This bill amends Florida Statutes concerning nursing education programs, focusing on the licensure process and program approval requirements. It mandates the Department of Health to issue provisional licenses to graduate licensed practical nurses and registered nurses under clinical preceptor supervision. The bill revises application requirements for nursing education program approval, requiring the Florida Center for Nursing to establish graduate nursing preceptorship standards, which must be incorporated into rules by the Board of Nursing. It also clarifies that the Board must publish average passage rates of each approved nursing program on its website and outlines conditions under which the Board may deny or revoke program approvals.

Additionally, the bill introduces new definitions and requirements for nursing education programs, including the establishment of evaluation and standardized admission criteria, and the administration of exit examinations to assess student readiness for the NCLEX. Programs with significantly lower passage rates are required to offer graduate nursing preceptorships, and the Board can deny applications from programs with adverse actions from other regulatory jurisdictions. The bill emphasizes accountability and transparency by mandating that approved nursing programs publish their graduate passage rates and maintain compliance with reporting requirements, with provisions for probation and remediation plans for underperforming programs. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.