Chapter 360-13 RESPIRATORY CARE PROFESSIONALS, TECHNICIANS AND THERAPISTS
| (1) |
To be eligible for Board certification,
an applicant must:
| (a) |
provide an affidavit
and a secure and verifiable document in accordance with O.C.G.A.
50-36-1(f).
An affidavit that the applicant is a United States citizen, a legal permanent
resident of the United States, or that he/she is a qualified alien or
non-immigrant under the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act. If the
applicant is not a U.S. citizen, he/she must submit documentation that will
determine his/her qualified alien status. The Board participates in the
DHS-USCIS SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements or "SAVE")
program for the purpose of verifying citizenship and immigration status
information of non-citizens. If the applicant is a qualified alien or
non-immigrant under the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act, he/she must
provide the alien number issued by the Department of Homeland Security or other
federal immigration agency; |
|
| (2) |
be at least 18 years of age; |
| (3) |
have submitted a completed application
and the fees as required by the Board; |
| (4) |
Effective of January 1, 2020, all
applicants must submit evidence of receiving a passing score on one of the
following examinations given by the National Board of Respiratory Care:
| (i) |
Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician
(CRTT) offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) prior to July
1, 1999. |
| (ii) |
Entry level Certified
Respiratory Therapy (CRT) offered by the NBRC prior to January 1,
2015. |
| (iii) |
Therapist Multiple
Choice (TMC) offered by the NBRC prior to January 1, 2019; or |
| (iv) |
TMC and Clinical Simulation Examination
(CSE) offered by the NBRC after January 1, 2019; |
|
| (5) |
have three months of experience working
under the supervision of a licensed physician; and |
| (6) |
provide an original letter of
recommendation on a form provided by the Board, signed by a physician licensed
to practice medicine in Georgia, who serves as a local medical director or
advisor under whom the applicant will practice; reference forms shall be valid
for six-months from the date of signature. If the application is not approved
during the six-month period, the Board may require a new and more current
reference. |
| (7) |
In order to qualify
as a medical director or advisor under whom the applicant will practice, such
person must:
| (a) |
hold a current Georgia
medical license; |
| (b) |
have
experience in and knowledge of respiratory care; and |
| (c) |
be readily available to the applicants in
his/her workplace. |
|
| (1) |
The application
form shall be completed according to the instructions provided in the
application. |
| (2) |
Applications must
be complete, including all required documentation, signatures and seals.
Application files are not considered completed until all information, including
fees, have been received by the Board. |
| (3) |
Applicants shall inform the Board in
writing within 10 days of a change of address while an application is
pending. |
| (4) |
Application fees are
nonrefundable. |
| (5) |
No application
will be considered by the Board until the application is complete. |
| (6) |
Incomplete applications that have been on
file with the Board for more than one year shall be deemed invalid. No further
action will take place on applications that have been incomplete for more than
a year until a new application is received in accordance with the provisions of
this chapter with the appropriate application fee. |
| (7) |
Any applicant who has not received from
the Board a valid temporary permit or valid certificate to practice respiratory
care shall not engage in the practice of respiratory care or represent himself
or herself as a certified respiratory care professional until such time as the
Board has approved his or her application for a temporary permit or
certification. |
| (1) |
An applicant who is eligible provided
below may submit an application for a temporary permit. A temporary permit may
be granted to applicants for a period of twelve months to:
| (a) |
an applicant for certification under
O.C.G.A. § 43-34-148
who provides the Board with written evidence, verified by oath, that the
applicant was certified, licensed or practicing respiratory care in another
state, or |
| (b) |
an
applicant who is a graduate of a respiratory therapy program accredited by the
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs, or the equivalent
thereof as accepted by the Board, pending the completion of all other
requirements for certification under the Respiratory Care Practices
Act. |
|
| (2) |
Any individual
applying for a temporary permit must submit a notarized statement of reference
either from a physician in the state where the applicant has been practicing or
from the medical director of the academic program from which the applicant has
graduated, attesting to the fact that the applicant is qualified to practice
respiratory care, or |
| (3) |
must
submit a notarized statement of reference from the medical director of the
academic program from which the applicant has graduated, or is about to
graduate, attesting to the fact that the applicant is qualified to practice
respiratory care. |
| (4) |
Applications
may be submitted 60 days prior to the applicant's graduation date. |
| (5) |
All persons issued a temporary permit
under this chapter shall have until the expiration date of such temporary
permit to become fully certified under this chapter. |
| (6) |
Temporary permits issued pursuant to this
paragraph may not be renewed. |
| (7) |
The holder of a temporary permit shall cease practicing respiratory care upon
expiration of the temporary permit, unless such person has been fully certified
by the Board to practice respiratory care. |
| (8) |
To upgrade a temporary permit to a
permanent license, please see Rule
360-13-.01 "Requirements for Board
Certification." |
| (1) |
Any person who
has been granted certification, registration, licensure or other to practice
respiratory care in another state whose requirements for such to practice are
substantially equal to or exceed the requirements for certification in this
state may petition the Board for reciprocity in this State. |
| (2) |
Verification by oath of certification,
registration, licensure or other to practice respiratory care must be submitted
directly to the Board from the appropriate state attesting to the fact that the
applicant seeking certification by reciprocity is currently certified, licensed
or otherwise authorized to practice respiratory care in that state. |
| (3) |
Any applicant for certification by
reciprocity must submit a notarized statement of reference from a physician,
currently licensed in the state where the applicant has been practicing
attesting to the fact that the applicant is qualified to practice respiratory
care. |
| (4) |
Reciprocity applicants
who have not been practicing respiratory care in another state for a period of
12 months or more shall be required to establish to the Board's satisfaction
that the applicant maintained current knowledge, skill and proficiency in the
practice of respiratory care. |
| (1) |
A certificate holder shall notify the
Board in writing within 30 days after the certificate holder's name is legally
changed. At the time of notification, the certificate holder shall submit a
certified copy of the official document evidencing the name change. If the name
change occurred during naturalization, the application must also include the
naturalization number, the name and address of the court, the date of
naturalization, and the name change. After receipt of the required notification
and documentation, the Board will issue a duplicate certificate in the new
name. |
| (2) |
A certificate holder
shall notify the Board in writing within 30 days after a change in the
certificate holder's address of record. Failure to so notify the Board of an
address change may be deemed to be noncompliance with O.C.G.A. § 43-34-146
and may be grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 43-34-149. |
| (3) |
A certificate holder who utilizes a post
office box as the address of record shall also provide a street address where
the Board may contact the certificate holder. |
| (1) |
Duplicate certificates may be issued upon
approval by the Board if the original certificate is lost, stolen, or
destroyed, or if the certificate holder has had a legal change of
name. |
| (2) |
To request a duplicate
certificate, the certificate holder must submit a notarized application stating
the reason the duplicate certificate is requested. If the application is based
on a name change, the certificate holder must provide the documentation
required by Rule
360-13-.05. |
| (3) |
All applications must include the
duplicate certificate fee. The duplicate certificate fee shall be designated in
the fee schedule. |
| (1) |
Certificates will expire on the last day
of the month in which the applicant's birthday falls. |
| (2) |
Approximately 60 days prior to the
expiration date, the Board may, as a courtesy, email a notice for renewal of
certificate to the certificate holder's last email address on file in the
Board's records. |
| (3) |
Failure to
receive such notification shall not relieve the certificate holder of the
obligation to renew the certificate and pay the required fee prior to the
expiration date of the certificate. Deposit of the renewal fee by the Board
does not indicate acceptance of the renewal application or that any licensing
requirements have been fulfilled. |
| (4) |
To be eligible for renewal and
recertification, a certificate holder must answer questions on their biennial
renewal form, which establish satisfaction of Board approved continuing
education requirements. The Board shall not renew the certificates of
applicants who failed to comply with Board approved continuing education
requirements. |
| (5) |
To be eligible
for renewal and recertification, a certificate holder must also furnish
satisfactory evidence that he or she continues to work under the supervision of
a physician who meets the requirements of Rule
360-13-.01(d). This
evidence must be furnished on a form prescribed by the Board. The Board shall
not renew the certificates of applicants who are not working under the
supervision of a physician who meets the requirements of Rule
360-13-.01(d). |
| (6) |
Failure to renew a certificate by the
designated expiration date shall result in a penalty for late renewal as
required by the Board. Certificates that are not renewed within 3months of
expiration shall be revoked for failure to renew and may be reinstated only as
provided in Rule
360-13-.09. |
| (7) |
A certificate holder with an expired
certificate shall not engage in the practice of respiratory care or to
represent himself or herself as a certified respiratory care professional until
such time as the Board has approved his or her application for renewal or
reinstatement. |
| (8) |
Notwithstanding
the provisions of paragraph (6) of this rule, any service member as defined in
O.C.G.A. § 15-12-1
whose license to practice medicine expired while on active duty outside the
state shall be permitted to practice in accordance with the expired license and
shall not be charged with a violation relating to such practice on an expired
license for a period of six (6) months from the date of his or her discharge
from active duty or reassignment to a location within the state. Such service
member shall be entitled to renew such expired license without penalty within
six (6) months after the date of his or her discharge from active duty or
reassignment to a location within this state. The service member must present
to the Board a copy of the official military orders or a written verification
signed by the service member's commanding officer to waive any
charges. |
| (9) |
All renewal applicants
must provide an affidavit and a secure and verifiable document in accordance
with O.C.G.A.
50-36-1(f).
If the applicant has previously provided a secure and verifiable document and
affidavit of United States citizenship, no additional documentation of
citizenship is required for renewal. If the applicant for renewal is not a
United States citizen, he/she must submit documentation that will determine
his/her qualified alien status. The Board participates in the DHS-USCIS SAVE
(Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements or "SAVE") program for purpose
of verifying citizenship and immigration status information of non-U.S.
citizens. If the applicant for renewal is a qualified alien or non-immigrant
under the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act, he/she must provide the
alien number issued by the Department of Homeland Security or other federal
agency. |
| (1) |
A person who wishes to maintain his or
her certificate as a Respiratory Care Professional, but who does not intend to
practice respiratory care may apply to the Board for inactive status by
submitting an application and the fee. An individual with an inactive
certificate may not practice respiratory care in this State. |
| (2) |
In order to reinstate a certificate to
practice respiratory care, an applicant must complete an application and pay a
reinstatement fee. The applicant must be able to demonstrate to the
satisfaction of the Board that he or she has maintained current knowledge,
skill and proficiency in the practice of respiratory care and that he or she is
mentally and physically able to practice respiratory care with reasonable skill
and safety. |
| (3) |
Reinstatement of
the certificate is within the discretion of the Board. |
| (1) |
A minimum of
two (2) years shall pass from the date of any revocation of a certificate
before the Board will consider an application for reinstatement. This
requirement shall only apply to those instances in which the certificate in
question was revoked for reasons other than failure to renew. For purposes of
this rule, a voluntary surrender shall be considered a revocation for reasons
other than failure to renew. |
| (2) |
Applicants for reinstatement who have not practiced within two (2) years prior
to making application with the board must obtain the following continuing
education hours to be eligible for reinstatement:
| (a) |
Thirty hours (or 3 CEUs) of approved
continuing education credits are needed in which 15 hours or 1.5 CEUs must come
from critical care. Critical care topics are generally considered to be topics
that include in the title such words or abbreviations as ICU, NICU, PICU,
ventilator, modes of ventilation, ventilator weaning, VAP, PEEP, BiPAP(®),
CPAP, ARDS, NAVA, Capnography, ALI, mechanically ventilated patients, Mass
casualty care, HFOV, or HFV. |
|
| (3) |
In order to reinstate a certificate to
practice respiratory care, an applicant must complete an application, pay a
reinstatement fee as shall be designated in the fee schedule, provide
satisfactory evidence that the certificate holder will work under the
supervision of a physician who meets the requirements of Rule
360-13-.01(d) and
provide verification of completion of continuing education requirements as
provided in Rule
360-13-.10 for each biennial period
that the applicant was not certified. However, the maximum number of contact
hours required may not exceed 60. The applicant must be able to demonstrate to
the satisfaction of the Board that he or she has maintained current knowledge,
skill and proficiency in the practice of respiratory care with reasonable skill
and safety. |
| (4) |
Reinstatement of
the certificate is within the discretion of the Board. |
| (5) |
The Board may require the passage of an
examination. The Board, in its discretion, may impose any remedial requirements
deemed necessary. |
| (6) |
The Board may
deny reinstatement for failure to demonstrate current knowledge, skill and
proficiency in the practice of respiratory care or for being mentally or
physically unable to practice respiratory care with reasonable skill and safety
or for any ground set forth in O.C.G.A. § 43-34-149. |
| (7) |
The denial of reinstatement is not a
contested case, but the applicant shall be entitled to an appearance before the
Board. |
| (1) |
An applicant for renewal of a certificate
to practice Respiratory Care who has been initially licensed by the Board by
examination for less than two years shall not be required to complete the
continuing education hours in order to renew the certificate for the first
time. However, for the next renewal must obtain 30 hours of continuing
education. |
| (2) |
Except as provided
in paragraph (1), to be eligible to renew a certificate, each certificate
holder must complete 30 contact hours, or 3 continuing education units, of
approved continuing education during the two years preceding certification
renewal. One continuing education unit shall be equal to 10 contact hours of
instruction. Certificate holders shall not receive contact hours or continuing
education units for teaching continuing education courses. Each certificate
must be renewed biennially by the last day of the month in which the
applicant's birthday falls and the certificate holder must establish
satisfaction of at least thirty (30) contact hours of Board-approved continuing
education requirements to be eligible for renewal. |
| (3) |
Each certificate holder shall be required
to answer questions on their renewal application form that establish compliance
with Board approved continuing education requirements. Certificate holders will
not be required to send documentation of compliance with continuing education
requirements for renewal, unless requested by the Board pursuant to Rule
360-13-.10(4). False statements regarding satisfaction of continuing education
on the renewal form or any other document connected with the practice of
respiratory care may subject the certificate holder to disciplinary action by
the Board. |
| (4) |
Each certificate
holder who must meet the requirements of this chapter must maintain record of
attendance and supporting documents for Board approved continuing education for
a period of 5 years from the date of attendance. At a minimum, the following
information must be kept:
| (c) |
hours of continuing
education units completed; and |
|
| (5) |
The Board will audit a fixed percentage of randomly selected renewal
applications to monitor compliance with the continuing education requirements.
Any certificate holder so audited shall be required to furnish documentation of
compliance including name of provider, name of program, hours/continuing
education units completed and date of completion. Any certificate holder so
audited that has been found to be out of compliance with the Board's continuing
education requirements may be subject to disciplinary action. |
| (6) |
If the certificate holder has not
complied with the continuing education requirement by the expiration of the
certificate, his/her certificate shall not be renewed and the certificate
holder shall not engage in the practice of respiratory care. A certificate
holder may late renew during the three months following the expiration date of
his or her certificate by presenting satisfactory evidence to the Board of
completion of the contact hours or continuing education units of Board approved
continuing education required by paragraph (2) of this Rule and the late
renewal fee. Certificates not renewed within 3 months following the expiration
date of the certificate shall be revoked for failure to renew. In order to
obtain a valid certificate after revocation for failure to renew, an applicant
must apply for reinstatement in accordance with Rule
360-13-.09. |
| (7) |
Continuing education hours that are used
to satisfy a deficiency may not be used for purposes of renewal of the
certificate holder's certificate for the next biennium. |
| (8) |
Any certificate holder seeking renewal of
a certificate without having fully complied with the Board's continuing
education requirements who wishes to seek a waiver or variance of this rule
shall file with the Board.
| (a) |
a renewal
application and fee and |
| (b) |
a
statement that complies with the provisions of O.C.G.A. § 50-13-9.1
setting forth the specific facts of substantial hardship which would justify a
variance or waiver, including the alternative standards which the person
seeking a waiver or variance agrees to meet and a showing that such alternative
standards will afford adequate protection for the public health, safety and
welfare; and the reason why the variance would serve the purpose of the
underlying statute. |
|
| (9) |
The following courses are approved by the Board as meeting the continuing
education requirements:
| (a) |
Courses approved
by the American Association for Respiratory Care or its successor
organization. |
| (b) |
Courses approved
by the Georgia Society for Respiratory Care or its successor
organization. |
| (c) |
Courses approved
by the American Thoracic Society. |
| (d) |
Courses approved by the American College
of Chest Physicians. |
| (e) |
Effective
July 1, 2006, courses approved by the American Association of Critical-Care
Nurses. |
| (f) |
Effective July 1, 2006,
the following programs of the American Heart Association and the American
Academy of Pediatrics; however, these programs shall constitute no more than
25% of the total acceptable continuing education units required.
| 2. |
Basic Life Support
Recertification |
| 3. |
Advanced Cardiac
Life Support |
| 4. |
Advanced Cardiac
Life Support Recertification |
| 5. |
Basic Life Support Instructor |
| 6. |
Basic Life Support Instructor Trainer |
| 7. |
Basic Life Support Instructor Trainer
Recertification |
| 8. |
Advanced Cardiac
Life Support Instructor |
| 9. |
Advanced
Cardiac Life Support Instructor Update (Certification) |
| 10. |
Basic Trauma Life Support |
| 11. |
Basic Trauma Life Support
Recertification |
| 12. |
Pediatric Basic
Life Support |
| 13. |
Pediatric Advanced
Life Support |
| 14. |
Pediatric Advanced
Life Support Recertification |
| 15. |
Neonatal Resuscitation Program |
| 16. |
Neonatal Recertification. |
|
| (g) |
Effective July 1, 2006, courses approved
by the American Society for Anesthesia |
| (h) |
National Board for Respiratory Care
Self-Assessment Exams |
| (i) |
National
Board for Respiratory Care Credential Exams |
| (j) |
American Medical Association Category I
programs |
| (k) |
Effective July 1,
2006, courses approved by the College of American Pathologists provided the
courses are related to pulmonary pathology or acid base balance and constitute
no more than 25% of the acceptable continuing education units
required. |
| (l) |
Effective July 1,
2006, Respiratory specific courses approved by the Georgia Nursing Association;
however, courses approved by the Georgia Nursing Association shall constitute
no more than 25% of the total acceptable continuing education units
required. |
|
Any person practicing respiratory care, or representing himself
or herself as a certified respiratory care professional, who does not possess a
valid certificate or temporary permit from the Board, and who is not exempt
under O.C.G.A.
43-34-151(b),
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to other injunctive relief by the
Board pursuant to O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-20.1
and
43-34-39.
| (1) |
Unless
certified pursuant to O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 34, Article 6, no person
shall:
| (a) |
Practice respiratory care;
or |
| (b) |
Represent himself or herself
to be a respiratory care professional who is certified pursuant to O.C.G.A.
§ 43-34-151. |
|
| (2) |
The prohibition in subsection
(1) does not apply to:
| (a) |
The delivery of
respiratory care by health care personnel who have been formally trained in
these modalities and who are duly licensed to provide that care under any other
provision of Title 43; |
| (b) |
The
practice of respiratory care which is an integral part of the program of study
by students enrolled in a respiratory care education program recognized by the
Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC) and the American
Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation
(CAHEA) or the equivalent thereof as accepted by the Board. Students enrolled
in respiratory therapy education programs shall be identified as "Student-RCP"
and shall only provide respiratory care under direct clinical
supervision; |
| (c) |
Self-care by a
patient or gratuitous care by a friend or family member who does not represent
or hold himself or herself out to be a respiratory care professional; |
| (d) |
Respiratory care services rendered in the
course of an emergency disaster; |
| (e) |
Persons in the military services or
working in Federal facilities when functioning in the course of their assigned
duties; |
| (f) |
The performance of
respiratory care diagnostic testing by individuals who are certified or
registered as pulmonary function technologists by the National Board for
Respiratory Care, or equivalent certifying agency, as recognized by the
Board; |
| (g) |
The delivery, assembly,
setup, testing, and demonstration of oxygen and aerosol equipment upon the
order of a physician licensed under Art. 2 of Chapter 34, Title 43. Provided,
however, that no person providing such services shall be authorized to assess
patients, develop care plans, instruct patients in taking treatment, or discuss
the hazards, administration, or side effects of medications with
patients. |
| (h) |
Persons who perform
limited respiratory care procedures under the supervision of a certified
respiratory care professional in a hospital or nursing home when the Board has
defined the competencies required to perform such limited respiratory care
procedures.
| 1. |
The Board has defined the
following class of persons as having the competencies required to perform such
limited respiratory care procedures: |
|
| (i) |
Students of an accredited Respiratory
Care Program who perform limited respiratory care procedures under the
supervision of a certified respiratory care professional in a hospital or
nursing home, if the student's competency has been validated through an
accredited education program and by the hospital or nursing home for whom he or
she is employed.
| (I) |
Upon completion of the
educational program, the student must then apply for a temporary permit as
specified in Chapter 34. In addition, pending the granting or denial of a
certificate or permit, graduates of an accredited respiratory care program who
have applied for certification or a permit shall only perform limited
respiratory care procedures where their competency has been validated in
writing to the Board through the accredited program and by the hospital or
nursing home for whom they are employed. |
| (II) |
Any student who performs limited
respiratory care procedures without complying with the requirements listed in
the above paragraphs of Rule 360-13-.12(2)(b) is engaging in the practice of
respiratory care without certification, which is prohibited by O.C.G.A. § 43-34-151.
Any certified respiratory care professional who supervises a student prior to
compliance with the above listed paragraphs of Rule 360-13-.12(b) is aiding and
assisting an uncertified person engage in the practice of respiratory care and
may be subject to disciplinary action. |
|
|
| (1) |
The Respiratory
Care Advisory Committee shall be comprised as follows:
| (a) |
At least four (4) individuals who are
certified in this State to engage in the practice of respiratory care and such
other individuals as the Board, in its discretion, may determine.
| 1. |
All appointees to the Advisory Committee
shall have on file with the Executive Director of the Board, or his/her
designee, a resume and three letters of recommendation, (one of which may be
from a physician familiar with the appointee's practice of respiratory
care). |
| 2. |
In order to preserve
continuity on the Advisory Committee, two (2) appointees shall serve a
four-year term and two (2) appointees shall serve a two-year term which will be
considered a partial term. At the time of the appointment, each appointee will
be notified in writing by the Executive Director of the Board as to the
beginning and ending dates of their respective appointment terms. Each may
reapply to the full Board to serve an additional term, but may not serve more
than two (2) consecutive two-year terms. |
| 3. |
In the event an Advisory Committee member
is replaced during a term, the replacement member will serve the remaining time
of that term as a partial term. An Advisory Committee member who serves a
partial term will, after the completion of the partial term, be eligible to
serve two (2) consecutive two-year terms. |
| 4. |
Appointees shall serve without
compensation from the State of Georgia for their time and expenses. |
|
| (b) |
One individual who is a
physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of Georgia who:
| 1. |
Specializes or is board certified in
pulmonary medicine; |
| 2. |
Shall serve
a two (2) year term and may be reappointed for an additional two year term by a
majority vote of the Board, but may not serve more than two (2) consecutive
terms. |
|
|
| (2) |
The Advisory Committee shall advise the Board on matters pertaining to the
appointment of the Advisory Committee members and on all matters within the
purview of the Respiratory Care Practices Act. The Board, in consultation with
the Advisory Committee, shall:
| (a) |
Determine
the qualifications and fitness of applicants for certification, renewal of the
certificate, and reciprocal certification; |
| (b) |
Adopt and revise rules consistent with
the laws of the State of Georgia that are necessary to conduct its duties and
administer the Act; |
| (c) |
Examine,
approve, issue, deny revoke, suspend and renew the license of applicants and
certificate holders and conduct hearings in connection with all duties to be
performed pursuant to the Act. |
|
| (3) |
Advisory Committee members, who are not
members of the Board, must be available to meet on as an needed basis and may
not miss more than three (3) consecutive meetings of the Advisory Committee, or
four (4) meetings in a calendar year, without an excused absence from either
the Executive Director of the Board or the Board President.
| (a) |
The Advisory committee may recommend to
the Board the removal of a member for violation of the attendance rule. Such a
recommendation shall be by majority vote of the Advisory Committee. |
| (b) |
Upon receipt of a recommendation for
removal, the Board may remove a member of the Advisory Committee by a majority
vote. |
|
| (4) |
Advisory
Committee vacancies may be filled by the Board upon recommendation from the
Advisory Committee. All applicants must meet any deadline set by the Board and
shall have on file with the Executive Director of the Board, or with his/her
designee, a resume and three (3) letters of recommendation, (one of which may
be from a physician familiar with the applicant's practice of respiratory
care. |
Any certificate or temporary permit holder shall notify the
Board within 30 days of becoming unable to practice respiratory care with
reasonable skill and safety by reason of illness or the use of alcohol, drugs,
narcotics, chemicals or any other type of material.
| (1) |
In order to maintain certification, a
respiratory care professional must continue to work under the supervision or
direction of a person holding a Georgia medical license who has experience in
and knowledge of respiratory care and who is readily available to the
certificate holder in his/her workplace to provide personal
supervision. |
| (2) |
Immediately upon
termination of the medical director/respiratory care professional relationship,
the Respiratory Care professional is required to give notice and the date of
termination to the Board by certified mail. Failure to notify the Board
immediately may result in disciplinary action against the respiratory care
professional. The respiratory care professional shall not engage in the
practice of respiratory care unless he/she is working under the supervision or
direction of person holding a Georgia medical license who meets the
requirements of paragraph (1). |
| (3) |
The respiratory care professional shall immediately notify the Board by
certified mail, on a form approved by the Board of a change in the medical
directors. |
| (4) |
Failure to comply
with the requirements of this rule may result in disciplinary action against
the respiratory care professional's certificate. |
All respiratory care professionals certified to practice in the
State of Georgia shall comply with the Consumer Information and Awareness Act,
O.C.G.A. Section
43-1-33,
in all advertisements and interactions with patients. For purposes of this rule
and the Consumer Information and Awareness Act, the approved identifier shall
be "Respiratory Care Professional" or "RCP."
