RCP Work Permit
The Respiratory Care Board of California (RCB) may issue a Respiratory Care Practitioner Applicant Work Permit to qualified applicants who are completing the remaining examination requirement for licensure.
Important: A credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), such as the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), does not authorize you to practice respiratory care in California.
To legally practice respiratory care in California, you must first obtain either a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) License or a valid RCP Work Permit issued by the Respiratory Care Board of California.
Jump to: Eligibility | Permit Conditions | Information for Employers | How to Request a Work Permit | Questions
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Respiratory Care Practitioner Applicant Work Permit, the applicant must:
- Have submitted a complete application for licensure to the RCB;
- Have been issued a CRT credential by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC); and
- Have secured employment or a job offer with a healthcare facility in California.
Work permits are intended for applicants who have completed their education and are in the process of completing the remaining examination requirement for licensure.
Permit Conditions
A Respiratory Care Practitioner Applicant Work Permit is not a license. It allows an applicant to work only during the dates listed on the permit.
Applicants working under a work permit must practice under the direct supervision of a California-licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner. For purposes of a work permit, direct supervision means the applicant is assigned to a respiratory care practitioner who is on duty and immediately available in the assigned patient care area.
Work permits are employer-specific and are valid only for the employer listed on the permit. If an applicant obtains additional employment or changes employers, a new work permit must be requested and approved by the RCB before the applicant may begin working for the new employer.
Once the permit expires, the applicant must immediately stop practicing unless the RCB has issued an RCP license.
Information for Employers
Employers are responsible for ensuring that individuals practicing respiratory care in California hold a valid Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license or a valid RCP Applicant Work Permit issued by the RCB.
Applicants working under a work permit must always work under the direct supervision of a California-licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner.
If an applicant changes employers or obtains additional employment, the applicant must request and receive a new work permit from the RCB before beginning work for another employer.
How to Request a Work Permit
Applicants must submit a completed work permit request form to the RCB. The form requires applicant information, employer information, and the applicant’s signed declaration.
Work permits are typically issued within a few business days after the RCB reviews and approves a completed request.
Before submitting a request, applicants should make sure they have:
- Submitted a complete application for licensure;
- Received their CRT credential from the NBRC; and
- Identified a California employer.
Note for Out-of-State Applicants: Work permits are rarely issued to applicants who already hold a respiratory care license in another state.
Before a work permit can be issued, the RCB must receive a completed application, fingerprint clearances, and verification of all out-of-state licenses. In most cases, once these requirements are received, the applicant is eligible to be issued a full California RCP license.
As a result, out-of-state applicants are typically issued an RCP license rather than a work permit.
Use the form below to request a Respiratory Care Practitioner Applicant Work Permit.
Questions About Work Permits
If you have questions about work permit eligibility, permit conditions, or the request process, you may contact the Respiratory Care Board using the form below.
