NBRC Credential vs State License Renewal
You already know an NBRC credential and a state license are required to practice as a respiratory therapist in the United States, but did you know that your credential does not get automatically updated when you renew your state license? The NBRC and your state licensing board are two completely separate entities and do not share information.
Maintaining Your NBRC Credential
All NBRC credentials issued beginning July 1, 2002, are valid for five years. Expiration dates are determined by the month the exam is passed and the credential earned. For example, if you pass the exam on April 22, 2021, your expiration date will be April 30, 2026. The certificate and wallet card mailed to you will have your expiration date printed on them.
The Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) is designed to maintain and enhance the level of knowledge established upon initial credentialing. This program is a crucial component of patient care, professional development, and career advancement. There are three ways to participate in the CMP:
- Complete quarterly assessments and/or submit CE – Your assessment performance may reduce the number of required CE’s you are required to submit to the NBRC. The better you perform, the less CE is needed. You may also choose to submit 30 hours of CE. A new five-year period will begin for all credentials held when you complete this option.
- Retake and pass the exam for the highest credential you hold – During the last year of your credential period, you may choose to retake the exam. A new five-year period will begin for all credentials held when you successfully pass the examination. No CE is required.
- Earn a new NBRC credential – When you pass a different NBRC examination and earn an additional credential, a new five-year period will begin for all credentials held. No CE is required.
Recertifying your NBRC credential does not renew your state license to practice.
Find additional information about the CMP here, including assessment content outlines, tracking assessment progress, how to submit CE, and so much more.
What Happens if it Expires?
To help support you, we send reminders to help keep you on track. Keeping your email and physical addresses up to date in the Practitioner Portal will ensure you receive these important reminders. But don’t worry – you still have options if it does expire.
- If you are within six months of credential expiration, you have the option of entering your CE’s online and paying a $250 reinstatement fee. To qualify for this option, you must have earned your CE’s during your five-year credential term.
- If you are past six months of credential expiration, you must retest and pass the examination to reinstate your credentials. If you have multiple credentials, you must apply for and pass all examinations to reinstate.
Consequences of an Expired Credential
NBRC credentials are federally registered trademarks. If they have expired, any use of a credential designation (patient charts, medical documents, applying for a state license as a credential holder, etc.) violates the NBRC’s Judicial and Ethics Policies and may result in disciplinary action. Further, employers or organizations requiring the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential as a condition of employment may reconsider employment and/or adjust your pay scale.
By allowing your NBRC credential(s) to expire, you may be putting your state-issued license at risk as some states require you to maintain your NBRC credential to keep your license to practice.
State License to Practice
The Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and the RRT credentials are the basis for licensure in all 49 states that regulate respiratory care practice. Each state requires some form of license renewal.
Failure to renew your state license means you cannot practice as a respiratory therapist until you reinstate your license. Practicing after your license is expired or canceled may subject you to state disciplinary action.
Renewing your state license to practice does not update your NBRC credential.
The NBRC and state licensure agencies do not share or transfer any database information. Therefore, you must submit any changes or updates to your data (contact info, CEU records, etc.) separately to each entity.
If you are unsure about your state’s renewal requirements, including how an expired NBRC credential may affect a state licensure status, contact your licensing board directly. You can find your state board contact information here.
As always, we are here to help. If you still have questions about your credential or how to maintain it, we have all the answers at nbrc.org. You may also contact our Customer Care Team at credentialingservices@nbrc.org or 913.895.4900.
