464.009  Licensure by endorsement.--

(1)  The department shall issue the appropriate license by endorsement to practice professional or practical nursing to an applicant who, upon applying to the department and remitting a fee set by the board not to exceed $100, demonstrates to the board that he or she:

(a)  Holds a valid license to practice professional or practical nursing in another state of the United States, provided that, when the applicant secured his or her original license, the requirements for licensure were substantially equivalent to or more stringent than those existing in Florida at that time; or

(b)  Meets the qualifications for licensure in s. 464.008 and has successfully completed a state, regional, or national examination which is substantially equivalent to or more stringent than the examination given by the department.

(2)  Such examinations and requirements from other states shall be presumed to be substantially equivalent to or more stringent than those in this state. Such presumption shall not arise until January 1, 1980. However, the board may, by rule, specify states the examinations and requirements of which shall not be presumed to be substantially equivalent to those of this state.

(3)  The department shall not issue a license by endorsement to any applicant who is under investigation in another state for an act which would constitute a violation of this chapter until such time as the investigation is complete, at which time the provisions of s. 464.018 shall apply.