Alabama Licensure

For Immediate Release

Irving, Tex. (May 21, 2004) –Alabama Gov. Bob Riley signed into law the Respiratory Therapy Practice Act this week. The law will regulate the practice of respiratory therapy and ensure that respiratory therapists meet education and competency standards.

The Governor gathered with several members of the Alabama Society for Respiratory Care (ASRC) for a ceremonial signing on May 19, marking the end of an intense, four-month period in which respiratory therapists all over the state rallied to the cause and urged legislators to pass the legislation.

“Patient safety was our primary goal,” says Ron Stansell, RRT, president of the ASRC of Cullman, Ala.

“Until now there was no state regulatory method to ensure that those providing respiratory therapy met standard requirements for the practice of respiratory care consistent with national standards. This law establishes those educational standards and competencies and ensures that those entering the profession have received formal training and credentialing to engage in the practice of respiratory therapy,” he said.

Stansell added that the law also requires those currently in the profession to continue their education in order to maintain the license.

Respiratory therapy licensure in Alabama has a long history, says ASRC Legislative Co-chair Ronda Hood, a nationally registered respiratory therapist from Sheffield, Ala. “The first bill was introduced in the Alabama State Legislature in the early part of the 1980s.” The ASRC continued to support legislation throughout the years, but with little success. “In the summer of 2003, the ASRC Board of Directors decided to again seek licensure.”

Specifically, respiratory therapists in the ASRC were concerned that Alabama was becoming a haven for unlicensed practitioners, due in large part to licensure laws in surrounding states. Evidence was also mounting that qualified RTs were leaving Alabama to practice in states with formal standards for the profession. So, they went to work to convince their representatives that licensure would help.

According to the American Association for Respiratory Care, the parent organization for all state societies for respiratory care, Alabama is now the 47 th state to require registration, certification or licensure, leaving only Alaska, Hawaii and Vermont without current laws.

The ASRC, a chartered-affiliate of the American Association for Respiratory Care, was created in 1969 for the purpose of promoting a proactive and responsive forum for respiratory care practitioners in the state. The ASRC is dedicated to education, progress, cooperation, membership and professionalism.

The AARC is a professional membership organization of respiratory therapists dedicated to respiratory therapy education and research. Among its goals are to advocate on behalf of pulmonary patients for appropriate access to respiratory services provided by qualified professionals and to benefit respiratory health care providers.

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		Alabama Governor Signs Respiratory Therapy Licensure Bill into Law For Immediate Release Irving, Tex. (May 21, 2004) –Alabama Gov. Bob Riley signed into law the Respiratory Therapy Practice Act this week. The law will regulate the practice of respiratory therapy and ensure that respiratory therapists meet education and competency standards. The Governor gathered with several members of the Alabama Society for Respiratory Care (ASRC) for a ceremonial signing on May 19, marking the end of an intense, four-month period in which respiratory therapists all over the state rallied to the cause and urged legislators to pass the legislation. “Patient safety was our primary goal,” says Ron Stansell, RRT, president of the ASRC of Cullman, Ala. “Until now there was no state regulatory method to ensure that those providing respiratory therapy met standard requirements for the practice of respiratory care consistent with national standards. This law establishes those educational standards and competencies and ensures that those entering the profession have received formal training and credentialing to engage in the practice of respiratory therapy,” he said. Stansell added that the law also requires those currently in the profession to continue their education in order to maintain the license. Respiratory therapy licensure in Alabama has a long history, says ASRC Legislative Co-chair Ronda Hood, a nationally registered respiratory therapist from Sheffield, Ala. “The first bill was introduced in the Alabama State Legislature in the early part of the 1980s.” The ASRC continued to support legislation throughout the years, but with little success. “In the summer of 2003, the ASRC Board of Directors decided to again seek licensure.” Specifically, respiratory therapists in the ASRC were concerned that Alabama was becoming a haven for unlicensed practitioners, due in large part to licensure laws in surrounding states. Evidence was also mounting that qualified RTs were leaving Alabama to practice in states with formal standards for the profession. So, they went to work to convince their representatives that licensure would help. According to the American Association for Respiratory Care, the parent organization for all state societies for respiratory care, Alabama is now the 47 th state to require registration, certification or licensure, leaving only Alaska, Hawaii and Vermont without current laws. The ASRC, a chartered-affiliate of the American Association for Respiratory Care, was created in 1969 for the purpose of promoting a proactive and responsive forum for respiratory care practitioners in the state. The ASRC is dedicated to education, progress, cooperation, membership and professionalism. The AARC is a professional membership organization of respiratory therapists dedicated to respiratory therapy education and research. Among its goals are to advocate on behalf of pulmonary patients for appropriate access to respiratory services provided by qualified professionals and to benefit respiratory health care providers. ### Contact: Kris Williams AARC Communications Manager (972) 406-4690, Williams@aarc.org Darren Flott ASRC Public Relations Chair Dflott376@cs.com (251) 421-7995

Alabama Governor Signs Respiratory Therapy Licensure Bill into Law