1. A. Renewal.

   1. (1) The term of a license issued by the Board may not exceed 3 years.
   2. (2) The Board may not renew a license until the Comptroller of Maryland has verified that the individual has paid all undisputed taxes and unemployment insurance contributions, or arranged for repayment, as required by COMAR 10.31.02.

   3. (3) An individual who has been licensed by the Board as a respiratory care practitioner may renew the license for an additional term on the date specified by the Board by:

      1. (a) Completing an online renewal application on a form supplied by the Board;
      2. (b) Paying the required renewal fee set by the Board;
      3. (c) Attesting to the completion of at least 16 hours of approved continuing respiratory care education, earned during the 2-year period preceding the expiration of the license for respiratory care, as described in §C of this regulation;
      4. (d) Being of good moral character; and
      5. (e) Meeting any additional renewal requirements set by the Board.
   4. (4) The continuing education requirement applies to all renewal applications after the first renewal.

2. B. Reinstatement.

   1. (1) Except as provided in §B(2) of this regulation, the Board shall reinstate the license of a respiratory care practitioner if the respiratory care practitioner:

      1. (a) Completes a reinstatement application on a form supplied by the Board;
      2. (b) Pays the required reinstatement fee and any other fees set by the Board;
      3. (c) Documents evidence of at least 16 hours of approved continuing education in the 2-year period preceding the date of the submission of the application for reinstatement, as described in §C of this regulation;
      4. (d) Is of good moral character;
      5. (e) Completes a criminal history records check; and
      6. (f) Meets any additional requirements set by the Board for reinstatement of a license.
   2. (2) If the license has not been renewed for more than 5 years and the applicant has not been practicing in another jurisdiction or country during at least 3 of the 5 years preceding the application, the applicant shall pass an examination approved by the Board, and meet all the requirements of licensure at the time the respiratory care practitioner applies for reinstatement.

3. C. Continuing Education.

   1. (1) Approved continuing respiratory care education includes:

      1. (a) Programs accredited by or sponsored by one of the following organizations:

         1. (i) Maryland/District of Columbia Society for Respiratory Care;
         2. (ii) AARC’s Continuing Respiratory Care Education System; or
         3. (iii) MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society; or

      2. (b) Other programs:

         1. (i) Having requirements equivalent to the programs accredited through the organizations listed in §C(1)(a) of this regulation; and
         2. (ii) Approved by the Board.

   2. (2) Instead of completing the required continuing education, an applicant for renewal or reinstatement may substitute passing the examination for either the certified respiratory therapist or registered respiratory therapist conducted by the National Certifying Board during the 2-year period preceding:

      1. (a) For license renewal, the expiration of the license for respiratory care; or
      2. (b) For license reinstatement, the date of the submission of the application for reinstatement.
   3. (3) A disciplinary panel may impose a civil penalty of up to $100 per continuing respiratory care education hour in lieu of a sanction under Health Occupations Article, §14–5A–17, Annotated Code of Maryland, for a first offense, for the failure of a licensee to obtain continuing education hours required by the Board.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§1-213, 1-606, 14-205(a), 14-5A, and 14-5C-03, Annotated Code of Maryland;
Ch. 328, Acts of 2008

Effective date:

Regulations .01 — .06, .08, and .09 adopted effective November 11, 1991 (18:22 Md. R. 2396)

Regulation .02B amended effective April 25, 1994 (21:8 Md. R. 674)

Regulation .03 amended effective August 1, 1994 (21:15 Md. R. 1306)

Regulation .05-1 adopted effective April 25, 1994 (21:8 Md. R. 674)

Regulation .07 adopted effective February 17, 1992 (19:3 Md. R. 305)

Chapter, Certification of Respiratory Care Practitioners, repealed and new chapter, Licensing of Respiratory Care Practitioners, adopted effective August 25, 1997 (24:17 Md. R. 1215)

Regulation .04 amended effective February 14, 2005 (32:3 Md. R. 290)

Regulation .07 repealed as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2008 (35:21 Md. R. 1822); repealed permanently effective November 3, 2008 (35:22 Md. R. 1957)

Regulation .08 repealed as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2008 (35:21 Md. R. 1822); repealed permanently effective November 3, 2008 (35:22 Md. R. 1957)

Regulation .11 amended as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2008 (35:21 Md. R. 1822); amended permanently effective November 3, 2008 (35:22 Md. R. 1957)

Regulation .12 repealed and new Regulation .12 adopted effective February 14, 2005 (32:3 Md. R. 290)

Regulation .12 amended as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2008 (35:21 Md. R. 1822); amended permanently effective November 3, 2008 (35:22 Md. R. 1957)

Regulation .13 adopted effective August 19, 2002 (29:16 Md. R. 1288)

Regulation .14 adopted effective August 19, 2002 (29:16 Md. R. 1288)

Regulation .15 adopted effective August 19, 2002 (29:16 Md. R. 1288)

Chapter revised effective March 7, 2011 (38:5 Md. R. 317)

Regulation .01E adopted effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .02B amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .04B, C amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .04D, E adopted effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .04F amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .06 amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .07 amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .08 adopted effective May 11, 2015 (42:9 Md. R. 647)

Regulation .09 amended effective January 2, 2017 (43:26 Md. R. 1446)

Regulation .10A amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .11 amended effective January 2, 2017 (43:26 Md. R. 1446); January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .13A amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .14B amended effective January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .15 amended effective July 22, 2013 (40:14 Md. R. 1176); January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R. 21)

Regulation .16 adopted effective July 22, 2013 (40:14 Md. R. 1176)