Proration of or not requiring continuing education.

(1) A board, or the department when there is no board, may:

(a) Prorate continuing education for new licensees by requiring half of the required continuing education for any applicant who becomes licensed with more than half the renewal period remaining and no continuing education for any applicant who becomes licensed with half or less than half of the renewal period remaining; or

(b) Require no continuing education until the first full renewal cycle of the licensee.

These options shall also apply when continuing education is first required or the number of hours required is increased by law or the board, or the department when there is no board.

(2)(a) A board, or the department when there is no board, shall exempt an individual from completing the continuing education required for renewal of a license for a renewal period if:

1. The individual holds an active license issued by the board or department to practice the profession;

2. The individual has continuously held the license for at least 10 years; and

3. No disciplinary action is imposed on the individual’s license.

(b) This subsection does not apply to engineers regulated pursuant to chapter 471; to certified public accountants regulated pursuant to chapter 473; to brokers, broker associates, and sales associates regulated pursuant to part I of chapter 475; to appraisers regulated pursuant to part II of chapter 475; to architects, interior designers, or landscape architects regulated pursuant to chapter 481; or to contractors regulated pursuant to chapter 489.

(3) The department and each affected board shall adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this section.