Effective January 1, 2013: Applicants for initial licensure who are required to submit fingerprints for a criminal history background check must use a Livescan service provider.  Applicants who are fingerprinted after January 1, 2013 will have their prints retained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.   If you are applying for initial licensure after December 15, 2012, You must print this form and take it with you to a Livescan service provider.  For more information on backgrosund checks and a list of Livescan service providers, please visit our Background Screening page.

Explanation of Licensure Types:

Osteopathic Medicine Full Licensure - Osteopathic Physicians are often referred to as DOs. They are licensed to practice in all areas of health care that are concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, operation, or prescription for any human disease, pain, injury,
deformity, or other physical or mental condition. DOs may prescribe legend and, if holding a valid DEA registration, controlled substance medication. DOs provide indirect supervision to Physician Assistants. ARNPs also practice under a written protocol agreement with a DO.

Limited License - These DOs practice medicine as described above under Full Licensure; however, DOs licensed under this provision must have been licensed to practice medicine in any jurisdiction for at least 10 years, and may only practice in the employment of public agencies or institutions or nonprofit agencies or institutions meeting the requirements of s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, located in areas of critical medical need as determined by the Board. If a physician has not fully retired in all states, or has not practiced medicine within 3 years, other restrictions apply.

Temporary Certificate to Practice in an Area of Critical Need - These DOs practice medicine as described above under Full Licensure; however, to be licensed pursuant to this
section, these DOs must have a current, valid license from another state; or have served as a physician in the military for at least 10 years. These physicians may only practice in an area of critical need; must be employed by or practice in a county health department; correctional facility; Department of Veterans’ Affairs clinic; community health center funded by s. 329, s. 330, or s. 340 of the United States Public Health Services Act; or other agency or institution that is approved by the State Surgeon General to provide health care to meet the needs of underserved populations in this state; or will practice for a limited time to address critical physician-specialty, demographic, or geographic needs for this state’s physician workforce as determined by the State Surgeon General.

Medical Faculty Certificate - These DOs practice medicine as described above under
Full Licensure; however, these DOs may only practice medicine in conjunction with a full time faculty position at an accredited medical school in the State of Florida and its affiliated clinical facilities or teaching hospitals. This certificate is only valid for 2 years and cannot be renewed.

Physician in Training Registration - A physician in training may only practice medicine under a fully licensed DO or MD in an approved training program, such as an internship, residency or fellowship. A physician in training may prescribe legend and controlled substance medication under certain conditions.