CHAPTER 40
REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS THERAPISTS

Part I
General Provisions

18VAC85-40-10. Definitions.

A. The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the meanings ascribed to them in § 54.1-2900 of the Code of Virginia:

Board

Qualified medical direction

B. The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"AARC" means the American Association for Respiratory Care.

"Accredited educational program" means a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care or any other agency approved by the NBRC for its entry level certification examination.

"Active practice" means a minimum of 160 hours of professional practice as a respiratory care practitioner therapist within the 24-month period immediately preceding renewal or application for licensure if previously licensed or certified in another jurisdiction. The active practice of respiratory care may include supervisory, administrative, educational or consultative activities or responsibilities for the delivery of such services.

"Advisory board" means the Advisory Board on Respiratory Care to the Board of Medicine as specified in § 54.1-2956 of the Code of Virginia.

"NBRC" means the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc.

"Respiratory care practitioner therapist" means a person as specified in § 54.1-2954 of the Code of Virginia.

Part II
Requirements for Licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner Therapist

18VAC85-40-40. Licensure requirements.

An applicant for licensure shall submit the following on forms provided by the board:

1. A completed application and a fee as prescribed in 18VAC85-40-35.

2. Verification of professional education in respiratory care as required in 18VAC85-40-45.

3. Verification of practice as required on the application form.

4. Evidence of passage of the national examination as required in 18VAC85-40-50.

5. If licensed or certified in any other jurisdiction, documentation of active practice as a respiratory care practitioner therapist or documentation of 20 hours of continuing education within the 24-month period immediately preceding application and verification that there has been no disciplinary action taken or pending in that jurisdiction.

18VAC85-40-45. Educational requirements.

An applicant for licensure shall:

1. Be a graduate of an accredited educational program for respiratory care practitioners therapists; or

2. Hold current credentialing as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) from the NBRC or any other credentialing body determined by the board to be equivalent.

18VAC85-40-50. Examination requirements.

An applicant for a license to practice as a licensed respiratory care practitioner therapist shall submit to the board evidence that the applicant has passed the NBRC entry level examination for respiratory care, or its equivalent as approved by the board.

18VAC85-40-55. Registration for voluntary practice by out-of-state licensees.

Any respiratory care practitioner therapist who does not hold a license to practice in Virginia and who seeks registration to practice under subdivision 27 of § 54.1-2901 of the Code of Virginia on a voluntary basis under the auspices of a publicly supported, all volunteer, nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people shall:

1. File a complete application for registration on a form provided by the board at least five business days prior to engaging in such practice. An incomplete application will not be considered;

2. Provide a complete record of professional licensure in each state in which he has held a license and a copy of any current license;

3. Provide the name of the nonprofit organization, the dates and location of the voluntary provision of services;

4. Pay a registration fee of $10; and

5. Provide a notarized statement from a representative of the nonprofit organization attesting to its compliance with provisions of subdivision 27 of § 54.1-2901 of the Code of Virginia.

Part III
Renewal and Reinstatement

18VAC85-40-60. Renewal of license.

A. Every licensed respiratory care practitioner therapist intending to continue his licensure shall biennially in each odd-numbered year in his birth month:

1. Register with the board for renewal of his license;

2. Pay the prescribed renewal fee at the time he files for renewal;

3. Attest that he has engaged in active practice as defined in 18VAC85-40-10 or present other documented evidence acceptable to the board that he is prepared to resume practice; and

4. Attest to having met the continuing education requirements of 18VAC85-40-66.

B. A respiratory care practitioner therapist whose licensure has not been renewed by the first day of the month following the month in which renewal is required shall pay a late fee as prescribed in 18VAC85-40-35.

18VAC85-40-65. Reactivation or reinstatement.

A. To reactivate an inactive license or to reinstate a license that has been lapsed for more than two years, a respiratory care practitioner therapist shall submit evidence of competency to return to active practice to include one of the following:

1. Information on continued practice in another jurisdiction during the period in which the license has been inactive or lapsed;

2. Ten hours of continuing education for each year in which the license has been inactive or lapsed, not to exceed three years; or

3. Recertification by passage of an examination from NBRC.

B. To reactivate an inactive license, a respiratory care practitioner therapist shall pay a fee equal to the difference between the current renewal fee for inactive licensure and the renewal fee for active licensure.

C. To reinstate a license which has been lapsed for more than two years, a respiratory care practitioner therapist shall file an application for reinstatement and pay the fee for reinstatement of his licensure as prescribed in 18VAC85-40-35. The board may specify additional requirements for reinstatement of a license so lapsed to include education, experience or reexamination.

D. A respiratory care practitioner therapist whose licensure has been revoked by the board and who wishes to be reinstated shall make a new application to the board, fulfill additional requirements as specified in the order from the board and make payment of the fee for reinstatement of his licensure as prescribed in 18VAC85-40-35 pursuant to § 54.1-2408.2 of the Code of Virginia.

E. The board reserves the right to deny a request for reactivation or reinstatement to any licensee who has been determined to have committed an act in violation of § 54.1-2915 of the Code of Virginia or any provisions of this chapter.

18VAC85-40-66. Continuing education requirements.

A. In order to renew an active license as a respiratory care practitioner therapist, a licensee shall attest to having completed 20 hours of continuing education as approved and documented by a sponsor recognized by the AARC or in courses directly related to the practice of respiratory care as approved by the American Medical Association for Category 1 CME credit within the last biennium.

B. A practitioner shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements for the first biennial renewal following the date of initial licensure in Virginia.

C. The practitioner shall retain in his records the completed form with all supporting documentation for a period of four years following the renewal of an active license.

D. The board shall periodically conduct a random audit of its active licensees to determine compliance. The practitioners selected for the audit shall provide all supporting documentation within 30 days of receiving notification of the audit.

E. Failure to comply with these requirements may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the board.

F. The board may grant an extension of the deadline for continuing competency requirements, for up to one year, for good cause shown upon a written request from the licensee prior to the renewal date.

G. The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the requirements for circumstances beyond the control of the licensee, such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters.

18VAC85-40-67. Restricted volunteer license.

A. A respiratory care practitioner therapist who held an unrestricted license issued by the Virginia Board of Medicine or by a board in another state as a licensee in good standing at the time the license expired or became inactive may be issued a restricted volunteer license to practice without compensation in a clinic that is organized in whole or in part for the delivery of health care services without charge in accordance with § 54.1-106 of the Code of Virginia.

B. To be issued a restricted volunteer license, a respiratory care practitioner therapist shall submit an application to the board that documents compliance with requirements of § 54.1-2928.1 of the Code of Virginia and the application fee prescribed in 18VAC85-40-35.

C. The licensee who intends to continue practicing with a restricted volunteer license shall renew  biennially during his birth month, meet the continued competency requirements prescribed in subsection D of this section, and pay to the board the renewal fee prescribed in 18VAC85-40-35.

D. The holder of a restricted volunteer license shall not be required to attest to hours of continuing education for the first renewal of such a license.  For each renewal thereafter, the licensee shall attest to obtaining 10 hours of continuing education as approved and documented by a sponsor recognized by the AARC or in courses directly related to the practice of respiratory care as approved by the American Medical Association for Category 1 CME credit within the last biennium.

Part IV
Scope of Practice

18VAC85-40-70. Individual responsibilities.

Practice as a licensed respiratory care practitioner therapist means, upon receipt of written or verbal orders from a qualified practitioner and under qualified medical direction, the evaluation, care and treatment of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system. This practice shall include, but not be limited to, ventilatory assistance and support; the insertion of artificial airways without cutting tissue and the maintenance of such airways; the administration of medical gases exclusive of general anesthesia; topical administration of pharmacological agents to the respiratory tract; humidification; and administration of aerosols. The practice of respiratory care shall include such functions shared with other health professionals as cardiopulmonary resuscitation; bronchopulmonary hygiene; respiratory rehabilitation; specific testing techniques required to assist in diagnosis, therapy and research; and invasive and noninvasive cardiopulmonary monitoring.

FORMS (18VAC85-40)

Instructions and Application for Reinstatement of License to Practice Respiratory Care (rev. 11/10).

Instructions (rev. 1/09) and Application for a License to Practice as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (rev. 12/07).

Reinstatement Application Instructions for Respiratory Care Practitioner after Reinstatement Denied or License Revoked (rev. 8/07).

Reinstatement Application Instructions for Respiratory Care Practitioner after Mandatory Suspension, Suspension or Surrender (rev. 8/07).

Form A, Claims History Sheet (rev. 8/07).

Form B, Activity Questionnaire (rev. 8/07).

Form C, Clearance from Other State Boards (rev. 8/07).

Form L, Certificate of Professional Education (rev. 1/09).

Application for Registration for Volunteer Practice (rev. 8/07).

Sponsor Certification for Volunteer Registration (rev. 8/08).

Instructions and Application for a License to Practice as a Respiratory Therapist (rev. 8/2015)

Application for Registration for Volunteer Practice (undated)

Form B, Activity Questionnaire (rev. 8/2015)

Application to reactivate an Inactive License for a Respiratory Therapist (eff. 8/2015)