Application for license to operate a general clinical laboratory

Licensure Requirements

The requirements for licensure as a Clinical Laboratory Supervisor are as follows. Applicants must:

• Be licensed as or meet the requirements for licensure as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist. To review Technologist requirements, click the “Change Profession” button above and select Technologist from the License Type list.
• Meet additional requirements based on their specialty area(s). Review the matrix found in Rule 64B3-5.002, F.A.C. to ensure that you qualify for your intended specialty.

It is your responsibility to understand the responsibilities of a Clinical Laboratory Supervisor. Please carefully read Rule 64B3-13.002, 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.

Applicants with Health History

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 Discipline History

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 Criminal History

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.

Health Care Fraud; Disqualification for License, Certificate, or Registration

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;

   Process

   Submit your completed application and fees to the board office. To apply online select the “Apply Online” button above.

   If you prefer, you may apply using the paper application. To download the paper application, click the “Resources” tab above and select the application for the appropriate licensure level from the “PDF Applications” drop-down menu.

   Please download, print, and complete the paper application. Submit your application along with the required fees to:

   Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel
   P. O. Box 6330
   Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330

   Within 7-14 days of receipt of your application, the board office will notify you of the status of your application and any remaining required documentation that needs to be submitted.

   Florida law requires that all initial licensure and adding specialty applicants have taken the following Florida board-approved courses prior to licensure: one hour in HIV/AIDS.

   The following documentation is required to complete your application:

   1. Official Final Transcript- Have your official final transcripts mailed directly from your college or university to the board office at:

   Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel
   4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C 07
   Tallahassee, FL 32399-3257

   MQA.ClinicalLab@flhealth.gov
   

   2. Official License Verification- If you are licensed or have ever held a license in another state, contact that state’s licensing office and request for license verification to be sent directly to the Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel.

   3. National Certification- Contact the national certification agency and request that certification be sent directly to the board office.

   4. If you responded “Yes” to any of the Health History questions on the application, submit a letter to the board office. The letter must provide relevant dates and circumstances of your treatment and/or addiction and include the names and addresses of the medical practitioners or hospitals that provided your treatment.

   5. If you responded “Yes” to any of the Discipline History questions on the application, contact the state board where the discipline occurred to request that certified copies of the board order and any other related documentation be submitted directly to the board office.

   You must also submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the offense(s). Your letter must include the date(s) of the original offense(s), the charge(s) and the jurisdiction where it occurred.

   6. If you responded “Yes” to any of the Criminal History questions on the application, contact the Clerk of the Court in the jurisdiction in which the offense occurred and request that a certified copy of your final/official court disposition be mailed directly to the board office. If the records are unavailable, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the Clerk of the Court attesting to their unavailability.

   If applicable, request the following documentation to be sent directly to the board office: a certified copy of your completion of probation and documentation showing that you have paid all fines. If the records are unavailable, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the Clerk of the Court attesting to their unavailability.

   You must also submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the offense(s). Your letter must include the date(s) of the original offense(s), the charge(s) and the jurisdiction where it occurred.

   Note: All applications with Criminal History, Discipline or Health History will be presented to the board for review. Board staff will notify you of the date that your application will be presented in the event you would like to attend.