A: No. The State Board of Medicine has clarified this question. "A respiratory care practitioner applying for certification in this Commonwealth for the first time, shall be exempt from the continuing education requirement for the biennial renewal period in which initial certification is acquired.". The practitioner WILL need to complete 20 hours of continuing education during the period January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2008.
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A: The PA State Board of Medicine notified all Respiratory Therapists credentialed by their Board in June 2005 that 20 hours of continuing education will be required prior to December 31, 2006. Therefore the pro-rating of continuing education requirements was not a consideration. If you and any of your colleagues have yet to complete the mandated 20 hours of approved continuing education, you can find a wealth of cost-effective and time-efficient educational seminars within the state by checking out the PSRC website and clicking on ‘Continuing Education’.
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Question: What will I need to send to the PA Board of Medicine or Osteopathic Medicine as proof of my completed continuing education courses?

A: The PA Board of Medicine has indicated that respiratory therapists will not be required to send in proof of completed continuing education courses when they renew their state credential. Instead, the Board will audit a certain percentage of therapists. Only the therapists chosen for audit will be required to send in proof of completion to the Board. Audited therapists who cannot provide proof of completion of 20 hours of approved courses will be subject to disciplinary action by the Board.
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Question: I have heard that the PSRC is the organization that makes the decisions regarding continuing education for respiratory therapists. Is that true?

A: The PSRC has no control over the regulations regarding continuing education other than to offer advice to the PA State Board of Medicine and the PA State Board of Osteopathic Medicine. The content of the regulations is the responsibility of these two bodies and not the PSRC. The PSRC is certainly advocating on behalf of the respiratory therapists in Pennsylvania to assure patient safety and effective care continues as our priority. Therapists are encouraged to contact the PSRC Legislative Affairs chair (Garry W. Kauffman, RRT via phone ( 717-544-3121) or email (2006Legislativechair@psrc.net) with your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks to the feedback we received from hundreds of respiratory therapists across the state, we were able to make recommendations to the Board of Medicine in regards to allowing some of the continuing education hours to be completed via non-traditional methods.

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Question: If I complete more than 20 hours of approved continuing education prior to the renewal deadline of 12/31/06, can I carry the extra hours over to the next renewal cycle?

A: Hours in excess of 20 completed prior to 12/31/06 cannot be carried over to the 2007-2008 renewal cycle. All therapists will need to complete 20 more approved hours between 1/1/07 and 12/31/08.
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Question: I attended a seminar in 2004 and earned seven hours from an accredited provider. Will these hours count toward the 20 hours that must be completed by 12/31/06?

A: No. All hours must be earned between 1/1/05 and 12/31/06.
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Question: Does ACLS, NALS, PALS, etc. count towards my continuinge education  requirement?

A: These courses can count towards the requirement. However, the course must be approved by one of the approved accrediting associations (AARC, AMA, AOA, or CSRT) for it to count. ___________________________________________________________________

Question: Do I have to join the AARC/PSRC to get contiuing education?

A: No. However, AARC membership (which includes free PSRC membership) includes a host of benefits many of which are directly related to continuing education. These include discounted and free hours of approved continuing education, online electronic transcripts and much, much more! The savings realized by attending one program alone as a member (vs non-member) is often worth the price of membership! In fact, the AARC is currently offering 3 FREE hours of approved continuing education for new members and members who renew in 2006.

To view a full list of benefits click here!

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Question: How do I find out more information?

A: Keep checking the PSRC website, especially this FAQ section. The website is the fastest and easiest way for you to find out the latest news.

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Question: I have a specific question that I don't see listed here on the website. Where can I send my question?

A: Email your question to: 2006Legislativechair@psrc.net

We'll add your question and an answer to the FAQ list.

You may also contact the PA State Board of Medicine at (717) 783-1400

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