NC H71

Creates a new "Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioner" (ARCP) license category for practitioners who complete postgraduate advanced practice respiratory therapy programs and pass advanced-level examinations from the National Board for Respiratory Care

ARCPs may perform expanded duties related to cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary care under physician supervision, but are prohibited from medical diagnosis, prescribing, interpreting imaging studies, final interpretation of sleep/pulmonary function tests, surgery, and delivering anesthesia

Requires all licensees to self-report to the Board within 30 days any felony arrest or indictment, DWI/DUI arrests, or arrests for possession/use/sale of controlled substances

Updates education requirements to recognize only Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) approved programs, removing references to Canadian accreditation and the Commission for Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs

Effective October 1, 2025, with the NC Respiratory Care Board required to adopt implementing rules by that date