The Respiratory Care Interstate Compact is a legally binding agreement among states that provides a pathway through which respiratory therapists can obtain compact privileges which authorize practice in states where they are not licensed. A state must enact the compact model legislation via a state’s legislative process to join. 

Some benefits of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact include:

– Facilitating multistate practice through enhanced licensure portability.

– Expanding employment opportunities into new markets.

– Improving continuity of care when patients or providers relocate.

– Expanding patient access to highly qualified practitioners.

– Supporting relocating military spouses.

– Reducing the burden of maintaining multiple licenses.

The Respiratory Care Interstate Compact is a mutual recognition model compact similar in form and function to professional licensure compacts for nurses, physical therapists and psychologists. Respiratory therapists who are licensed in one compact member state can practice in another participating state by obtaining a compact privilege. 

A compact privilege is the legal authorization for a respiratory therapist to practice in a compact member state where they are not licensed. A respiratory therapist must hold an active and unencumbered license in a compact participating state in which they reside and meet additional eligibility criteria to be eligible for a compact privilege. A respiratory therapist applies for a compact privilege and may begin legally working in the new state when eligibility is verified, jurisprudence requirements are met and all fees are paid. 

To hold and maintain a compact privilege an individual must:

– Hold and maintain an active license as a respiratory therapist in a compact member state of primary residence 

– Hold and maintain an active credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care that would otherwise qualify them for licensure in the compact member state in which they are seeking a compact privilege   

– Have not had any adverse actions against a license within the previous two years    

– Notify the compact commission about seeking the compact privilege 

– Pay any applicable fees, including any state and commission fees 

– Meet any jurisprudence requirements established by the compact member state in which the licensee is seeking a compact privilege  

The commission is a government agency established by the compact. The commission will be comprised of one delegate from each participating state. The commission writes rules and bylaws to administer and implement the compact. As stated in section 7 of the compact, commissioners will be the executive director, or their designee, from each participating state’s licensing authority. The commission is not a licensing board. It cannot affect state licensing requirements or take action against a licensee.   

Practitioners will only need to complete a jurisprudence assessment if it is required by the compact member state where they are seeking a compact privilege.   

To participate in the compact, a RT must hold a license issued by their home state. The compact defines home state as the licensee’s primary domicile. A license from a state other than the home state does not qualify one to participate in the compact.

Because respiratory therapists need to obtain individual compact privileges in each state where they want to practice, regulators will know who has compact privileges in their state. They will see this information via the commission’s data system that the participating states have access to. Just as a regulator can currently see who has a license in their state, regulators will also be able to know who has compact privileges to practice in their state. 

To obtain a compact privilege, an individual must hold a credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care that would otherwise qualify them for single state licensure in the state they are seeking the compact privilege. If a state requires the CRT credential as the minimum standard for a single state license, an individual with either a CRT or RRT credential may obtain a compact privilege in that state. If a state requires an RRT as the minimum standard for single state licensure, then only an individual with an RRT may obtain a compact privilege in that state. 

The compact model legislation has been finalized. Each state must enact the compact model legislation via a state’s legislative process to join. 

The Respiratory Care Interstate Compact is the result of a partnership between The Council of State Governments, the American Association for Respiratory Care, and Department of Defense. To get involved, reach out to your local respiratory care state society. 

Visit our general compacts FAQ page here.