THE BILL ITSELF
SB 148
Temporary Licensure of Anesthesiologist Assistants
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 148 By Senator Harrell 31-00413-26 2026148__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to temporary licensure of
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anesthesiologist assistants; amending ss. 458.3475 and
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459.023, F.S.; requiring the Department of Health to
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issue a temporary license to practice as an
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anesthesiologist assistant to applicants meeting
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specified criteria; providing for expiration of such
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temporary licenses; providing that temporary licenses
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are nonrenewable; providing that temporary licensees
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may practice only under the direct supervision of an
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anesthesiologist and pursuant to a written protocol;
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requiring the Board of Medicine and the Board of
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Osteopathic Medicine to adopt rules; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Present subsections (7) through (12) of section
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458.3475, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (8)
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through (13), respectively, and a new subsection (7) is added to
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that section, to read:
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458.3475 Anesthesiologist assistants.—
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(7) TEMPORARY LICENSURE.—
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(a) The department shall issue a temporary license to
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practice as an anesthesiologist assistant to an applicant who
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meets all of the following criteria:
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1. Has graduated from an approved anesthesiologist
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assistant program.
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2. Has applied for and is awaiting results of the
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certification examination administered by the National
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Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants.
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3. Has submitted a completed application for licensure and
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paid all applicable fees.
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4. Has not committed any act or offense that would
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constitute grounds for denial of licensure under this chapter.
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5. Has submitted to a background screening pursuant to s.
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456.0135.
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(b) A temporary license issued under this subsection:
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1. Is valid for a period not to exceed 180 days after the
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date of issuance.
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2. Is nonrenewable.
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3. Automatically expires upon the applicant’s passage of
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the certification examination and issuance of a full license, or
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upon the applicant’s failure of the certification examination.
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(c) A temporary licensee may practice only under the direct
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supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist who has filed a
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written protocol with the department in accordance with
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subsection (2).
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(d) The boards shall adopt rules to implement this
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subsection, including application procedures and supervision
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requirements.
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Section 2. Present subsections (7) through (12) of section
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459.023, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (8)
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through (13), respectively, and a new subsection (7) is added to
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that section, to read:
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459.023 Anesthesiologist assistants.—
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(7) TEMPORARY LICENSURE.—
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(a) The department shall issue a temporary license to
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practice as an anesthesiologist assistant to an applicant who
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meets all of the following criteria:
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1. Has graduated from an approved anesthesiologist
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assistant program.
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2. Has applied for and is awaiting results of the
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certification examination administered by the National
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Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants.
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3. Has submitted a completed application for licensure and
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paid all applicable fees.
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4. Has not committed any act or offense that would
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constitute grounds for denial of licensure under this chapter.
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5. Has submitted to a background screening pursuant to s.
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456.0135.
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(b) A temporary license issued under this subsection:
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1. Is valid for a period not to exceed 180 days after the
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date of issuance.
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2. Is nonrenewable.
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3. Automatically expires upon the applicant’s passage of
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the certification examination and issuance of a full license, or
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upon the applicant’s failure of the certification examination.
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(c) A temporary licensee may practice only under the direct
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supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist who has filed a
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written protocol with the department in accordance with
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subsection (2).
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(d) The boards shall adopt rules to implement this
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subsection, including application procedures and supervision
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requirements.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.