DHHS Internet Website - Public Health

Respiratory Care

Respiratory Care means the health specialty responsible for the treatment, management, diagnostic testing, control, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system. ( Description Continued)

Advisory Opinions Applications  Attorney General Opinion  Board Information Brochures Certification/Verification Complaints Contacts        Contact Us        Other related contacts Continuing Education Duplicates/Reissue Examination Requirements

Fees License Lookup       License Information System Licensee Assistance Program Listings Name/Address Change Reinstatement Information Renewal Information Requirements for Licensure Rules & Regulations/Statutes

Respiratory Care continued.......
Respiratory care is the branch or system of treating the sick which is limited to assisting in the prevention, diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of respiratory disorders by various means, including the administration of medical gases, oxygen therapy, ventilation therapy, artificial airway care, bronchial hygiene therapy, aerosolization of pharmacological agents, respiratory rehabilitation therapy and other treatment, testing, evaluation and rehabilitation procedures performed under the direction of a physician, but not including the use of general anesthetic agents.

Top of Page

Requirements for Respiratory Care Licensure

QUALIFICATIONS - You must submit the following:

1. A completed  application for Respiratory Care Licensure;
2. Appropriate application fee;
3. Proof of age of majority;
4. Proof of citizenship or alien lawfully admitted into the United States who is eligible for a credential under the Uniform Credentialing Act;
5. Convictions: If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony,  you must submit:
   A.  Official court records, including charges and disposition
   B.  All addiction/mental health evaluations and proof of treatment if conviction involved a drug and/or alcohol-related offense
   C.  If currently on probation, sumit a letter from your probation officer addressing probationary conditions and your current status
   D.  A letter from you explaining your conviction
6. Education: submit official transcript showing completion of an approved respiratory care program;
7. Examination: Pass the licensure examination with a minimum score of 75 on a scale ranging from 1 to 99. Submit a notarized copy of your CRT or RRT score report or have the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC) send a letter to our office verifying that you have passed the licensure examination;
8. Verification/certification of licensure in other jurisdiction(s): If you have been credentialed in other jurisdictions, you must have those jurisdictions submit a verification/certification of your license to our office.

Basis for application:

1. If you passed the licensure exmination more than three (3) years prior to your application and are not currently practicing at the time of application, you must submit proof of at least 60  hours of acceptable continuing education obtained within the three (3) years immediately preceding your application. The minimum of 15 hours are required in each of the following categories:

          A. Pharmacology
          B. Mechanical ventilation
          C. Non-invasive ventilation support
          D. Practice of respiratory care

     2.  Active license in another jurisdiction - not currently practicing. If you have an active license in another
          jurisdiction, but are not practicing at the time of application, you must submit proof of a minimum of 20
          hours of acceptable continuing education that was obtained within the three years immediately
          preceding your application.

     3.  If you hold an active license to practice respiratory care in another jurisdiction and are currently
          practicing - current practice information must be filled out on your application.
 

Top of Page

Examination Requirements

Pass the CRT examination from the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC).

For Information on examination fees, application and deadlines, contact:

National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC)
NBRC Executive Office
18000 W. 105th Street
Olathe, KS 66061-7543
e-mail: NBRC-info@nbrc.org
Phone: (913) 895-4900
Fax: (913) 895-4650
www.nbrc.org

Top of Page

Reinstatement Information

A.   An individual whose credential has expired, been placed on inactive status, voluntarily surrendered unrelated to discipline, been placed on lapsed status or non-disciplinary revocation may apply for reinstatement at any time. To reinstate your Respiratory Care license, you must have obtained 20 hours of acceptable continuing competency within the 24 months preceding your application to reinstate. Submit the following:

1. Completed reinstatement application;
2. Appropriate application fee; 
3. If you are an alien lawfully admitted into the United States who is eligible for a credential under the Uniform Credentialing Act or a non-immigrant lawfully present in the United States who is eligible for a credential under the Uniform Credentialing Act, you must submit appropriate documentation;
4. Convictions: If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony during the time period since  your license was last renewed, you must submit:

          a. Official court record, including charges and disposition
          b. All addiction/mental health evaluations and proof of treatment if conviction involved a drug and /or
              alcohol-related offense
          c. If currently on probation, submit a letter from your probation officer addressing probationary    
              conditions and your current status
          d. A letter from you explaining your conviction

   5.    Verification/certification of licensure in other jusisdictions(s): If you have been credentialed in other 
          jurisdiction(s), you must have those jurisdiction(s) submit a verification/certification of your license to
          our office.

B.   An individual whose credential was suspended or limited may apply for reinstatement at any time. An 
individual whose credential has been revoked may apply for reinstatement after a period of two years has elapsed from the date of revocation. An individual whose credential was voluntarily surrendered in lieu of discipline may apply for reinstatement according to the order entered by the Director. To reinstate your Respiratory Care license, you must have obtained 20 hours of acceptable continuing competency within the 24 months immediately preceding your application to reinstate. To apply for reinstatement, you must contact the Licensure Unit for further direction. Phone (402) 471-2299. 

Top of Page

 

Fees

Fee Schedule

Top of Page

Applications

These forms may be completed online, however, they cannot be submitted via e-mail due to the fact that all applications and forms require original signatures. If you complete the form online, you must print the form and mail it to the address below.

Fees are payable to the Licensure Unit.

Licensure Unit
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986

 Application for Respiratory Care Licensure
Duplicate/Reissue form
Name Change form
 Reinstatement Application

Top of Page

Renewal Information

All respiratory care licenses expire June 1 of each even numbered year. The Department shall send each licensee at least 30 days prior to June 1 of each even numbered year, a renewal notice to the licensee’s last known address of record. The licensee must pay the renewal fee and attest to completion of 20 hours of acceptable continuing education taken during the preceding 24 month period. The licensee may choose to place his/her license on inactive status by returning the completed renewal notice.

Inactive – Means that you cannot practice but may represent yourself as having an inactive license. To change from inactive to active status you must meet renewal requirements which are in effect at the time status change is requested.

Top of Page

Continuing Education

All respiratory care licenses expire on June 1 of even-numbered year. The Department shall send each licensee at least 30 days prior to June 1 of even-numbered year, a renewal notice at the licensee’s last known address of record. The licensee must pay the renewal fee and attest to completion of 20 hours of acceptable continuing education taken during the preceding 24 month period. The licensee may also choose to place his/her license on inactive status by returning the completed renewal notice. For more information on acceptable continuing education programs, see the rules and regulations pertaining to respiratory therapy. 

Top of Page

Name and Address Change

To change your address, you can go to the Licensure Unit web page, to 'UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS (DEMOGRAPHICS); http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/crl/crlindex.htm, or contact Irene Eckman at (402) 471-2299 or e-mail at irene.eckman@nebraska.gov. If you wish to change your name on your license record, you must mail a written request with your signature notarized along with a copy of the legal document verifying name change to:

Licensure Unit
Respiratory Care
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986

Top of Page

Duplicates/Reissue

Duplicates: A duplicate large license or small license card may be requested at the time of initial licensure. A $10.00 fee, per document, is required.

Reissue: A large license and/or small license card may be reissued when the licensee requests: additional documents; replacement of original document(s) due to loss, mutilation or destruction; or replacement of document(s) due to a name change.

To request a reissued license, you must submit a request for reissuance, and include a fee in the amount of $10.00 per document. Submit said request to:

Licensure Unit
Respiratory Care
PO Box 94986
Lincoln NE 68509-4986

Top of Page

Rules and Regulations/Statutes

Regulations Governing the Practice of Respiratory Care - 172 NAC 162
Statutes Relating to Respiratory Care
Statutes relating to the Uniform Credentialing Act
Regulations relating to Mandatory Reporting
Mandatory Reporting Forms

Top of Page

Board of Respiratory Care Information

The Board of Respiratory Care advises the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit on all issues related to the regulation of respiratory care. Board member composition and length of terms follows:

The Board of Respiratory Care meets at least 1 time per year – see Board meeting schedule for meeting dates and times. Meetings are open to the public, with the exception of investigational matters. Minutes of meetings are available here or by contacting Bill Wisell at (402) 471-2299 or by e-mail at bill.wisell@nebraska.gov,

Top of Page

Board Advisory Opinions

LPNs & Respiratory Care

This Nebraska Board of Nursing advisory opinion is issued in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-2216. As such, this advisory opinion is for informational purposes only and is non-binding.

It is the opinion of the Board that it is acceptable practice for LPNs to provide chest percussion, aerosol treatment and IPPB therapy. Additionally, it is appropriate practice for LPNs to perform naso-pharyngeal and oral pharyngeal suctioning. LPN practice may include tracheal suctioning for purposes of maintaining an open airway; it is not appropriate practice for LPNs to provide bronchial tree suctioning.

LPNs may assist with ventilator care by making observations, and by recording and reporting such observations. It is not appropriate for LPNs to independently implement nursing actions based upon conclusions or assessments drawn from their observations, i.e., make ventilator adjustments.

A licensed nurse is accountable to be competent for all nursing care that he/she provides. Competence means the ability of the nurse to apply interpersonal, technical and decision-making skills at the level of knowledge consistent with the prevailing standard for the nursing activity being applied. Accountability also includes acknowledgment of personal limitations in knowledge and skills, and communicating the need for specialized instruction prior to providing any nursing activity.

Approved: January 1988
Reaffirmed: April 1996

Top of Page

Contact Us

Office Address:

Phone: (402) 471-2299

Fax: (402) 471-3577

Office Hours:

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (central time)
Monday through Friday

Respiratory Care Licensing Questions:

Irene Eckman, Health Licensing Specialist
Phone: (402) 471-2299
e-mail: irene.eckman@nebraska.gov  

Respiratory Care Scope of Practice Questions:

Rene Tiedt, Office Administrator
Phone: (402) 471-2299
e-mail: rene.tiedt@nebraska.gov

Top of Page

Other Contacts

National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc
18000 W. 105th Street
Olathe, KS 66061-7543
Phone: (913) 895-4900
FAX: (913) 895-4650
e-mail: nbrc-info@nbrc.org
web site: www.nbrc.org

American Association for Respiratory Care
11030 Ables Lane
Dallas, TX 75229
e-mail: info@aarc.org
web site: www.aarc.org

Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
1248 Harwood Road
Bedford, Texas 76021-4244
e-mail: info@coarc.com
web site: www.coarc.com/index.html

Nebraska Society for Respiratory Care
web site: www.nsrc-online.org/

Top of Page

Brochures

 Chemical Dependency in Health Care Professionals

Top of Page

Certification/Verification

Certification and Verification information can be obtained by checking the website at: www.dhhs.ne.gov/lis/lisindex.htm

OR

To request either a certification or verification or your license to be sent to another Licensing & Regulatory Affairs/state licensing agency, send your request in writing along with the proper fee to the our office. Checks should be made payable to Licensure Unit, State of Nebraska.

Certification

1. Fee - $25.00
2. Certification includes:
   1. Name
   2. Profession
   3. License number
   4. Issuance date
   5. Expiration date
   6. Whether the license was granted by examination, waiver, or reciprocity
   7. Examination information, if available
   8. Whether disciplinary action has been taken against the license. If so, the type(s) and date(s) of the action will be included.
   9. SEAL of the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services

Verification

1. Fee - $5.00
2. Verification includes:
   1. Name
   2. Profession
   3. License Number
   4. Expiration Date
   5. Department Staff Signature

A verification does not include the SEAL of the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services nor information relating to discipline, school, or examination.

Top of Page

Licensee Assistance Program

The Licensee Assistance Program (LAP) is an assessment, education, referral, case management, and monitoring service designed to help licensees, certificate holders, and registrants of the State of Nebraska work through substance abuse/addiction problems.

The LAP services are free. However, in some cases treatment from a community resource agency may be needed. If further assistance is needed, the LAP Coordinator will help refer the Licensee to the most appropriate agency. When a treatment referral is made, those expenses become the responsibility of the Licensee.

This program was authorized by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-175.  LAP telephone number: (800) 851-2336 or (402) 354-8055. You may also visit their website at www.lapne.org

Top of Page

Complaints

How do I file a complaint? To file a complaint, see the Investigations Division web site: www.dhhs.ne.gov/reg/investi.htm

What activities must be reported by a licensee, certificate holder, or registrant? Every credentialed person who has first-hand knowledge of unlicensed, illegal or unethical activities is required to report (includes self-reporting) within 30 days of the occurrence. Failure to report may result in discipline. To view additional information relating to mandatory reporting, click on the options below:

• Mandatory Reporting Forms
• Mandatory Reporting Summary (chart showing who is to report and what is to be
         reported)
• Mandatory Reporting Regulations

Mandatory Reporting shall not apply:

• to the spouse of the person,
• to a practitioner who is providing treatment to such person in a practitioner-patient relationship concerning information obtained or discovered in the course of treatment unless the treating practitioner determines that the condition of the person may be of a nature which constitutes a danger to the public health and safety by the person's continued practice, or
• when a credentialed person who is chemically impaired enters the Licensee Assistance Program authorized by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-175 except as provided in such section.

How is a complaint reviewed, and what is the disciplinary process? The following provides information relating to the complaint, investigative, and disciplinary process.

• Investigations web site www.dhhs.ne.gov/reg/investi.htm
• Disciplinary Process Chart
• Uniform Cerdentialing Act

  Top of Page

  

  Documents in PDF format require the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded for free from Adobe Systems, Inc. 

  Professions and Occupations Page

  Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Page

.