The following are reasons an examination application may be refused or for which a candidate or a credentialed individual could be disciplined:

1. Obtaining or attempting to obtain Certification, Registration, Recertification or Reregistration by fraud, deception or artifice.
2. Knowingly assisting another person or other persons in obtaining or attempting to obtain Certification, Registration, Recertification or Reregistration by fraud, deception, or artifice.
3. Failure to follow examination security protocols.
4. Unauthorized use of a Certification or Registry certificate or falsification of credentials, or any other NBRC documents.
5. Unauthorized possession and/or distribution of any official NBRC testing or examination materials to include copying and/or reproduction of any part of NBRC examination questions or problems.
6. A credentialed individual or examination candidates may be disciplined for offenses related to their practice that give cause to question the individual’s ability to practice in a safe and competent manner. Such offenses include, but are not limited to:
   1. Conviction in a court of law, after all appeals have been exhausted, of a drug or alcohol-related offense that would cause question as to the individual’s ability to appropriately interact with patients and others on the job.
   2. Conviction in a court of law, after all appeals have been exhausted, of a job-related offense indicating the individual’s intentional negligence and/or purposeful misconduct that results in endangering the health and/or safety of a patient.
   3. Conviction in a court of law, after all appeals have been exhausted, of an act of physical violence (murder, assault, rape, robbery, etc.) that would cause question as to the individual’s ability to appropriately interact with patients and others on the job.
   4. Revocation or denial of a license to practice respiratory therapy and/or pulmonary technology by an authorized state agency due to:
      1. a drug or alcohol-related offense that would cause question as to the individual’s ability to appropriately interact with patients and others on the job.
      2. a job-related offense indicating the individual’s intentional negligence and/or purposeful misconduct that results in endangering the health and/or safety of a patient.
      3. an act of physical violence (murder, assault, rape, robbery, etc.) that would cause question as to the individual’s ability to appropriately interact with patients and others on the job.
   5. Voluntary surrender of a license to practice respiratory therapy and/or pulmonary technology, or another health-related profession, by a credentialed individual and/or examination candidate to an authorized state agency after the filing of a complaint proceeding by an authorized state agency alleging:
      1. a drug or alcohol-related offense that would cause question as to the individual’s ability to appropriately interact with patients and others on the job.
      2. a job-related offense indicating the individual’s intentional negligence and/or purposeful misconduct that results in endangering the health and/or safety of a patient.
      3. an act of physical violence (murder, assault, rape, robbery, etc.) that would cause question as to the individual’s ability to appropriately interact with patients and others on the job.
7. Use of any authorized designation (CRT, RRT, CPFT, RPFT, CRT-NPS, RRT-NPS, CRT-SDS, RRT-SDS, RRT-ACCS, AE-C or any other designation granted by the NBRC) in any unauthorized manner, including, but not limited to, disparaging usage or usage for commercial gain.

When the NBRC becomes aware of an incident that may fall into one of the preceding categories, the Judicial and Ethics Committee begins a structured investigation to determine whether or not any disciplinary action will be taken.