This section provides information on Respiratory Care Practitioner options for retirement, voluntary charity care, inactive by request, and cancellation by request.
The retired status exempts a retired respiratory care practitioner (RCP) from the registration process, registration fee, and Continuing Education requirements.
The following restrictions apply to respiratory care practitioners whose certificates are on retired status:
- The certificate holder must not engage in clinical activities or practice respiratory care in Texas;
- The certificate holder may not administer drugs to anyone; and
- To be eligible for retired status, the certificate holder must not be under an investigation or otherwise have a restricted license.
To return to practice from retired status, a certificate holder must submit an application online for re-activation/re-licensure and meet all of the current requirements for licensure.
To request retired status, complete and return the retirement request form (link below) to the Board for approval before the expiration date of the current registration permit. Refunds of registration fees already paid cannot be made.
If an individual is ineligible for retired status, biennial registration, including the fee and continuing education, are required to keep the license current.
Because this form must be received by our office before the expiration date of the current certificate, completed and bearing original signatures, as well as bearing an original seal of notary public, it cannot be faxed back to our office.
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The voluntary charity care status exempts a retired respiratory care practitioner (RCP), whose only practice is the provision of voluntary charity care, from the biennial registration fee.
The following restrictions apply to RCPs practicing under voluntary charity care permits:
- The certificate or permit holder's practice of respiratory care does not include the provision of services for either direct or indirect compensation which has monetary value of any kind;
- The certificate or permit holder's practice of respiratory care is limited to voluntary charity care for which he or she receives no direct or indirect compensation of any kind for services rendered; and
The certificate or permit holder's practice of respiratory care does not include the provision of services to members of the certificate holder's family.
"Voluntary Charity Care" is defined as medical care provided for no compensation to:
- Indigent populations;
- In medically underserved areas; or
- For a disaster relief organization.
"Compensation" is defined as direct or indirect payment of anything of monetary value, except payment or reimbursement of reasonable, necessary, and actual travel and related expenses.
An RCP on voluntary charity care status must still complete biennial registration and submit a new voluntary charity care request form with each registration.
An RCP on voluntary charity care status must still obtain and report continuing medical education, as indicated in Title 22 Texas Administrative Code §187.16 and TEX. OCC. CODE ANN. 604.154.
To be eligible for the voluntary charity care status, the certificate holder must not be under an investigation or otherwise have a restricted license.
To request voluntary charity care status, complete and return the voluntary charity care request form (link below) to Board for approval before the expiration date of the current certificate. Refunds of registration/renewal fees already paid cannot be made.
If the RCP does not qualify for this status, notification will be sent and the biennial registration fee must be paid to keep the certificate current.
Because this form must be received by our office before the expiration date of the current certificate, completed and bearing original signatures, as well as bearing an original seal of notary public, it cannot be faxed back to our office.
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A respiratory care practitioner with a currently active certificate may decide to obtain an “inactive” registration status. Current regulations state that a RCP certificate may remain on an inactive status for no longer than 3 years.
Please read the relevant board rule, Tex. Admin. Code, Sec. 187.17, regarding the inactive RCP certificate status.
Below is more detailed information on requesting the inactive status, what is required to maintain the inactive status, as well as the process for returning to active. Please review the entire process before submitting your request.
If you have any questions, please email the Registration Department.
Please review the information labeled “Renewal while on the Inactive Status” and “Returning to Active Status” to understand the entire process and all requirements. To be eligible for inactive status, the license holder must have a current registration permit and have a license in good standing.
To request a change to the Inactive status for a Texas Respiratory Care Practitioner certificate, complete and return the inactive request form (link below) to the Board for approval before the expiration date of the current certificate. Refunds of registration/renewal fees already paid cannot be made.
Because this form must be received by our office before the expiration date of the current certificate, completed and bearing original signatures, as well as bearing an original seal of notary public, it cannot be faxed back to our office.
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Please read the relevant board rule, Tex. Admin. Code, Sec. 187.17, regarding the inactive RCP certificate status.
If you have any questions, please email the Registration Department.
Mailing Information
Should you choose to send the completed, signed and notarized form to the Texas Medical Board via an overnight courier service, such as FedEx, DHL, or UPS, you will need to use the location address of:
Texas Medical Board
Attention: Registration
1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 9.200
Austin, TX 78701
Should you choose to send the completed, signed and notarized form to the TMB via the United States Post Office, you can use our mailing address.
Texas Medical Board
Attention: Registration
P.O. Box 2029
Austin, TX 78768
An RCP with an inactive certificate is excused from paying renewal fees.
At this time renewal of an inactive RCP certificate is not required.
To return to an active status, use the link below to submit an RCP application for re-activation. Please note, this is the same application used for an initial RCP license. When completing the application, be sure to include your existing RCP license number.
Reactivate Online – Respiratory Care Practitioners - click here
Once your online application for re-activation has been received, you will be contacted by our licensure department regarding any additional documentation required.
As part of the re-activation process, you will need to:
- Provide current verifications from each state in which the you hold an RCP certificate or license,
- Demonstrate current certification by NBRC,
- Submit professional evaluations from each employment held after the certificate was placed on inactive status, and
- Meet the "current clinical practice” requirement – which may be demonstrated by:
- Currently practicing as a respiratory care practitioner involving treatment of persons;
- Enrollment as a student in an acceptable approved respiratory care program; or
- Appointment as an active teaching faculty member in an acceptable approved respiratory care program.
Applicants who do not meet the current clinical practice requirement may, at the discretion of the Board, be eligible for the reactivation of a certification subject to conditions or restrictions.
Once the re-activation process has been completed, your existing license number will be re-activated, and an updated permit will be available through your MyTMB account.
To request cancellation of a Texas Respiratory Care Practitioner certificate, complete and return the cancellation request form (link below) to the Board for approval before the expiration date of the current certificate. Refunds of registration/renewal fees already paid cannot be made.
Because this form must be received by our office before the expiration date of the current certificate, completed and bearing original signatures, as well as bearing an original seal of notary public, it cannot be faxed back to our office.
If you have any questions, please email the Registration Department.
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Refunds of application/registration fees are available in very limited circumstances. These fees may be refunded in cases of administrative error by the TMB; applicants who withdraw their applications within 45 days of initial application, licensees who retire or request cancellation within 90 days of paying the fee, or on behalf of applicants/licensees who die within 90 days of paying the fee. A pro-rated refund may be requested for good cause by a spouse or personal representative of an applicant/licensee who has died more than 90 days after paying the application/registration fee.