Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1786
By Senator DiCeglie
18-01580A-24 20241786__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to professional licensure and
3 certification; amending s. 472.0101, F.S.; authorizing
4 the practice of a profession as a substitute for
5 certain professional or occupational degrees for
6 certain foreign-trained professionals; amending s.
7 472.013, F.S.; revising education and work experience
8 requirements for taking the surveyor and mapper
9 licensure examination; providing an effective date.
10
11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13 Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 472.0101, Florida
14 Statutes, is amended to read:
15 472.0101 Foreign-trained professionals; special examination
16 and license provisions.—
17 (1) When not otherwise provided by law, the department
18 shall by rule provide procedures under which exiled
19 professionals may be examined under this chapter. A person is
20 eligible for the examination if the exiled professional:
21 (a) Immigrated to the United States after leaving the
22 person’s home country because of political reasons, provided the
23 country is located in the Western Hemisphere and does not have
24 diplomatic relations with the United States;
25 (b) Applies to the department and submits a fee;
26 (c) Was a resident of this state immediately preceding the
27 person’s application;
28 (d) Demonstrates to the department, through submission of
29 documentation verified by the applicant’s respective
30 professional association in exile, that the applicant was
31 graduated with an appropriate professional or occupational
32 degree from a college or university. However, the department may
33 not require receipt of any documentation from the Republic of
34 Cuba as a condition of eligibility under this section;
35 (e) Lawfully practiced the profession for at least 3 years.
36 Such practice of the profession may be substituted for the
37 professional or occupational degree requirement under paragraph
38 (d);
39 (f) Prior to 1980, successfully completed an approved
40 course of study pursuant to chapters 74-105 and 75-177, Laws of
41 Florida; and
42 (g) Presents a certificate demonstrating the successful
43 completion of a continuing education program which offers a
44 course of study that will prepare the applicant for the
45 examination offered under subsection (2). The department shall
46 develop rules for the approval of such programs for the board.
47 Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 472.013, Florida
48 Statutes, is amended to read:
49 472.013 Examinations, prerequisites.—
50 (2) An applicant shall be entitled to take the licensure
51 examination to practice in this state as a surveyor and mapper
52 if the applicant is of good moral character and has satisfied
53 one of the following requirements:
54 (a) The applicant has received a bachelor’s degree, its
55 equivalent, or higher in surveying and mapping or a similarly
56 titled program, including, but not limited to, geomatics,
57 geomatics engineering, and land surveying, from a college or
58 university accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the
59 United States Department of Education board and has a specific
60 experience record of 4 or more years as a subordinate to a
61 professional surveyor and mapper in the active practice of
62 surveying and mapping, which experience is of a nature
63 indicating that the applicant was in responsible charge of the
64 accuracy and correctness of the surveying and mapping work
65 performed. Work experience acquired as a part of the education
66 requirement may not be construed as experience in responsible
67 charge.
68 (b) The applicant has received a bachelor’s degree, its
69 equivalent, or higher in a course of study, other than in
70 surveying and mapping, at a an accredited college or university
71 accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United
72 States Department of Education and has a specific experience
73 record of 6 or more years as a subordinate to a registered
74 surveyor and mapper in the active practice of surveying and
75 mapping, 5 years of which shall be of a nature indicating that
76 the applicant was in responsible charge of the accuracy and
77 correctness of the surveying and mapping work performed. The
78 applicant must have completed a minimum of 25 semester hours
79 from a college or university accredited by an accrediting body
80 recognized by the United States Department of Education approved
81 by the board in surveying and mapping subjects or in any
82 combination of courses in civil engineering, surveying, mapping,
83 mathematics, photogrammetry, forestry, or land law and the
84 physical sciences. Any of the required 25 semester hours of
85 study completed not as a part of the bachelor’s degree, its
86 equivalent, or higher may be approved at the discretion of the
87 board. Work experience acquired as a part of the education
88 requirement may not be construed as experience in responsible
89 charge.
90 (c) The applicant has received an associate degree and has
91 a specific experience record of at least 6 years as a
92 subordinate to a professional surveyor and mapper in the active
93 practice of surveying and mapping, at least 5 years of which
94 shall be of a nature indicating that the applicant was in
95 responsible charge of the accuracy and correctness of the
96 surveying and mapping work performed. The applicant must have
97 completed at least 25 semester hours from a college or
98 university accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the
99 United States Department of Education in surveying and mapping
100 subjects or in any combination of courses in civil engineering,
101 surveying, mapping, mathematics, photogrammetry, forestry, or
102 land law and the physical sciences. Work experience acquired as
103 a part of the education requirement may not be construed as
104 experience in responsible charge.
105 (d) The applicant has received a high school diploma or its
106 equivalent and has a specific experience record of at least 6
107 years as a subordinate to a professional surveyor and mapper in
108 the active practice of surveying and mapping, at least 5 years
109 of which shall be of a nature indicating that the applicant was
110 in responsible charge of the accuracy and correctness of the
111 surveying and mapping work performed. The applicant must have
112 completed at least 25 semester hours from a college or
113 university accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the
114 United States Department of Education in surveying and mapping
115 subjects or in any combination of courses in civil engineering,
116 surveying, mapping, mathematics, photogrammetry, forestry, or
117 land law and the physical sciences. Work experience acquired as
118 a part of the education requirement may not be construed as
119 experience in responsible charge.
120 (e) The applicant holds a valid license to practice
121 surveying and mapping in another state, jurisdiction, or
122 territory, and has at least 2 years of experience in the active
123 practice of surveying and mapping, which experience is of a
124 nature indicating that the applicant was in responsible charge
125 of the accuracy and correctness of the surveying and mapping
126 work performed.
127 (f) The applicant has received a registered apprenticeship
128 certificate in surveying and mapping after completing a
129 registered apprenticeship program approved by the Department of
130 Education and has a specified experience record of at least 2
131 years as a subordinate to a professional surveyor and mapper in
132 the active practice of surveying and mapping, which experience
133 is of a nature indicating that the applicant was in responsible
134 charge of the accuracy and correctness of the surveying and
135 mapping work performed. Work experience acquired as a part of
136 the education requirement may not be construed as experience in
137 responsible charge.
138 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.