NBRC Grants Amnesty Period for RRT Eligibility

February 5, 2008

Individuals who graduated from advanced-level respiratory therapy programs with an associate degree before Jan. 1, 2005 now have until Feb. 28, 2009 to earn the RRT credential, according to the following announcement just issued by the NBRC.

The NBRC Board of Trustees has granted an extension to individuals who graduated from an advanced-level respiratory therapy education program with an associate degree (prior to January 1, 2005) to take and pass the Registry Examination for Advanced Respiratory Therapists (RRT).

The new deadline to earn the RRT credential is February 28, 2009. 
(The original deadline established in 2005 of December 31, 2007 has passed.)

NBRC’s mission is to evaluate the competency of respiratory therapists and to support the profession of respiratory care. It’s a role that we take very seriously.  As the provider of the RRT, the credential that is considered the “standard of excellence” in respiratory care, it is our responsibility to ensure that graduates of advanced-level education programs have the opportunity to earn the RRT credential. Extending the time limit to February 28, 2009 helps us meet our responsibility to certificants, their colleagues, and, ultimately, their patients. 

This is especially important during a time when there is a shortage of qualified respiratory therapists to provide the excellent care that patients expect. Advanced-level graduates who earn the RRT credential are in high demand nationwide and can help to fill this shortage. 

Below is a list of questions about the new deadline and how it may impact you. NBRC is available to answer any other additional questions via phone or email.  Contact us at 888-341-4811 or email nbrc-info@nbrc.org.

RRT Extension – Frequently Asked Questions

I don’t know if I’m eligible for the extension. How do I find out?
You’re eligible for the extension if you graduated from an advanced-level respiratory therapy education program with an associate degree prior to Jan. 1, 2005, but HAVE NOT earned the RRT credential yet. You can also check your status by contacting NBRC at 888-341-4811.

Why adopt a three-year time limit to pass the RRT Examination after graduating from an advanced-level program?
NBRC approved the three (3)-year time limit in 2005 to ensure that individuals who consider themselves “registry eligible” have taken and passed the RRT Examination and demonstrated their knowledge and competence. 

In 2003, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), and the NBRC recognized the RRT credential as the “standard of excellence” for respiratory care professionals. At the request of the AARC and CoARC, NBRC approved a policy on Jan. 1, 2005 that requires graduates of advanced-level programs to complete the CRT and RRT Examinations within three (3) years of graduation. The policy also required advanced-level graduates with an associate degree who had already earned the CRT credential to complete the RRT by December 31, 2007.

What if I graduated from an advanced-level program after January 1, 2005?
The extension only applies to individuals who graduated before January 1, 2005. If you graduated after this date, you still only have three years from the date of your graduation to earn the RRT credential.

If I’m eligible for the extension, what happens if I don’t earn the RRT credential by February 28, 2009?
While the NBRC is dedicated to supporting respiratory therapists, there will be no further extension of this deadline. We have used a variety of channels to communicate this important information with certificants. Some are listed below:

• Posting detailed information on the NBRC Web site
• Posting announcements on affiliated Web sites, such as the AARC
• Publishing updates in industry publications, such as AARC Times and NBRC Horizons
• Communicating with managers and directors of hospital respiratory therapy departments
• Sending e-mail blasts to certificants impacted by the extension
• Communicating with state societies and licensing agencies

I missed the original deadline of December 31, 2007 to earn my RRT credential so I took the CRT Examination again to reinstate my eligibility. What should I do now?
The NBRC will refund the examination fee you paid to take the CRT Examination to reinstate your eligibility.  We appreciate your dedication to earning the RRT credential and maintaining your eligibility. You should take the RRT Examination by the new deadline of February 28, 2009. 

Will testing be available through the new deadline of February 28, 2009?
NBRC will test candidates following our normal procedures. However, we cannot guarantee testing availability for candidates who wait until January or February of 2009. We encourage you to apply and attempt to pass the RRT Examination as soon as possible.