Provisional Licensure of Anesthesiologist Assistants
Summary
HB 1371 creates a temporary, or provisional, license for anesthesiologist assistants in Florida under both the medical and osteopathic licensing statutes. The Department of Health would be required to issue this temporary license to applicants who have graduated from an approved anesthesiologist assistant program, have applied for and are awaiting certification exam results from the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants, have completed the licensure application and paid fees, have no disqualifying disciplinary or criminal history, and have completed background screening.
The temporary license would last no more than 180 days, would not be renewable, and would end automatically when the applicant either passes the certification exam and receives a full license or fails the exam. Temporary licensees could practice only under the direct supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist who has filed a written protocol with the department. The bill also directs the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to adopt rules governing application procedures and supervision requirements, and it takes effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill amends sections 458.3475 and 459.023, Florida Statutes, to add a new temporary licensure pathway for anesthesiologist assistants in both allopathic and osteopathic practice settings. It does not change the underlying full licensure standards, but it creates an interim authorization for recent graduates awaiting exam results, thereby affecting the Department of Health, the two licensing boards, supervising anesthesiologists, and applicants seeking to begin practice sooner.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text, the measure appears administrative and workforce-oriented, with a clear focus on allowing qualified applicants to enter practice while maintaining supervision, screening, and exam-based safeguards. The structure of the bill suggests a generally supportive approach to expanding access to licensed practitioners without lowering core competency requirements.
Contention
The main policy balance in the bill is between workforce flexibility and patient-safety oversight. Supporters would likely favor the temporary license as a way to reduce delays for new graduates and help fill clinical staffing needs, while any concerns would likely center on whether practice should begin before exam results are known and whether direct supervision and written protocols are sufficient safeguards. Because no hearing or vote record is included, no specific legislators, organizations, or stakeholder groups are identified as having raised objections.