7606.1 Except as provided in § 7606.2, all applicants for the renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement of a license to practice respiratory therapy in the District shall demonstrate successful completion of approved continuing education units (“CEUs”) in accordance with this section.

7606.2 This section does not apply to applicants for an initial license, nor to applicants for the first renewal of a license after the initial grant.

7606.3 To qualify for reactivation of a license to practice respiratory therapy, a person in inactive status, as defined in § 511 of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.11), shall possess a valid and active credential as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

7606.4 To qualify for reinstatement of a license, an applicant shall submit proof of the following:

(a) Having successfully completed eight (8) approved CEUs for each year that the license remains expired and two (2) of the required CEUs shall be in ethics, provided further that ten percent (10%) of the total required continuing education shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District, which shall be duly published every five (5) years or as deemed appropriate; and

(b) A current and valid credential as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

7606.5 To qualify for the renewal of a license, an applicant shall have completed sixteen (16) CEUs of approved continuing education programs or activities during the two (2) year period preceding the date the license expires, which shall include:

(a) Three (3) CEUs of ethics, for an applicant seeking to renew his or her license on or before January 31, 2019; or

(b) Two (2) CEUs of ethics and two (2) CEUs of LGBTQ continuing education, for an applicant seeking to renew his or her license after January 31, 2019, provided further that ten percent (10%) of the total required continuing education shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District, which shall be duly published every five (5) years or as deemed appropriate.

7606.6 A CEU shall be valid only if it is part of a program or activity approved by the Board in accordance with § 7607.

7606.7 The Board may conduct a random audit of active licensees to determine compliance with the continuing education requirements and the requirement for continuously valid credential pursuant to § 7611. A licensee who is selected for audit shall submit satisfactory proof of continuing education compliance and possession of valid and active CRT or RRT credential within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice of the audit.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 46 DCR 7282 (September 17, 1999); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 2396 (March 31, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 2518 (March 23, 2007); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 64 DCR 8266 (August 18, 2017); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 66 DCR 11586 (August 30, 2019).