What the New Jersey Board of Respiratory Care requires to reinstate your license
The New Jersey Board of Respiratory Care handles reinstatement through a formal process that depends on how long your license has been inactive and why it lapsed. You cannot straightforward renew; you must submit a reinstatement petition to the Board, which reviews your history and decides whether to restore your credential. The Board is part of the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs, Division of Professional Boards.
Reinstatement is not automatic. The Board evaluates each petition individually and may impose conditions, require additional education or testing, or deny the petition if you have disciplinary history or if your license lapsed due to unresolved complaints. Understanding what the Board expects before you file saves time and reduces the chance of rejection.
Key Takeaways
- You must file a formal reinstatement petition with the New Jersey Board of Respiratory Care, not a standard renewal form.
- The Board requires proof that you meet current continuing education requirements, even if your license has been inactive for years.
- If your license lapsed more than five years ago, the Board may require you to pass the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exam again.
- Any disciplinary history, pending complaints, or criminal convictions since your license lapsed will be reviewed and may delay or prevent reinstatement.
- Processing time typically ranges from four to eight weeks after the Board receives a complete petition.
How long your license has been inactive matters
The New Jersey Board treats reinstatement differently depending on whether your license lapsed recently or years ago. If your license has been inactive for fewer than five years, you generally do not need to retake the NBRC exam, but you must still demonstrate that you have completed the continuing education hours required during the period your license was inactive.
If your license has been inactive for five years or longer, the Board typically requires you to pass the current NBRC exam before reinstatement. This is because respiratory care standards, equipment, and protocols change significantly over time, and the Board wants to may support you are current with the field. You should contact the Board directly to confirm the specific requirement for your situation, as the Board may make exceptions based on your work history or other factors.
Documents and information you need to gather
Before you submit your reinstatement petition, collect the following items. You will need your original license number, the date your license lapsed, and a detailed explanation of why it lapsed. The Board also requires proof of your current address and contact information.
You must provide documentation of all continuing education hours completed since your license lapsed, including course titles, dates, provider names, and the number of hours for each course. If you have not completed the required hours, you must complete them before filing. The Board requires respiratory care continuing education from accredited providers; courses must be relevant to respiratory care practice and meet New Jersey standards.
If you have worked in respiratory care during the period your license was inactive—even in another state or in a non-licensed capacity—gather documentation of that employment, including employer names, dates of employment, and a description of your duties. This can strengthen your petition by showing you have maintained practical knowledge. You will also need to disclose any criminal convictions, civil judgments, or professional discipline from any state or licensing board since your license lapsed.
The reinstatement petition and where to file it
You submit your reinstatement petition directly to the New Jersey Board of Respiratory Care at the Division of Professional Boards office in Trenton. The Board does not have a single standardized reinstatement form; instead, you write a formal letter requesting reinstatement and attach all supporting documents. Your letter should include your name, license number, the date your license lapsed, and a clear statement that you are requesting reinstatement.
Mail your petition to: New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs, Division of Professional Boards, Board of Respiratory Care, 124 Halsey Street, Newark, NJ 07102. You can also check the Division of Professional Boards website for the current mailing address and any updates to the process, as office locations sometimes change. Include a cover letter listing all enclosed documents so the Board can confirm they have received everything.
Keep copies of everything you send. The Board will send you a written acknowledgment that your petition was received, usually within two weeks. If you do not hear from the Board within three weeks, call the Division of Professional Boards to confirm receipt.
Continuing education requirements during reinstatement
New Jersey requires respiratory care professionals to complete continuing education hours to maintain licensure. If your license lapsed, you must have completed the hours that would have been required during the inactive period to be considered for reinstatement. The current requirement is 30 hours of continuing education every two years, though you should verify the exact requirement with the Board because it may have changed.
Courses must come from accredited providers, such as the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), state respiratory care associations, or approved educational institutions. Online courses are acceptable if they are from an accredited source. The Board will not accept courses from non-accredited providers or courses unrelated to respiratory care practice. If you are short on hours, you can complete additional courses before filing your petition; this actually strengthens your case by showing you are current with the field.
What happens if you have disciplinary history or pending complaints
If you have any disciplinary action from the New Jersey Board or any other state licensing board since your license lapsed, you must disclose it in your reinstatement petition. This includes complaints that were dismissed, settled, or resulted in sanctions. Failure to disclose known discipline is grounds for the Board to deny your petition or, if discovered later, to revoke a reinstated license.
The Board will investigate any disclosed discipline and may request additional information from you or from the board that took the action. Depending on the severity and nature of the discipline, the Board may reinstate your license with conditions—such as mandatory supervision, additional continuing education, or periodic reporting—or may deny reinstatement entirely. If you have questions about whether something must be disclosed, contact the Board in writing and ask; it is better to disclose and explain than to omit something the Board later discovers.
Exam requirements if your license has been inactive five years or longer
If your license lapsed more than five years ago, you will likely need to pass the NBRC exam again. The NBRC offers the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam and the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exam, depending on your original credential level. You must register with the NBRC separately; passing the exam is a prerequisite to the Board's reinstatement decision, not something the Board administers.
Contact the NBRC directly to register for the exam and to understand the current testing requirements and fees. The NBRC website provides study materials, practice exams, and a list of testing centers. Once you pass the exam, submit proof of passage to the New Jersey Board as part of your reinstatement petition. The Board will not process your petition without this proof if the exam is required for your situation.
Timeline and what to expect after you file
After the Board receives your complete reinstatement petition, processing typically takes four to eight weeks. The Board reviews your petition, verifies your continuing education documentation, checks for any disciplinary history, and makes a decision. You will receive written notice of the Board's decision by mail.
If the Board approves your reinstatement, you will receive a new license certificate and instructions on how to pay any required fees. If the Board needs additional information, it will contact you in writing and give you a important date to respond. If the Board denies your petition, the letter will explain the reason and may indicate whether you can reapply after addressing specific issues.
Do not assume your license is reinstated until you receive the Board's written approval. Some employers or facilities may ask to verify your license status with the Board directly; you can provide them with your case number from your petition acknowledgment letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a respiratory therapist while my reinstatement petition is pending?
No. You cannot legally practice respiratory care in New Jersey without an active license. Working without a license is a violation of state law and can result in criminal charges and civil penalties. Wait until you receive written approval from the Board before accepting employment as a licensed respiratory therapist.
What if I completed continuing education in another state while my license was inactive?
Hours from accredited providers in other states are generally acceptable if they meet New Jersey's standards for respiratory care continuing education. Include documentation showing the course title, provider name, date, and number of hours. If you are unsure whether a specific course will be accepted, contact the Board before filing your petition.
Do I have to retake the NBRC exam if my license lapsed less than five years ago?
Not automatically. If your license lapsed fewer than five years ago, you typically do not need to retake the exam, but you must still complete all required continuing education hours. However, the Board may require an exam in individual cases, particularly if you have disciplinary history or if there are gaps in your continuing education. Contact the Board to confirm the requirement for your specific situation.
What if I cannot find documentation of some of my continuing education courses?
Contact the course providers or the organizations that issued the certificates and request official documentation. If a provider is no longer in business, explain this in your petition and provide whatever documentation you have. The Board may ask you to complete additional hours to make up for undocumented courses. It is better to disclose gaps and complete additional education than to submit incomplete documentation.
How much does reinstatement cost?
The New Jersey Board charges a reinstatement fee, but the amount varies and may have changed. Contact the Division of Professional Boards or check the Board's website for the current fee. You will be notified of the fee amount when the Board approves your petition, and you must pay it before your license is officially reinstated.