F.A.C.

Technician: Rule 64B3-5.004, F.A.C.

It is your responsibility to understand the responsibilities of your licensure level. Please carefully read the section for your licensure level in Chapter 64B3-13, F.A.C. to review these responsibilities.

Education Equivalency Requirements for Non-U.S. Graduates

Applicants who were educated outside the United States must have their education evaluated to determine U.S. equivalency. Evaluations are acceptable from an accredited U.S. college or university on an official transcript or a credentials evaluation service.

Bachelor’s degrees from Puerto Rico and the Philippines do not need a credentials evaluation; however, official transcripts must be submitted from the institution.

• All graduates who were educated outside the U.S. who intend to utilize credit earned in colleges or universities outside of the U.S. to qualify for licensure will need to provide evidence of U.S. equivalency of such credit hours.
• The credentials evaluation must be performed by one of the acceptable credential evaluation services and include a breakdown of all college level courses by subject. Board accepted providers can be located at: https://floridasclinicallabs.gov/resources/.
• Credit hours must be listed in semester hours.
• The credentials evaluation must be sent directly to the board office from the evaluator. Please request that the evaluator include the transcript with the evaluation sent to the agency.
• If transcripts cannot be ordered from the non-U.S. education institution, certified copies of the original documents used in the evaluation must be submitted to the agency.

If a “Yes” response is provided to any of the questions in the health history section, provide the following documents directly to the board office:

A letter from a Licensed Health Care Practitioner, who is qualified by skill and training to address the condition identified, which explains the impact the condition may have on the ability to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety. The letter must specify that the applicant is safe to practice the profession without restrictions or specifically indicate the restrictions that are necessary. Documentation provided must be dated within one year of the application date.

A written self-explanation, identifying the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s); and current status.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following:

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in their own words describing the circumstances of the offense. Include in your letter the date of the original offense, the charge, and the jurisdiction where it occurred.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following:

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in their own words describing the circumstances of the offense. Include in your letter the date of the original offense, the charge, and the jurisdiction where it occurred.

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   1. For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   2. For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   3. For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.