Florida Healthcare Community Update • 2025 Regulatory Alert

“Cleared to Care” Without the Chaos: The 2025 Fingerprinting Shift for Florida Healthcare Renewals

Florida moved the goalposts — quietly. As of July 1, 2025, many healthcare professionals who were previously exempt from electronic fingerprinting requirements are now required to complete a Level 2 LiveScan as part of renewing their license. This change comes from House Bill 975, which ties renewal eligibility to compliance with updated background screening rules under §456.0135, Florida Statutes.

The good news: this is usually painless when it’s done correctly. The bad news: if it’s done incorrectly, it becomes an accidental hobby. Let’s keep it in the “painless” category.

The “Grandfather” Exemption Has Ended (Yes, Even If You’ve Been Licensed Forever)

If you were licensed before January 2013, you may have lived comfortably outside the state’s digital clearinghouse requirements. Not anymore. Florida’s Department of Health can be prohibited from renewing your license until your Level 2 fingerprints are captured and properly entered into the state’s system.

Legislative Driver & Public Trust

Why Florida Did This

The intent is straightforward: standardize background screening across regulated healthcare professions and reduce gaps created by legacy timelines. HB 975 updates the renewal framework so practitioners are screened consistently — not just “at the beginning,” but in a way that supports ongoing compliance and public confidence.

If you want to read the statutory language directly, here it is: Official statute text.

From our standpoint, this fits the same modern “high-confidence identity” mindset we use in other workflows — including KYC-based identity assurance — because the fastest way to create renewal problems is uncertainty about identity, routing, or record retention.

Your Renewal Roadmap

What You Need to Know for a Stress-Free Renewal

“When should I act to avoid a license lapse?”

Aim for 90–120 days before expiration. That buffer is the difference between “done” and “why is my renewal stuck in limbo?” If you handle it early, you have time for processing and any small corrections without panic.

“What is the $43.25 retention fee?”

Once you’re in the system, your fingerprints are retained for a set period (commonly 5 years). To keep them active for renewal, FDLE may require a $43.25 retention fee when your retention is expiring during a renewal cycle. If retention lapses, you can be forced into a brand-new LiveScan submission — which is an avoidable rerun.

IMPORTANT: Your board’s ORI matters. Wrong ORI = wrong destination = wasted time.

“What’s the most common reason people get delayed?”

It’s rarely the background screening result. Delays usually come from one of three things: wrong ORI, demographic mismatches (names/dates/IDs entered inconsistently), or waiting until the last minute. In other words: preventable stuff.

A Simple Rule of Thumb for Renewals

If a process can be ruined by a single wrong number, assume the wrong number will appear at the worst possible moment. Then do the opposite: verify the ORI, capture clean prints, and give yourself a buffer. Your future self will send a thank-you note.

Make It Simple

The Fastest Way to Get This Done (Without Guesswork)

If you want the full breakdown — what to bring, how LiveScan works, what “Level 2” means in real life, and what to avoid — start here: LiveScan Fingerprinting in Daytona Beach

Quick Checklist (so you can stop thinking about this)

1) Confirm your profession/board requirements and ORI.

2) Schedule LiveScan with enough time (90–120 days is ideal).

3) Ensure your demographics match your licensing record.

4) Keep proof of completion for your records.

FAQ

Quick Answers People Actually Need

Does this mean everyone is “re-fingerprinted”?

Not necessarily “again,” but many professionals who were previously exempt may now be required to complete LiveScan for renewal. The key is the renewal window and whether your profession falls under the updated requirements.

What if my prints get rejected?

Rejections are usually about capture quality, not “you.” The fix is typically a quick reprint — which is exactly why early timing is your best friend.

Where can I verify state guidance?

DOH maintains background screening information here: Florida DOH Background Screening.

One Last Friendly Reminder

This is a process change, not a personal challenge. Handle it early, route it correctly, and you’ll be “Cleared to Care” with minimal drama — which is how renewals should always feel.