Mandatory Law and Professional Ethics Course

Requirements and Information

Effective January 1, 2006, all applicants must successfully complete a Board-approved Law and Professional Ethics Course prior to licensure. The Board has approved two law and professional ethics courses, developed independently by the California Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC) and the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), which are available via the Internet (the CSRC will also provide "live" sessions on designated dates).

Each of the approved courses are unique, though they both are 3-hours in length and consist of the following subject areas:

• Obligations of licensed respiratory care practitioners to patients under their care;
• Responsibilities of respiratory care practitioners to report illegal activities occurring in the work place; and
• Acts that jeopardize licensure and licensure status.

Please be advised that only ONE law and professional ethics course is required to be completed prior to licensure (either the CSRC's or AARC's course). Before deciding which course to take, applicants are encouraged to visit each providers' web site to review additional information pertaining to the administration of each course. Each applicant can then select the course provider that best meets his/her individual needs.

Prior to licensure, applicants must provide the Board with a copy of a Certificate of Completion, from either the AARC or CSRC, verifying successful completion of the mandatory course.