Substitution of work experience for postsecondary educational requirements.

(1) The head of a public employer may elect to substitute verifiable, related work experience in lieu of postsecondary educational requirements for a position of employment if the person seeking the position of employment is otherwise qualified for such position.

(2) Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.

(3) If the head of a public employer elects to substitute related work experience for postsecondary educational requirements, the public employer must, in all advertisements for the position of employment made by the public employer, include a notice that such substitution is authorized and a description of the related work experience equivalencies that may be substituted for the required postsecondary education.

(4) This section does not abridge state and federal laws and regulations governing equal opportunity employment.

(5) For purposes of this section, the term:

(a) “Postsecondary degree” means an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, or a graduate degree from an accredited college or university.

(b) “Public employer” has the same meaning as in s. 448.095.

(6) A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:

(a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;

(b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;

(c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;

(d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or

(e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree.