As a licensed respiratory care practitioner (RCP) in Virginia, I strongly support the proposal that would require all RCPs to complete a minimum of 20 continuing education units (CEUs), biannually, in order to maintain current active status as a RCP in Virginia.

While completing these CEUs will not guarantee competency in all areas of respiratory care practice, it will encourage RCPs to attend activities where they can be informed, and perhaps updated and educated, on current trends and practices in respiratory care.  Many CEU opportunities have become available through professional organizations, such as the American Association for Respiratory Care, Virginia Society for Respirtory Care, and organizations employing respiratory therapists, thus allowing for RCPs to obtain the proposed CEUs in a reasonalbe amount of time. 

Because of the subspecialization of respiratory therapists in many healthcare environments today, I endorse the CE alternative to mandatory retesting for RCP wishing to maintain current active status.