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California Makes the RRT Mandatory

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July 24, 2014

Legislation regarding the respiratory care profession passed the final hurdle yesterday when California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that will make the RRT credential mandatory for respiratory therapists practicing in the state.

The legislation was passed unanimously by both the California Assembly and the California Senate before heading to the governor’s desk for final review and signing.

“AB 1972 is the first of many initiatives that the CSRC plans to take to support and strengthen our profession for all California RCPs,” noted California Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC) President Michael Madison, MBA, RRT, RCP, in a document posted on the CSRC website when the bill passed the Senate. “The CSRC views initiatives that increase educational opportunities and standards for RCPs one of the strongest ways to ensure that our profession thrives.”

The new law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2015. Respiratory therapists, from any state, who earned the CRT prior to Jan. 1, 2015 and whose credential is still valid, will be “grandfathered” in and thus will be able to continue to practice or acquire a license in California without earning the RRT. Any questions you might have should be directed to the Respiratory Care Board of California or the California Society for Respiratory Care.