To become licensed as a respiratory care practitioner in Tennessee, a person must comply with the following procedures and requirements:

1. (1) All applicants for all levels of licensure must comply with the following:

   1. (a) A current application packet shall be requested from the Board office.
   2. (b) An applicant shall respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the application form and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the Board office.
   3. (c) Applications for licensure will be accepted throughout the year. All supporting documents requested in these instructions must be received in the Board office within sixty (60) days of receipt of the application or the file will be closed.
   4. (d) All applicants shall pay, at the time of application, the non-refundable application fee, license fee, and state regulatory fee as provided in Rule 1330-01-.06.
   5. (e) An applicant shall submit with his application a “passport” style photograph taken within the preceding twelve (12) months.
   6. (f) An applicant shall attest on his application that he has attained at least eighteen (18) years of age.

   7. (g) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:

      1. 1. Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state or municipality, except minor traffic violations.
      2. 2. The denial of licensure or certification application by any other state or the discipline of licensure in any state.
      3. 3. Loss or restriction of licensure or certification in this or in any other state.
      4. 4. Any civil suit judgment or civil suit settlement in which the applicant was a party defendant including, without limitation, actions involving malpractice, breach of RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS contract, antitrust activity or any other civil action remedy recognized under the country’s or state’s statutory common, or case law.
      5. 5. To the extent known by the applicant, the circumstance involved in any pending investigation of licensure or certification by any state.
   8. (h) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Board’s administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board’s licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.
   9. (i) If an applicant holds or has ever held a license or certification to practice respiratory care or any other profession in any other state, the applicant shall cause to be submitted the equivalent of a Tennessee Certificate of Endorsement (verification of licensure or certification) from each such licensing board which indicates the applicant holds or held an active license or certification and whether it is in good standing presently or was in good standing at the time it became inactive.
   10. (j) When necessary, all required documents shall be translated into English and such translation and original document certified as to authenticity by the issuing source. Both versions must be submitted.
   11. (k) The application form is not acceptable if any portion of it or any other documents required to be submitted by this rule or the application itself have been executed and dated prior to one year before filing with the Board.
   12. (l) All applications shall be sworn to and signed by the applicant and notarized. All documents submitted for qualification of licensure become the property of the State of Tennessee and will not be returned.
   13. (m) Applicants for licensure as Certified Respiratory Therapists or Registered Respiratory Therapists shall hold and maintain active NBRC credentials.

2. (2) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1) of this rule, the following requirements must be met by applicants for licensure as Registered Respiratory Therapists or Certified Respiratory Therapists:

   1. (a) The applicant shall submit proof of successful completion of academic and clinical preparation in a respiratory care program:

      1. 1. Approved by the CAAHEP or its successor organization; or
      2. 2. Recognized by registry from the NBRC; or
      3. 3. Recognized by the Board, which includes any programs supported or accredited by the CoARC; and
   2. (b) The applicant shall have the school send directly to the Board office either a certificate of completion, diploma, or final official transcript; and
   3. (c) The applicant shall request verification of passage of the NBRC exam or exams that match the application type for which the applicant has applied be submitted directly to the Board office from the NBRC.

3. (3) Respiratory care practitioners by endorsement - The Board may issue a license by endorsement to an applicant who is currently licensed to practice respiratory care under the RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS laws of another state, territory or country if the qualifications of the applicant are deemed by the Board to be equivalent to those required in Tennessee.

   1. (a) Endorsement applicants must:

      1. 1. Complete the Board-approved application;
      2. 2. Provide proof of possessing a current license, in good standing, from another state; and
      3. 3. Provide proof of having completed at least twelve (12) hours of continuing education for the previous calendar year.

   2. (b) Graduates of educational programs not otherwise accredited under Rule 1330-01- .05(2)(a) may be determined to have equivalent educational attainment upon submitting the following:

      1. 1. Official copy of grades and curriculum, translated into English. Such translation and original document must be certified as to authenticity by the issuing source.
      2. 2. Any education credentials obtained in such program evaluated by either a professional credentialing agency or an institution of higher education (college or university). The results of such evaluation must be submitted directly to the Board’s administrative office from the evaluator on the evaluator’s official letterhead and contain an original signature.
      3. 3. If the applicant is not a United States citizen:
   3. (i) Documentation of legal entry into the United States (certified photocopy of visa, naturalization papers or passport).

   4. (ii) Evidence of passing their English Competency Examination except for those applicants educated in countries in which English is the primary language or whose country of education is a member of the British Commonwealth. The test results must be forwarded directly to the Board office from the testing agency.

      1. (I) One of the following examinations must have been passed:

         1. I. Test of Spoken English II. Test of English as a Foreign Language III. Test of Written English or IV. Michigan English Language Assessment Battery

            1. (II) To obtain information regarding English competency examinations, requests must be directed to: Test of English P.O. Box 6155 Princeton, NJ 08541-6155 Or RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS Michigan English Language Assessment Battery English Language Institute Testing and Certification Division 3020 North University Building The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1057

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 63-27-104, 63-27-105, 63-27-106, 63-27-107, 63-27-108, 63-27-112, 63-27-113, and 63-27-116. Administrative History: Original rule filed January 31, 2000; effective April 15, 2000. Amendment filed March 20, 2001; effective June 3, 2001. Amendment filed March 27, 2003; effective June 10, 2003. Amendment filed April 17, 2003; effective July 1, 2003. Amendment filed December 5, 2003; effective February 18, 2004. Amendment filed March 14, 2006; effective May 28, 2006. Amendment filed August 28, 2015; effective November 26, 2015. Amendments filed March 23, 2026; effective June 21, 2026.