Becoming a licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) in California involves a detailed process, ensuring that professionals meet the high standards set by the Respiratory Care Board of California. While the path to licensure requires fulfilling several criteria, understanding each step is crucial. This guide outlines the essential requirements, focusing on both the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentials and the often-required live scan form for background checks in California.
The first critical step towards RCP licensure in California is obtaining the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the NBRC. For new graduates of accredited respiratory care education programs, the journey begins with the NBRC examinations. You’ll first encounter the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination (TMC). Achieving a high score on the TMC is essential, as it not only grants you the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential but also qualifies you to take the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE). Success in both the TMC (at the higher cut score level) and the CSE examinations culminates in earning the prestigious RRT credential. This RRT credential satisfies the examination requirement for RCP licensure in California. For detailed information and to schedule your exams, the NBRC website (https://www.nbrc.org/) is your primary resource. It’s important to note that the Respiratory Care Board (RCB) will directly receive your examination results from the NBRC, provided you have a California address on file with the NBRC.
For applicants who are already credentialed as RRTs through the NBRC, the process is slightly different. If you have previously passed the TMC and CSE and hold the RRT credential, you need to request an official credential verification letter to be sent directly to the RCB from your NBRC account. You can initiate this process by logging into your NBRC account at their practitioner portal (https://practitionerportal.nbrc.org/auth). It’s also worth noting that if you earned a CRT credential before January 1, 2015, you are considered to have met the examination requirements for licensure without needing to fulfill additional examination criteria.
While the original documentation emphasizes the NBRC credentials, it is also important to acknowledge the likely requirement of a “live scan form” as part of the California licensing process. In California, professional licensing often includes a background check to ensure patient safety and public trust. The “live scan form” is used for electronic fingerprinting, which is a standard method for conducting these background checks. Although not explicitly mentioned in the initial information regarding NBRC credentials, it is highly probable that the Respiratory Care Board of California will require applicants to complete a live scan for fingerprinting as part of their application for RCP licensure. This step is separate from the NBRC credentialing and is a direct requirement from the state board to ensure all licensed practitioners meet the necessary background standards. You should consult the official website of the Respiratory Care Board of California or contact them directly to confirm the live scan requirements and obtain the necessary forms and instructions for completing this crucial step in your licensure journey.
