7608.1 This section applies to:

1. (a) A student enrolled in an approved school or college as a candidate for a degree or a certificate in respiratory therapy; or
2. (b) An applicant whose first application for a license to practice respiratory therapy in the District has been submitted to the Board and a decision on the application is pending.

7608.2 A student may practice respiratory therapy only in accordance with the following provisions:

1. (a) A student may practice only in a hospital, nursing home, health facility, or health education center operated by the District or federal government, or at a health care facility that the student's school or college determines to be appropriate for this purpose;
2. (b) A student shall be supervised at all times by a respiratory therapist licensed in the District who shall be present on site and available to supervise and oversee the student at all times;
3. (c) The supervisor shall be fully responsible for the supervised student's practice and may be subject to disciplinary action for any act or omission by the student that constitutes a violation of the Act or this chapter;
4. (d) A student may not receive payment or compensation of any nature either directly or indirectly for his or her practice of respiratory therapy; and
5. (e) A student shall be subject to each of the applicable provisions of the Act and this chapter.

7608.3 An applicant referenced in § 7608.1(b) may practice respiratory therapy only in accordance with the following provisions:

1. (a) An applicant may practice only under general supervision of a respiratory therapist licensed in the District who shall be fully responsible for the supervised applicant's practice and may be subject to disciplinary action for any act or omission by the applicant that constitutes a violation of the Act or this chapter;
2. (b) An applicant may not begin practicing respiratory therapy unless he or she

has received express, written authorization from the Board, which may not be issued until the Board has satisfactorily reviewed the result of the applicant's criminal background check as provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, provided, however, that such temporary authorization to practice shall not limit the Board's authority to take any appropriate action based on the applicant's full criminal background check;

(c) An applicant's authorization to practice under this section shall not exceed ninety (90) days; provided, however, that the Board may grant an extension of this authorization for good cause;

(d) An applicant may be paid a salary or compensation for the hours worked; and

(e) An applicant shall be subject to each of the applicable provisions of the Act and this chapter.

7608.4 If the Board finds that a student or applicant referenced in § 7608.1(b) has violated the Act or this chapter, the Board may, in addition to any other disciplinary action permitted by the Act including denial of application, revoke, suspend, or restrict the authorization for the student or applicant to practice respiratory therapy.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 46 DCR 7282 (September 17, 1999); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 66 DCR 11586 (August 30, 2019).