When can new licensees begin working according to the regulations?

New licensees can begin working once the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) indicates that their license is active. This is crucial because, while passing the exam and paying the registration fee are necessary steps in the licensing process, neither alone grants the authority to practice. The activation of the license is what formally recognizes a licensee as a qualified professional in the field. Until the DBPR processes and activates the license, the individual is not legally permitted to engage in activities as a licensed professional.