Doing your UC clinicals in Florida

Which UC programs can train in Florida

UC's Clinical Planning page authorizes clinicals in every state but seven, and Florida isn't among the seven. What can rule a Floridian out is the program: three UC options only enroll people who live in Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana.

The complete list by program sits on UC state authorization.

Florida's Board and UC's extra Florida check

Section 464.019 of the Florida Statutes governs institutions that want to run prelicensure nursing education in the state, and the Board frames its approval work around those programs. Nothing we found asks an out-of-state MSN, DNP or RN-to-BSN program to register with Florida or notify the Board first. So the gatekeepers for you are UC and the site: your Clinical Site Coordinator vets the preceptor, and an Educational Affiliation Agreement must be signed before you log an hour.

Florida does add one UC-side task. UC's 2026-27 Student Handbook names Florida among the states where APRN students complete a supplemental state-specific background check, and the handbook counts extra checks as a student expense. Background check and drug screen covers how UC runs it.

Protocols, PAs and who can precept you

Florida is restricted practice on AANP's scale. Its fact sheet says some Florida NPs must hold a physician protocol that lasts as long as they practice, though exemptions can apply. That protocol belongs to your preceptor's practice; it doesn't change whether UC will approve them.

UC's bar is the same everywhere: a master's degree or higher, certification in the field, a year or more in the role and an unencumbered Florida license, with an NP in your population focus for at least 20% of NP-track hours. Physician assistants can't fill the role here, because Florida isn't one of the 14 states where UC considers them. Track-by-track detail is on UC preceptor requirements.

TEACH pays facilities, not your preceptor

The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) runs Florida's TEACH Funding Program, short for Training, Education, and Clinicals in Health, under s. 409.91256, F.S. It reimburses qualified facilities by the clinical hour for training primary care APRN students and nursing students. Eligible sites are rural health clinics, FQHCs, CCBHCs, community mental health centers and certain nonprofits in shortage areas. It depends on appropriation, requires Florida-licensed preceptors and is set for repeal on July 1, 2034.

Our research doesn't settle whether hours with a student from an out-of-state school count. A clinic manager who raises TEACH should ask AHCA before treating it as part of the deal.

Where Floridians search, and your license

Jacksonville, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater and, largest of all, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach are the four biggest metros. Large systems in those markets include UF Health, BayCare Health System and AdventHealth, along with HCA Florida Healthcare and Baptist Health South Florida. They show where to look, not sites we can say take UC students.

As for your own license, any compact state's multistate license works for Florida clinicals, and UC wants it current and unrestricted. Florida has not enacted the APRN Compact. RN license for clinicals explains UC's license check.

Our part in a Florida search

We look for Florida preceptors who fit your UC track and help you gather what your CSC reviews: the Preceptor Application details, license and certification, and the site's contact for the agreement. UC approves every preceptor and site, not us. Start on the contact page.