THE BILL ITSELF

CS/HB 237

Use of Professional Nursing Titles

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

1 A bill to be entitled

2 An act relating to the use of professional nursing

3 titles; amending s. 464.015, F.S.; authorizing persons

4 who hold specified degrees to use certain titles and

5 abbreviations; requiring certain doctoral degree

6 holders to specify their profession when using a

7 specified title; providing an effective date.

9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

11 Section 1. Subsection (10) of section 464.015, Florida

12 Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (11), and a new subsection

13 (10) is added to that section, to read:

14 464.015 Titles and abbreviations; restrictions; penalty.—

15 (10) A person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter and

16 holds a doctoral degree may use the title "Doctor of Nursing

17 Practice" and the abbreviation "D.N.P." or the title "Doctor of

18 Philosophy" and the abbreviation "Ph.D." in a manner consistent

19 with the doctoral degree such person has obtained. A nurse who

20 holds a doctoral degree may not use the title "doctor" in a

21 clinical setting without clearly specifying their profession.

22 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.