Continuing Education Requirement for License Renewal

Except as provided in 261 CMR 5.02(2), every Licensed Respiratory Therapist shall complete a minimum of 20 contact hours of continuing education per license renewal period. The renewal period runs from June 1 of even numbered years through May 31 of the next st st even-numbered year. (2) Exceptions. (a) A Licensed Respiratory Therapist who obtains licensure by examination pursuant to 261 CMR 3.03: Criteria and Application for Licensure is exempt from the requirements of 5.02(1) during the first license renewal cycle; and (b) Every Licensed Respiratory Therapist shall complete a minimum of 15 contact hours of continuing education for the renewal period that runs from June 1, 2018 through May 31, 2020. (3) CEUs may not be carried over from one renewal cycle to the next. CEUs required by a Consent Agreement or Board Order shall not be used to satisfy the continuing education requirement for license renewal. Up to four contact hours per renewal period may be satisfied through recredentialing examinations that meet the criteria in 261 CMR 5.04(3)(c). (6) Computation. (a) 50 consecutive clock minutes of academic course work, online or correspondence course, or seminar/workshop is equivalent to one contact hour. A fraction of a contact hour may be computed by dividing the clock minutes of the activity by 50 expressed as a decimal. (b) One continuing education unit (CEU) is equal to ten contact hours. (c) One academic semester hour is equal to 15 contact hours. (d) One academic quarter hour is equal to 12 contact hours. (e) Two hours (100 minutes) of clinical experience is equal to one contact hour. Continuing education contact hours awarded for activities or programs approved by the AARC or the MSRC qualify to meet the continuing education requirement. Licensed Respiratory Therapists shall keep documentation demonstrating completion of continuing education activities and programs for the two immediately preceding renewal periods and shall provide the same to the Board upon request. The Board will accept a CRCE transcript issued by the AARC as proof of continuing education completed. (Mass. Register #1410 2/7/20) (5.03: Definitions: Reserved)