PROVIDED SUMMARY
Use of Professional Nursing Titles; Authorizes persons who hold specified degrees to use certain titles & abbreviations; requires certain doctoral degree holders to specify their profession when using specified title.
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Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATED
Bars doctoral-degree nurses from using the doctor title without clarifying their role.
A nurse licensed under Florida's nursing law who holds a doctoral degree may use the title "Doctor of Nursing Practice" and "D.N.P.," or "Doctor of Philosophy" and "Ph.D.," matching whichever doctoral degree that nurse actually earned.
In a clinical setting, though, that same nurse may not use the title "doctor" alone; the law requires clearly specifying their profession whenever they use it there.
KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1
Clinical use of "doctor" requires stating the profession
majors. 464.015(10)
AIA nurse with a doctoral degree may not use the bare title "doctor" in a clinical setting without also clearly stating what profession they practice.
“may not use the title "doctor" in a clinical setting without clearly specifying their profession.”
bill text, line 20 →
§ 2
Doctorally prepared nurses may use D.N.P. or Ph.D. titles
moderates. 464.015(10)
AIA nurse licensed under chapter 464 who holds a doctoral degree may use the title and abbreviation matching that specific degree, either Doctor of Nursing Practice/D.N.P. or Doctor of Philosophy/Ph.D.
“may use the title "Doctor of Nursing Practice" and the abbreviation "D.N.P." or the title "Doctor of Philosophy" and the abbreviation "Ph.D."”
bill text, line 16 →
TIMELINE
2/9/2026
Referred to Rules
2/4/2026
CS passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 0
2/4/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
1/29/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/4/2026)
1/27/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
1/27/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
1/27/2026
Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
1/27/2026
Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee
1/23/2026
Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
1/19/2026
Now in Health & Human Services Committee
1/19/2026
Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
1/15/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/15/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/15/2026
Reported out of Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Favorable with CS by Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
Added to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee agenda
10/28/2025
Now in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
10/28/2025
Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
10/28/2025
Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
21 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
STAFF ANALYSES