Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 798-X-8 — Continuing Education for Licensure

798 Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy

Ala. Admin. Code r. 798-X-8-.01 Continuing Education

(1) A respiratory therapist shall be individually accountable for continued competence to practice respiratory therapy and shall maintain documentation to support all continuing education necessary for renewal.

(2) The Board may prescribe a continuing education program for reentry into practice.

(3) Individual requests to verify approval for a specific course or activity may be submitted to a Board-approved provider.

(4) Units of measure for continuing education shall be:

(a) 1 contact hour = 50 minutes

(b) 0.5 contact hour = 25 minutes

(c) 15 contact hours = 1 academic semester credit hour

(d) 10 contact hours = 1 academic quarter credit hour

(5) Hours required.

(a) Each respiratory therapist licensed by the Board shall complete twenty-four (24) contact hours of continuing education over the two-year licensure period. Initial licensure periods which have been prorated to have the renewal date fall on the established renewal date will be prorated for 1 contact hour for each month of the initial licensure periods. Any course accepted for credit shall be at least 25 minutes in length.

(b) For new graduates of respiratory therapy programs, submitting proof of successful completion of a respiratory therapy program accredited by CoARC shall be proof of sufficient preparatory education to receive an initial license up to one year following graduation.

(6) Waiver or extension of continuing education

(a) The Board may grant a waiver of the need to attend and complete the required hours of continuing education or the Board may grant an extension of the deadline to complete the required hours of continuing education if it can be shown that compliance was beyond the control of the person seeking the waiver.

(b) Waivers or extension of the deadline will be considered only on an individual basis and may be requested by submitting the following items to the Board office:

(i) A written request for a waiver or deadline extension which specifies which requirements are sought to be waived or which deadline is sought to be extended and a written and signed explanation of the reason for the request; and

(ii) Any documentation which supports the reason(s) for the waiver or deadline extension requested or which is subsequently requested by the Board.

(c) A waiver or deadline extension approved by the Board is effective only for the renewal period for which the waiver is sought.

History

• Author: The Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-27B-1 thru 34-27B-17.
• New Rule: Filed May 16, 2005; refilled August 10, 2005; effective September 14, 2005. Amended: Filed July 5, 2017; effective August 19, 2017.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 798-X-8-.02 Standards For Continuing Education

(1) Any educational program approved for CRCE units by the AARC shall be acceptable with one contact hour assigned for each CRCE unit awarded.

(2) The Board or another organization recognized by the Board may approve providers of continuing education based on criteria established in Chapter 798-X-8-.03.

(3) The AARC or ASRC continuing education activities, which pertain to the practice of respiratory care, shall be considered prior approved, providing they meet all other requirements for contact hours.

(4) The following additional methods may be utilized for obtaining continuing education hours:

(a) By taking and passing (with a grade of C or better) a college or university course which comprises part of the professional requirements for a formal respiratory therapy education program beyond those that were completed for the issuance of the original license, or any course that shall enhance a respiratory therapist’s professional growth and development.

(b) By taking and passing training courses (either initial, renewal, or instructor courses) on advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), or neonatal resuscitation programs (NRP). No more than 12 contact hours of continuing education units of advanced life support training may be applied for renewal of license.

(c) By completing a self study course, such as a course offered on the internet, which has been approved by the AARC or the Board for a specific number of continuing education hours. No more than 12 contact hours of continuing education units of self study may be applied for renewal of license.

1. Self-study is defined as a non-traditional learning activity (learner-directed, independent study) that is conducted by the learner at his or her own pace. The instructor does not interact with the learner in real time. The formats for non-traditional activities include but are not limited to studies of web-based courses, archived webinars, podcasts, videotapes, audiotapes, monographs or the content of journals listed in Index Medicus.

(d) Appropriate subject matter for continuing education shall include:

1. Respiratory therapy science and practice;

2. Respiratory therapy education;

3. Research in respiratory therapy and healthcare;

4. Management, administration, and supervision in health care delivery;

5. Social, economic, political, and/or legal aspects of health care;

6. Healthcare and consumer education;

7. Courses which a respiratory therapist documents as improving job competence that are not specified on the above listed and are determined to be appropriate by the Board.

(5) Respiratory therapy related educational offerings as described in 798-X-8-.02(4) approved by the following organizations and their affiliates listed below will be acceptable for continuing education credit provided the courses meet minimum time requirements for contact hours as stated in 798-X-8.01(4) and provided these organizations and their affiliates maintain records documenting educational programs and rosters of licensed respiratory therapists who attended their programs. Such documentation shall be retained for three (3) years and made available to the Board upon request.

(a) American Medical Association under Physician Category I

(b) American Thoracic Society

(c) American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

(d) American Heart Association

(e) American Lung Association

(f) American Hospital Association

(g) American Nurses Association

(h) American College of Chest Physicians

(i) American Society of Anesthesiologists

(j) American Academy of Pediatrics

(l) American College of Emergency Physicians

(m) American College of Physicians

(n) Other professional or educational organizations approved by the Board

(o) Alabama hospitals.

(p) Respiratory therapy programs accredited by CoARC.

(6) Successful completion of a recredentialing examination administered by the NBRC for either CRT or RRT (based on the highest credential held by the licensed respiratory therapist) shall be awarded five (5) contact hours.

(7) Successful completion of an advanced specialty examination administered by the NBRC shall be awarded five (5) contact hours for each examination.

(8) Preparation and presentation of a lecture approved for continuing education hours under these rules shall be eligible for four (4) contact hours for each contact hour of presentation for the first presentation. Subsequent presentations of the same lecture will not be awarded additional contact hours.

(9) Respiratory therapy programs in Alabama, accredited by CoARC or successor organization, may establish standards for clinical preceptors and award up to 4 hours of continuing education credit per renewal cycle to a licensed respiratory therapist serving as a preceptor. A minimum requirement shall be that each hour of credit shall equal 24 hours of clinical instruction/supervision of students enrolled in a respiratory therapy program. No more than 4 hours of continuing education units for preceptorship may be applied for renewal of license.

(10) Continuing education credit will not be allowed for the following:

(a) Regular work activities, administrative staff meetings, case staffing, reporting, or similar activities.

(b) Membership in, holding office in, or participating on Boards or committees, business meetings of professional organizations, or banquet speeches.

(c) Independent unstructured or self-structured learning such as home study programs, except as authorized pursuant to Chapter 798-X-8-.02(4)(c).

(d) Training specifically related to policies and procedures of an agency, such as universal precautions, infection control, employee orientation, or employee relations.

(e) Basic CPR courses.

History

• Author: The Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-27B-1 thru 34-27B-17.
• New Rule: Filed May 16, 2005; refilled August 10, 2005; effective September 14, 2005. Amended: Filed October 11, 2007; effective November 15, 2007. Amended: Filed July 5, 2017; effective August 19, 2017.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 798-X-8-.03 Reporting Requirements And Audit

(1) A respiratory therapist shall:

(a) Provide a signed statement of affirmation, under penalty, of the degree of compliance with continuing education requirements for license renewal including but not limited to compliance with:

1. Earning the required number of contact hours of Board-approved or Board-recognized continuing education activities;

2. The designated earning period;

3. Content and acceptable activities, and

4. Any other requirements in these rules.

(b) Maintain individual continuing education records for two years following the renewal date for which the contact hours were earned including but not limited to certificates, transcripts, or other documentation of attendance at continuing education activities to substantiate earned contact hours.

(c) Effective March 25, 2022, each licensee shall submit proof of completion for each continuing education course taken to the continuing education tracking system. Each licensee is responsible for reviewing the information contained in the tracking system to ensure its accuracy.

(2) A respiratory therapist who fails to comply with reporting requirements, requirements of the audit, requests for documents, or submitting false, inaccurate, or incomplete evidence of meeting continuing education requirements shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Board.

(3) A respiratory therapist who fails to provide evidence meeting continuing education requirements for license renewal shall not have the license renewed.

History

• Author: The Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-27B-1 thru 34-27B-17.
• New Rule: Filed May 16, 2005; refilled August 10, 2005; effective September 14, 2005. Amended: Filed July 5, 2017; effective August 19, 2017. Amended: Filed October 19, 2018; effective December 3, 2018. Amended: Published November 30, 2023; effective January 14, 2024.
• Editor's note: Original Rule .03 was repealed and Rule .04 was renumbered .03 per certification filed October 19, 2018; effective December 3, 2018. See Repealed information on Rule 798-X-8-.03 below: