To renew a respiratory care practitioner license, the licensee shall acquire 30 credit hours of respiratory care continuing education every two years as required in RCW 18.89.140. Licensees shall meet the continuing education requirements outlined in this section and report completed continuing education as required in WAC 246-12-170 through 246-12-240.

(1) The following are categories of required continuing education activities for licensed respiratory care practitioners:

(a) A minimum of 10 credit hours of continuing education during each two-year reporting cycle must be earned in courses approved by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).

(b) Beginning January 1, 2024, a respiratory care practitioner must complete two hours of health equity training each reporting cycle, as specified in WAC 246-928-445.

(c) The remaining 18 hours of continuing education during each two-year reporting cycle may be in any of the following areas:

(i) Sponsored courses. Continuing education courses sponsored or approved by entities listed in subsection (2) of this section;

(ii) Certifications and examinations. Completing professional certifications or examinations listed in subsection (3) of this section;

(iii) Education and instruction. Completing or instructing coursework as described in subsection (4) of this section; and

(iv) Related studies. Completing up to 10 hours per reporting cycle of activities listed in subsection (5) of this section.

(2) Sponsored courses. Eligible courses are sponsored or approved by the:

(a) American Academy of Pediatrics;

(b) American Academy of Physician Assistants;

(c) American Association of Critical Care Nurses;

(d) American Association for Respiratory Care;

(e) American College of Chest Physicians;

(f) American College of Emergency Physicians;

(g) American College of Physicians;

(h) American Medical Association;

(i) American Nurses Association;

(j) American Osteopathic Association;

(k) American Thoracic Society;

(l) Society of Critical Care Medicine;

(m) Washington academy of physician assistants;

(n) Washington osteopathic medicine association;

(o) Washington state medical association;

(p) Washington state nurses association;

(q) Extracorporeal life support organization; or

(r) American Society of Extracorporeal Technology.

(3) Certifications and examinations. The following certifications and examinations are valid for continuing education credit:

(a) Ten credit hours each may be claimed for the following initial or renewal certifications:

(i) Advanced cardiac life support (also known as ACLS);

(ii) Neonatal advanced life support (also known as NALS, or neonatal resuscitation program or NRP); and

(iii) Pediatric advanced life support (also known as PALS).

(b) Five credit hours may be claimed for initial or renewal certification in basic life support (also known as BLS).

(c) Ten credit hours each may be claimed for passing either of the following National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) advanced practitioner examinations:

(i) The NBRC therapist multiple-choice examination combined with the clinical simulation examination that awards NBRC registration; or

(ii) Registered pulmonary function technologist.

(d) Five credit hours each may be claimed for passing any of the following:

(i) The NBRC therapist multiple-choice examination that awards NBRC certification;

(ii) Any NBRC specialty examination;

(iii) The NBRC self-assessment competency examination with a minimum score of 75; or

(iv) National Asthma Educator Certification Board certified asthma educator examination.

(4) Education and instruction. A licensee may claim continuing education credit for:

(a) Courses completed at a regionally accredited college, university, or institute of higher education. Such courses must focus on the clinical practice of respiratory care or education related to the cardiopulmonary system. Credit hours for such courses may be claimed as either:

(i) Actual semester contact hours (such as 15 semester contact hours shall be equal to 15 continuing education credits); or

(ii) An academic credit formula that multiplies the academic credits by a factor of three (such as four academic credits shall be equal to 12 continuing education credits).

(b) Respiratory care educational offerings provided by hospitals or health organizations.

(c) Serving as an instructor of educational offerings in respiratory care provided by hospitals or health organizations; or at a regionally accredited college, university, or institute of higher education. Such educational offerings must include learning objectives. The number of credit hours claimed for serving as an instructor shall be the same number as those earned by attendees. The credit hours for presenting a specific topic, lecture, or education course may only be used for continuing education once during each reporting cycle.

(5) Related studies. Up to 10 credit hours of continuing education during a two-year reporting cycle may be in any of the following areas:

(a) Self-study. Journal reading of publications related to respiratory care;

(b) Practice related topics. Formal, internet-based, or video-format courses offered by organizations not listed in (b) of this subsection including, but not limited to, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence, or the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs; or

(c) Nonclinical practice topics. Courses or activities including, but not limited to, health promotion, health care cost management, mandatory reporting, professional ethics, and regulatory affairs.

(6) Documentation requirements. A licensee is responsible for acquiring and maintaining all acceptable documentation of their continuing education activities, as required in WAC 246-12-170 through 246-12-240. Acceptable documentation must include transcripts, letters from course instructors, or certificates of completion or other formal certifications provided by hospitals, course instructors, and health organizations. In all cases other than transcripts, the documentation must show the participant's name, activity title, number of continuing education credit hours, date(s) of activity, instructor's name(s) and degree and the signature of the verifying individual program sponsor.