468.355  Eligibility for licensure; temporary licensure.--

(1)  To be eligible for licensure by the board as a respiratory care practitioner, an applicant must:

(a)  Be at least 18 years old.

(b)  Possess a high school diploma or a graduate equivalency diploma.

(c)  Meet at least one of the following criteria:

1.  The applicant has successfully completed a training program for respiratory therapy technicians or respiratory therapists approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, or the equivalent thereof, as accepted by the board.

2.  The applicant is currently a "Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician" certified by the National Board for Respiratory Care, or the equivalent thereof, as accepted by the board.

3.  The applicant is currently a "Registered Respiratory Therapist" registered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, or the equivalent thereof, as accepted by the board.

The criteria set forth in subparagraphs 2. and 3. notwithstanding, the board shall periodically review the examinations and standards of the National Board for Respiratory Care and may reject those examinations and standards if they are deemed inappropriate.

(2)  To be eligible for licensure by the board as a respiratory therapist, an applicant must:

(a)  Be at least 18 years old.

(b)  Possess a high school diploma or a graduate equivalency diploma.

(c)  Meet at least one of the following criteria:

1.  The applicant has successfully completed a training program for respiratory therapists approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, or the equivalent thereof, as accepted by the board.

2.  The applicant is currently a "Registered Respiratory Therapist" registered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, or the equivalent thereof, as accepted by the board.

The criteria set forth in subparagraphs 1. and 2. notwithstanding, the board shall periodically review the examinations and standards of the National Board for Respiratory Care and may reject those examinations and standards if they are deemed inappropriate.

(3)  With respect to the delivery of respiratory care services, the board shall establish procedures for temporary licensure of eligible individuals entering the state and temporary licensure of those persons who have graduated from a program approved by the board. Such temporary licensure shall be for a period not to exceed 1 year.