(a) The requirements for licensure by the Board as a respiratory care practitioner are:
(1) The applicant must successfully complete a national qualifying examination with a passing grade that leads to a credential conferred by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC), or its successor organization, as a certified respiratory therapist (CRT) and/or as a registered respiratory therapist (RRT); or
(2) The applicant must possess a current license in a state which has licensing requirements equal to or exceeding the requirements of this subchapter, and there may not be any outstanding or unresolved complaints pending against the applicant;
(3) The applicant:
a. May not have been assessed any administrative penalties regarding the applicant’s practice of respiratory care, including but not limited to fines, formal reprimands, license suspension or revocation (except for license suspension or revocation for nonpayment of license renewal fees), and probationary limitations; and
b. May not have entered into a consent agreement which contains conditions placed by a Board or other authority on the applicant’s professional conduct or practice, including the voluntary surrender of the applicant’s license while under investigation for misconduct.
However, the Board may, after a hearing, waive the requirement of paragraph (a)(3)a. of this section if the administrative penalty prevents the issuance of a license;
(4) The applicant may not have an impairment related to the current use of drugs or alcohol which substantially impairs the practice of respiratory care with reasonable skill and safety;
(5) The applicant may not have been convicted of or may not have admitted under oath to having committed a crime substantially related to the practice of respiratory care. “Substantially related” means that the nature of the criminal conduct for which the person was convicted or to which the person admitted under oath has a direct bearing on the person’s fitness or ability to perform 1 or more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to the practice of respiratory care. The Board shall promulgate regulations specifically identifying the crimes which are substantially related to the practice of respiratory care;
(6) The applicant may not have a criminal conviction record or a pending criminal charge for a crime that is substantially related to the practice of respiratory care. An applicant who has a criminal conviction record or a pending criminal charge must arrange for information about the record or charge to be provided directly to the Board by the appropriate authorities.
(b)Waiver of requirements. —The Respiratory Care Advisory Council, by the affirmative vote of 5 of its members and with the approval of the Board within 30 days of the vote, may waive any of the requirements of subsection (a) of this section if its finds all of the following by clear and convincing evidence:
(1) The applicant’s education, training, qualifications, and conduct have been sufficient to overcome the deficiency or deficiencies in meeting the requirements of this section;
(2) The applicant is capable of practicing respiratory care in a competent and professional manner;
(3) The granting of the waiver will not endanger the public health, safety, or welfare; and
(4) For waiver of a conviction, if, after consideration of the factors set forth in § 8735(x)(3) of Title 29, the Board determines that granting a waiver would not create an unreasonable risk to public safety, the Board shall grant a waiver of paragraphs (a)(5) and (a)(6) of this section.
(5) [Repealed.]
(c)License denial. —If it appears to the Board that an applicant has been intentionally fraudulent or that an applicant has intentionally submitted, or intentionally caused to be submitted, false information as part of the application process, the Board may not issue a license to the applicant and must report the incident of fraud or submitting false information to the Office of the Attorney General for further action.
(d)Temporary license. —The Executive Director of the Board, with the approval of a member of the Council, may issue a temporary permit to an applicant for licensure who has presented a completed application to the Board. A temporary permit issued under this paragraph is valid for a period of not more than 90 days and may not be renewed. Only 1 temporary permit may be issued under this paragraph.
(e)License suspension, revocation, or nonrenewal. —(1) The Council, after appropriate notice and hearing, may recommend to the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline that the Board revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue a license, or place the licensee on probation, or otherwise discipline a licensee found guilty of unprofessional conduct. Unprofessional conduct includes, but is not limited to, fraud, deceit, incompetence, gross negligence, dishonesty, or other behavior in the licensee’s professional activity which is likely to endanger the public health, safety, or welfare. The Council and Board may take necessary action against a respiratory care practitioner who is unable to render respiratory care services with reasonable skill or safety to patients because of mental illness or mental incompetence, physical illness, or the excessive use of drugs, including alcohol. Disciplinary action or other action taken against a respiratory care practitioner must be in accordance with the procedures for disciplinary and other actions against physicians, including appeals as set forth in subchapter IV of this chapter, except that a hearing panel for a complaint against a respiratory care practitioner consists of 3 unbiased members of the Regulatory Council, the 3 members being the chair of Council and 2 other members, if practicable.
(2) a. If the Board or the Respiratory Care Advisory Council receives a formal or informal complaint concerning the activity of a respiratory care practitioner and the Council members reasonably believe that the activity presents a clear and immediate danger to the public health, the Council may issue an order temporarily suspending the respiratory care practitioner’s license to practice pending a hearing upon the written order of the Secretary of State or the Secretary’s designee, with the concurrence of this Council Chair or the Chair’s designee. An order temporarily suspending a license to practice may not be issued by the Council unless the respiratory care practitioner or the respiratory care practitioner’s attorney received at least 24 hours’ written or oral notice prior to the temporary suspension so that the respiratory care practitioner or the respiratory care practitioner’s attorney can be heard in opposition to the proposed suspension. An order of temporary suspension pending a hearing may remain in effect for no longer than 60 days from the date of the issuance of the order unless the temporarily suspended respiratory care practitioner requests a continuance of the hearing date. If the respiratory care practitioner requests a continuance, the order of temporary suspension remains in effect until the hearing panel convenes and a decision is rendered.
b. A respiratory care practitioner whose license to practice has been temporarily suspended pursuant to this section must be notified of the temporary suspension immediately and in writing. Notification consists of a copy of the complaint and the order of temporary suspension pending a hearing personally served upon the respiratory care practitioner or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the respiratory care practitioner’s last known address.
c. A respiratory care practitioner whose license to practice has been temporarily suspended pursuant to this section may request an expedited hearing. The Council shall schedule the hearing on an expedited basis, provided that the Council receives the request within 5 calendar days from the date on which the respiratory care practitioner received notification of the decision of the Council, with the approval of the Board, to temporarily suspend the respiratory care practitioner’s license to practice.
d. As soon as possible after the issuance of an order temporarily suspending a respiratory care practitioner’s license to practice pending a hearing, the Council President shall appoint a 3-member hearing panel. After notice to the respiratory care practitioner pursuant to paragraph (e)(2)b. of this section, the hearing panel shall convene within 60 days of the date of the issuance of the order of temporary suspension to consider the evidence regarding the matters alleged in the complaint. If the respiratory care practitioner requests in a timely manner an expedited hearing, the hearing panel shall convene within 15 days of the receipt of the request by the Council. The 3-member panel shall proceed to a hearing and shall render a decision within 30 days of the hearing.
e. In addition to making findings of fact, the hearing panel shall also determine whether the facts found by it constitute a clear and immediate danger to public health. If the hearing panel determines that the facts found constitute a clear and immediate danger to public health, the order of temporary suspension must remain in effect until the Board deliberates and reaches conclusions of law based upon the findings of fact made by the hearing panel. An order of temporary suspension may not remain in effect for longer than 60 days from the date of the decision rendered by the hearing panel unless the suspended respiratory care practitioner requests an extension of the order pending a final decision of the Board. Upon the final decision of the Board, an order of temporary suspension is vacated as a matter of law and is replaced by the disciplinary action, if any, ordered by the Board.