How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in California
California respiratory therapists are required to meet specific criteria before being eligible to become a licensed. Candidates must meet the minimal educational requirements in respiratory care at a school or institution accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Upon completion of the education requirements, candidates are required to pass a licensing exam and complete an approved ethics course before a license to practice respiratory care in the State of California will be issued.
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Things You'll Need
- Official school transcripts
- Application for examination
- Application packet for licensing
- Verification of credentials
- Licensing and examination fees
Instructions
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Complete the educational requirements of the Respiratory Care Board of California (RCB). You must either earn an associate degree in respiratory care or have completed the educational requirements of the associate degree and be enrolled in a bachelor degree program at an accredited university or institution.
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Apply for examination for the entry level Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) through the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) and pay the examination fee (see References). If the education program you attended participates in the NBRC Electronic Eligibility Program, verification of your successful completion of the program will be electronically submitted and you can apply for examination online at the NBRC's website. If your education program does not participate in this program, you will need to obtain a hard copy of the application through the NBRC website and mail it with an official copy or your certificate or degree.
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Complete a required Law and Ethics Course. These courses are available online through the California Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC) and the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). The CSRC also schedules periodic live courses.
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Submit a complete application packet for your license to the RCB, which you can download from the RCB website (see References), no more than 90 days prior to completing the education requirements or receiving an associate's degree. You must also provide the RCB with a Certificate of Completion from either the CSRC or AARC for the mandatory law and ethics course, a fingerprint clearance, verification of graduation or certification of your upcoming graduation from the education program director at your school.
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Request to have a verification of your credentials forwarded to the RCB once you have passed the CRT exam. The NBRC will forward verification that you have passed the examination to the RCB only upon request. There will probably be a small fee for verification of your credentials. If you are certified or licensed in another state, contact the licensing agency to have a verification of your credentials sent to the RCB.
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Submit your official school transcripts to the RCB upon completion of the education requirements.
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Submit the initial licensing fee to the RCB when you are notified of your eligibility to become licensed.
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Tips & Warnings
Educational requirements may be waived if an applicant can provide evidence of work experience, licensure in another state or previous licensure in good standing in California can be presented.
If an applicant has a diploma from outside of the United States or that does not meet the educational requirements additional coursework may be required to obtain a license to practice respiratory care in California.
You must be at least 18 years of age to take the CRT examination through the NBRC.
A Certified Respiratory Therapist or Registered Respiratory Therapist credential does not qualify you to practice respiratory care in the State of California. You must obtain a license to practice from the Respiratory Care Board of California.
References
Resources
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