(a)(1) Graduate Practice.  Every graduate of a board approved respiratory care school who has filed a respiratory care practitioner application may, upon receiving a receipt from the division of professional regulation, perform as a respiratory care practitioner under the supervision of a respiratory care practitioner licensed in this state.

(2)  During this period the applicant shall identify himself or herself only as a “graduate respiratory care practitioner.”

(3)  If the applicant shall fail to take the examination within ninety (90) days from effective date of graduate status, without due cause or fail to pass the examination and receive a license, all privileges described in subsection (a)(1) shall automatically cease.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-39-9

  • Board: means the administrative board of respiratory care;

    (2)  "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health;

    (3)  "Director" means the director of the Rhode Island health department;

    (4)  "Division" means the division of professional regulation;

    (5)  "Respiratory care" (including respiratory therapy and inhalation therapy) means a health professional, under qualified medical direction, employed in the therapy, management, rehabilitation, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities which affect the cardiopulmonary system and associated aspects of other system function;

    (6)  "Respiratory care practitioner" means a person who is licensed to practice respiratory care in Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-39-2

  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  Unless licensed as a respiratory care practitioner under the respiratory care act, no person shall use any title or abbreviation to indicate that the person is a licensed respiratory care practitioner.

(c)  Verification of a valid license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be available at the respiratory care practitioner’s place of employment.

(d)  Licenses, including initial licenses, shall be issued for a period of two (2) years.

(e)  License renewal dates will be set by the division.

(f)  Applicants and biennial licensure shall meet the continuing education requirements as prescribed by the director of health.

History of Section.
P.L. 1986, ch. 428, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 326, § 45; P.L. 2000, ch. 172, § 1.