Practitioner Profiling - Frequently Asked Questions for License Search Screen

Q: Is the information provided on your Web site an acceptable method of obtaining primary source license verification from you?
A: That is up to the person or entity receiving the verification. As far as our Department is concerned, this screen is a valid form of verification, but we cannot require another entity to accept it.

Q: Do you provide the same information on the Web site the you would provide in verbal or written verifications?
A: The information on this screen is what would be provided by a telephone verification. Written verifications, for which there is a $25.00 fee, includes a background check to see if there is any past disciplinary action. This screen is only a "snapshot" of the license as it currently stands and no background information is provided. You can get background information on the four professions included in the Profiling system (Medical Doctors, Osteopathic Physicians, Chiropractors and Podiatrists) by doing a search on the Profiling system.

Q: Do you provide data directly to site, i.e., is it a secure Web site - not altered by secondary source?
A: The information contained in our data base is entered directed by Department of Health and its affiliated employees only. It is a secure site and no one else can access it to modify or alter the data it contains.

Q: I just took my nursing exam, how soon can I expect to see the results?
A: This exam can take anywhere from 5 to 15 business days for the results to be processed and posted.

Q: If I do a search on my name and it tells me that there is no match found, does that mean that I failed the exam?
A: Not necessarily. Every exam this department offers takes a different amount of time for the results to be processed and posted. It may just mean that your results have not been completed yet. You may want to contact the board office for your profession and ask them, on average, how long the exam results take to be processed.

Q: How often is the system updated?
A: Any changes made within the system are immediately reflected in the search screens database.

Q: How can I tell when the information was last downloaded successfully?
A: If you do a search on a licensee and go to the detail screen for that license, it will have a "Current as of" date at the top of the screen. That date will tell you the last successful download date.

Q: I click on Continue to the search site, but nothing ever happens. Why?
A: Most likely it is because your browser is not set to accept cookies. If your browser is not set to accept cookies the page cannot load. Change your browser settings to accept cookies and the page should load without a problem. Read more about cookies.

Q: I entered all of the information I had on my licensee, but it told me there was no match! Is your system broken?
A: This screen will give better results if you do not fill in all of the fields. If you have the license number, enter only that (without the prefix or leading zeros) and leave all other fields blank. If you do not have the license number, enter only the name and the occupation. Also, be sure to use the percent sign (%) which is the wildcard for this screen. You can read more about the wildcard and other searching tips in the help text.

Q: How can I change the address that displays on the Internet for my license?
A: The license screen attempts to display the practice location first. If the practice location has not been provided, it displays the mailing address. You may update your address online or by mail.

To update your address online:

Go to www.FLHealthsource.com
Click the Licensee/Provider button
From the left navigation menu, select Practitioner Logon.

You will need your user ID and password to logon.
If you do not know your user ID and password, you can log in by answering a set of security questions.

Once you are properly logged in, you may update your address using the left navigation menu.

Certain licensees are exempt from publicly displaying their address information per Section 119.07, Florida Statute. If you qualify for an exemption, you must submit written notice to the appropriate board office advising of the nature of your exemption and requesting that the address information be blocked from displaying. The board office may then require you to submit proof of your exempt status.

Q: I want to know if the practitioner has Civil Medical Malpractice payments on his record. Where can I find this information?
A: If you wish to obtain information on Medical Malpractice payments, that information is not maintained in this office as a part of our files. Civil medical malpractice payment information may be obtained from the county in which the physician is working.

If you have other questions that are not covered here, please refer to our contacts list so your question can be referred to the correct person.