Office of Public & Professional Guardians (OPPG) 

• Professional Guardians must meet certain requirements to register with the state of Florida. For more information and a complete guide to the Professional Guardian Registration, please click here. 
• The OPPG established a statewide toll-free hotline to receive complaints made against registered professional guardians. The hotline number is: 1-855-305-3030. In addition, complaints can be submitted via email or mail. 
• The Department contracts with 15 public guardianship offices statewide, providing public guardianship services to vulnerable adults that meet the following criteria: 
  • The person (referred to as a “ward”) must be indigent; 
  • The ward may not have any friends or family that are willing or able to serve; and 
  • The person must be adjudicated incapacitated under Chapter 744, Florida Statutes, or eligible for a Guardian Advocate under s. 393.12, Florida Statutes. 
  • For more details on the 15 public guardians, please go to: Florida Public Guardian Programs 
• Direct Support Organization: Foundation for Indigent Guardianship (FIG); FIG supports the OPPG via a pooled special needs trust to supplement state funding for Florida’s public guardianship programs. FIG Annual Report FY 23-24 You can also find the previous report at FIG Annual Report FY 22-23. 

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO THE PROFESSIONAL GUARDIAN REGISTRATION PROCESS

• Complete the Professional Guardian course. The course is 40 hours in length. You can view current class offerings at CE Broker.
  • FINDING COURSES IN CE BROKER:
    • Under LOCATION select “Florida”
    • Under PROFESSION select “Professional Guardian”
    • Under FILTERS select “Live”
    • Under ALL SUBJECTS select “Initial 40 Hour Course”
    • Leave all the other fields blank to see courses throughout Florida.
• Pass Florida Professional Guardian Examination. Applicants must show competency in guardianship by successfully completing the Florida Professional Guardian Examination. The examination is a comprehensive test consisting of multiple choice questions related to best practices in guardianship of the person and estate.
  • FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SCHEDULED EXAMS visit The MacDonald Research Institute (TMRI) Professional Guardian Examination at this link or call (352) 835-7883 or email at oppgtest.tmri@gmail.com.
• Obtain a copy of your complete credit report. A report from any of the three credit reporting agencies is acceptable. All agencies are required to provide a free report once a year upon request. To order a credit report, visit this link, or call 1-877-322-8228. It must be a complete credit report, not a summary, and show all accounts and payment history.
• Fingerprinting/background check – Applicants must undergo fingerprinting before they can be registered with the OPPG. Fingerprints can be processed locally, go to this link to find a location in your county. A level 2 background screen is required every 5 years.
  • WHEN SCHEDULING APPOINTMENT: Choose “Professional Guardian” as the AGENCY NAME. For the APPLICATION COUNTY, choose the county where the guardian’s primary place of business is located.
• Obtain a $50,000 blanket bond. Contact a bonding company in your area.
• Register with the Office of Public & Professional Guardians. Applicants must complete a registration form available here or call 850-414-2161 to have one mailed. There is a $35.00 registration fee required.
  • We must have your original signature on page 4 of the application, along with the following:
    • Certificate of Completion of the 40-hour Professional Guardian Course
    • Letter indicating passage of the Guardianship Competency Exam
    • $50,000 Blanket Bond
    • Credit History
    • Check for Registration Fee

If you should have any questions regarding OPPG registration, please email: DOEA OPPG Registration at OPPGregistration@elderaffairs.org

Registration Resources

• Professional Guardian Registration Rules 
• Professional Guardian Registration Form (PDF)
• Professional Guardian Employee Registration Form (PDF)
• Professional Guardian Training and Continuing Education
• Application for Lecture Credit (PDF)
• National Guardianship Association and Center for Guardianship Certification Fact Sheet (PDF)

• Chapter 744, Florida Statutes – Florida’s guardianship law 
• Section 393.12, Florida Statutes – Guardian advocacy for persons with developmental disabilities 
• Section 394.4598, Florida Statutes – Guardian advocacy for persons with mental health issues 
• 58M-2 Florida Administrative Code – Regulations and requirements of professional guardians 
• The Florida Probate Rules of Court –Rules governing guardianship proceedings