Trainee

Licensure Requirements – Chapter 64B3-4, F.A.C.

All trainee applicants must be enrolled in an approved clinical laboratory training program.

Trainee registration may not be extended beyond its expiration date except upon recommendation of the program director and approval by the Board based upon one of the following circumstances:

• The approved training program failed to commence on the date indicated in the training program’s application for approval.
• The trainee withdrew from an approved training program and reentered the same or another approved training program at a later date.
• The training program ceased to operate after the trainee’s registration.
• The trainee is unable to complete the approved program requirements prior to the expiration date of the trainee’s registration because of extenuating circumstances.

If you are unable to complete your training by the date indicated on the application for initial registration due to any of the above reasons, then the program director is responsible for ensuring that the “Request to Extend Trainee Registration” form is submitted to the Board.

After graduating from the program, if you intend to work in a laboratory licensed under Chapter 483, Part I, F.S., you must apply for licensure at the appropriate level. 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.

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.