SB 403 Summary

• Expands scope of practice for respiratory care practitioners effective October 1, 2018 to include insertion and monitoring of arterial catheters, intravenous and intraosseous catheters, nasogastric tubes, administration of influenza and pneumonia vaccinations, and extracorporeal life support monitoring.

• Requires respiratory care practitioners seeking licensure to be credentialed as certified respiratory therapist or registered respiratory therapist by the National Board for Respiratory Care, with education from accredited programs including those accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

• Removes outdated transitional licensure provisions and grandfathered credentialing requirements while maintaining temporary permit provisions for graduates awaiting exam results.

• Increases continuing education requirements from 6 to 10 hours per renewal period effective January 1, 2019, with a minimum of 5 hours required to be real-time education with live interaction opportunities.

• Increases continuing education requirement for license reinstatement from 6 to 10 contact hours within the one-year period immediately preceding application.