Continuing Competency Program

All credentials issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) on or after July 1, 2002 are awarded for a five-year period and participation in the new Continuing Competency Program (CCP) is required for renewal of credentials. This program does not affect credentials achieved prior to July 1, 2002. The three options for credential are as follows:

1.	Provide proof of completion of a minimum of 30 hours of Continuing Education (CE) over a five-year period acceptable to the NBRC.
2.	Pass the respective examination(s) for the highest-level credential held.
3.	Pass another NBRC credentialing examination, not previously completed.

The Board of Trustees recently approved a fee structure for the new CCP that will keep costs low and provide incentive to individuals who annually renew their active status with the NBRC. Active status means that credentialed members have paid the annual renewal fee, $ 25 in 2004, and provide proof of employment under medical direction acceptable to the NBRC. Upon initial credentialing, Individuals receive active status for one year at no cost, including listing in the NBRC Active Credentialed Practitioners Directory and the Listing of All Credentialed Practitioners sent each year to each hospital in the United States. After that, an annual fee is required to maintain active status. The Board has adopted a fee schedule for those participating in the CCP that will result in NO added fee for those who maintain their active status. Only those who do not maintain active status will incur extra cost.