FL S1354

Creates a new certificate process for recognizing agencies to formally recognize physicians as specialists, with Department of Health approval required within 60 business days of a complete application.

Establishes specific requirements for recognizing agencies, including nonprofit status under IRS 501(c)(3), peer-reviewed competency demonstrations, comprehensive examinations, full-time administrative staff, written bylaws, and a practice improvement program.

Prohibits recognizing agencies from requiring physicians to undergo maintenance of certification involving periodic testing, proprietary self-assessment, or peer evaluation, and caps recertification fees at $500 every 2 years.

Allows physicians holding current board certification from an approved recognizing agency to advertise themselves as board-certified specialists.

Amends existing specialty statutes to require that physicians claiming board-certified specialist status receive formal recognition from either the American Board of Medical Specialties or a recognizing agency that has received a department-issued certificate under the new process.