Florida APD Level 2 Background Screening Requirements
- Applies to
- All employees
- How often
- Rescreen every 5 years
Every APD direct-care employee needs a Level 2 background screening before working with residents, rescreened at least every five years — and a break in service over 90 days can void the clearance.
Level 2 screening is fingerprint-based and run through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. It is a pre-service requirement — completed and cleared before an employee works with residents — and must be renewed at least every five years (F.S. 435.04, 393.0655).
Two companion items travel with it and are checked in the same file: a local criminal records check and the Attestation of Good Moral Character (AGMC). Missing either is a common, avoidable finding.
The trap most homes miss is the re-hire rule. Under F.S. 435.12, you can rely on a prior Level 2 screening only if there has not been a break in service of more than 90 days. Rehire someone after a longer gap and the old clearance no longer carries over — they need to be re-screened before returning to the floor.
Sources
- F.S. 435.04, 393.0655 — Level 2 screening for APD providers
- F.S. 435.12 — Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse (re-screening on break in service)
- APD background screening requirements — local criminal records check, AGMC
This article is general information for Florida APD group-home providers, not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance. Rules change and vary by region — always confirm the current requirement with the cited source and your APD regional office.