Stop Holding our Credentials Hostage

Stop Holding our Credentials Hostage; Stop putting Expirations on Credentials; Get rid of CRT exam; Have only one exam, the RRT;Once the exam is passed credentials are granted without any stipulations;

Over the past few years the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) has changed policies on those that earn their credentials in order financially support their organization. The NBRC claims that their policies demonstrate the concern for patient safety, but this far from the truth.

After a student graduates from an accredited respiratory therapy program, they are to sit for an exam (administered by the NBRC) to earn credentials. They administer several exams. The entry-level exam, which is, recognize as certified respiratory therapist. A student must pass this entry-level exam in order to sit for other exams. NBRC administer the RRT (registered respiratory therapist) exam, which is the exam that most respiratory therapy students want to pass and earn the credentials as RRT. Although, in the field of practice, there is absolutely no difference in job performance from a CRT and RRT.However, the NBRC policies is for those that pass any exams prior to 2002 does not have expiration dates on their credentials.

Those that earn their credentials from 2003 and present have to abide by the following policies: after an exam is passed it has an expiration date on it along with stipulations and if the requirements are not met one must retake the exam along with paying a reinstatement fee; after a student passes the CRT exam they have three years to pass the RRT if they do not pass the RRT in time frame allotted the students has to take the CRT exam again in order to be eligible for the RRT. We believe the purpose of the NBRC credentialing process is to fund the NBRC organization.

This process is a mirror image of big corporation taken the middle class. Does the group of Chicago Physicians; the individuals who assisted in organizing this corporation have to reapply for their MD credentials after they earned it? The NBRC needs to do a survey to check with all RCP across the country and see if they are satisfied with their renewing of credential procedures. No one in his or her right mind wants to have to retest! Most of RCP believes this is a scam for the following reasons:

We are the only healthcare profession that has to renew our credentials and pay a fee after we have earned it.

We are the only healthcare profession that has to take three exams in which there is absolutely no difference in the scope of practice. We should only have to take the RRT exam.

We are the only healthcare profession whose credentialing renewal process continues to change and accrue more fees.

We find this practice to be full of greed and unfair. This issue was addressed several times with the NBRC from many applicants. In one particular incident a member from the NBRC responded, "So we should let the inmates run the prison". Another comment made by a NBRC staff was "Those that pass the exams prior to 2002 were just lucky".