Section 66. Continuing education requirements

A. In order to renew an active license as a respiratory therapist, a licensee shall attest to having completed 20 hours of continuing education as approved and documented by a sponsor recognized by the AARC or in courses directly related to the practice of respiratory care as approved by the American Medical Association for Category 1 CME credit within the last biennium.

B. A practitioner shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements for the first biennial renewal following the date of initial licensure in Virginia.

C. The practitioner shall retain in his records the completed form with all supporting documentation for a period of four years following the renewal of an active license.

D. The board shall periodically conduct a random audit of its active licensees to determine compliance. The practitioners selected for the audit shall provide all supporting documentation within 30 days of receiving notification of the audit.

E. Failure to comply with these requirements may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the board.

F. The board may grant an extension of the deadline for continuing competency requirements, for up to one year, for good cause shown upon a written request from the licensee prior to the renewal date.

G. The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the requirements for circumstances beyond the control of the licensee, such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 19, Issue 19, eff. July 2, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 07, eff. January 11, 2006; Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2013; Volume 32, Issue 01, eff. October 7, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400, and 54.1-2912.1 of the Code of Virginia.