As of August 3, 2016, home study/online courses are no longer limited to 12 hours for renewal. All courses, including home study /online courses must be completed by an approved respiratory care provider.
The information provided is an overview only and licensees are encouraged to become familiar with the profession’s continuing education rules, Chapter 64B32-6.001 & 64B32-6.006, Florida Administrative Code, to ensure that they meet the Board’s specific requirements for renewal.
Continuing Education (CE/CEU) Requirements
| REQUIRED SUBJECT AREA | REQUIRED NUMBER OF HOURS | IMPORTANT INFORMATION |
| General Hours | 20 | |
| Medical Error | 2 | Mandatory for all licensees: 2 hours in a board-approved continuing education course pursuant to Rule 64B32-6.006, F.A.C. |
| Laws and Rules | 2 | Mandatory for all licensees: 2 credit hours pursuant to subsection 64B32-6.001(5), F.A.C. Licensees may earn up to 8 continuing education hours per biennium by attending meetings of the Board of Respiratory Care, but no more than 2 of those hours will be credited to satisfying the Florida laws and rules requirement. |
| 24 Total |
As of August 3, 2016, home study/online courses are no longer limited to 12 hours for renewal. All courses, including home study /online courses must be completed by an approved respiratory care provider.
Note: Live courses are still acceptable, available and are not limited, but are not mandatory.
The current licensure biennium: 06/01/15-05/31/2017. A current license expires at midnight, Eastern Standard Time, on May 31, 2017.
First Biennium Renewal: Respiratory Therapists renewing the current license for the first time and were issued the license in the second half of the biennium (on or after 06/01/2016) are exempt from general continuing education. You are only required to complete 2 hours on prevention of medical errors, 2 hours on laws and rules, and 3 hours on HIV/AIDS, the first time renewing. (The 3 hour HIV/AIDS is a one-time renewal requirement). All continuing education requirements must be met for each biennium thereafter. This board approves any HIV/AIDS course approved by any Board within the Division of Medical Quality Assurance of the Department of Health.
Respiratory Therapists renewing a license for the first time and were licensed in the first half of the biennium (6/1/2015-5/31/2016) are required to complete all 24 as state above, including the 3 HIV/AIDS , for your first renewal.
If you are changing your status from CRT to RRT, regardless of when the license is issued, you are not exempt from the continuing education requirements.
Board Rule Approved Providers
- The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
- The Florida Society for Respiratory Care
- The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
- The American Florida Thoracic Societies
- The American College of Cardiology
- The American College of Chest Physicians
- The American and Florida Societies of Anesthesiologists
- The American and Florida Lung Association
- The National Society of Cardiopulmonary Technologists
- The American Heart Association
- The American Nurses Association and the Florida Nurses Association
- The Florida Board of Nursing
- Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Florida Board approved courses can also be found at www.cebroker.com
Other Methods of Obtaining Continuing Education per Biennium
- You can obtain up to 8 hours of continuing education for attending a public meeting of the Board – but no more than 2 hours can be credited for laws and rules
- College or university courses in respiratory care program
- ACLS, PALS and Neonatal resuscitation certification or any course offered/credential by the NBRC during the biennium (maximum of 16 hours)
- ACLS, PALS and Neonatal resuscitation recertification classes (maximum of 8 hours)
- Successful completion of the National Board of Respiratory Care re-credentialing exam
- Presenting continuing education as a lecturer or an author
- Board Member serving on Probable Cause Panel
Helpful Information
- Home study/online self-study courses are no longer limited to 12 hours
- BLS training does not count as CE credit for any of the 24 hours
Respiratory rules are available at: http://floridasrespiratorycare.gov/resources/
Fees
Certified check or money order should be made payable to the Florida Department of Health.
If renewing BEFORE your license expires, your fees will be:
| Renewals | Fees |
| Active to Active | $125.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $55.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $55.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $175.00 |
| Active to Retired | $55.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $55.00 |
If renewing AFTER your license expires, your fees will be:
| Renewals | Fees |
| Active to Active | $245.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $175.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $210.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $330.00 |
| Active to Retired | $210.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $210.00 |
If renewing 120 day Notified Delinquent, your fees will be:
| Renewals | Fees |
| Active to Active | $370.00 |
| Inactive to Inactive | $230.00 |
| Active to Inactive | $300.00 |
| Inactive to Active | $350.00 |
| Active to Retired | $300.00 |
| Inactive to Retired | $230.00 |
Licenses become Null & Void1 on June 1, 2017.
By submitting the appropriate renewal fees to the department, a licensee acknowledges compliance with all requirements for renewal, including continuing education.
A licensee who remains on inactive status for more than two consecutive biennial licensure cycles and who wishes to reactivate the license may be required to demonstrate competency to resume active practice by sitting for a special purpose examination or by completing other reactivation requirements.
