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 5 years.
If you have not already completed the criminal history background check, please see the criminal history information and fingerprint instructions available at: http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/Renewal-RCPmain
The following restrictions apply to RCPs whose certificates are on inactive status:
- the certificate holder must not engage in the practice of respiratory care in Texas; and
- the license holder must complete and submit a short annual registration, however they are exempted from the registration/renewal fee.
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 contact the Registration Department at Registrations@tmb.state.tx.us .
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.
RCP Inactive Request Form - click here
Please read the relevant board rule, Tex. Admin. Code, Sec. 186.8, regarding the inactive RCP certificate status.
If you have any questions, please contact the Registration Department at Registrations@tmb.state.tx.us
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
Once you are on the inactive status, you will receive a hard copy inactive renewal form each year to maintain your inactive status.
Under Board rule 186.8, an RCP with an inactive certificate is excused from paying renewal fees.
Current regulations state that a respiratory care practitioner certificate may remain on an inactive status for no longer than 5 years. After five years on inactive status, the inactive certificate shall be canceled as if by request. A reactivation reminder will be sent out prior to cancellation.
- Please note that the fingerprint criminal history background check will be required prior to your first Inactive renewal, if it has not already been completed prior to that time.
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
- and meet the active practice requirement – including providing documentation that you have on a full-time basis (at least 20 hours per week for 40 weeks duration during a given year) actively practiced as a respiratory care practitioner or has been on the active teaching faculty of an acceptable approved respiratory care practitioner program, within either of the two years preceding receipt of an application for reactivation.
Applicants who do not meet the active practice requirement may, at the discretion of the Board, be eligible for the reactivation of a license 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 placed in the mail to you.