NY A00236

Requires newly licensed respiratory therapists to obtain a baccalaureate degree or higher in respiratory therapy within six years of initial licensure to maintain their registration in New York state

Creates a temporary educational exemption for licensees who cannot complete the degree requirement due to limited program availability, requiring proof of rejection from two baccalaureate programs due to lack of seats

Temporary educational exemptions are valid for a single three-year period and require payment of an additional fee equal to the triennial registration fee

Limits new respiratory therapy technician licenses to a single three-year period, after which technicians must obtain a full respiratory therapist license to continue practicing

Grandfathers all persons already licensed as respiratory therapists or respiratory therapy technicians as of the effective date, exempting them from the new education requirements