Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10024)
Republic Act No. 10024 shall be known and cited as the "Philippine Respiratory Therapy Act of 2009."
The State recognizes the importance of respiratory therapists in nation building and shall develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive, and well-rounded respiratory therapists with excellent, qualitative, and globally competitive standards through licensure examinations and regulatory measures.
A Respiratory Therapist is a person holding a valid certificate of registration and professional identification card issued by the Professional Regulatory Board of Respiratory Therapy and the PRC, legally qualified to practice respiratory therapy in the Philippines pursuant to this Act.
The Board is responsible for regulating the respiratory therapy profession, including the administration of licensure examinations, enforcement of rules and regulations, supervision of registration, maintaining professional standards, and promoting the growth and ethics of the profession.
Members must be natural-born Filipino citizens, at least 35 years old for the Chairperson or 30 for members, registered respiratory therapists with valid credentials, holders of a baccalaureate degree in respiratory therapy with at least 15 years experience (including 5 years in supervisory roles), and must not hold conflicting interests or have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude.
Board members serve a term of three (3) years or until their successors are appointed and qualified. The first Board members have staggered terms (Chairperson: 3 years, one member: 2 years, one member: 1 year) and members may be reappointed but total service shall not exceed six (6) years.
All applicants for registration to practice respiratory therapy in the Philippines must undergo a licensure examination administered by the Board, unless subject to registration without examination provisions under the Act.
Applicants must be Filipino citizens or foreigners with reciprocal practice rights, have completed at least ten months (1,500 hours) of supervised clinical internship, be a graduate of a BS in Respiratory Therapy from a CHED-accredited institution, have good moral character, and must not have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude.
A candidate must obtain a general average of at least 75% with no grade lower than 60% in any subject.
They perform treatments and management of cardiopulmonary deficiencies, pulmonary function testing, mechanical ventilation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pharmacologic administration related to respiratory care, assist in bronchoscopy and polysomnography, participate in pulmonary rehabilitation and research, and teach respiratory therapy subjects under physician direction.
It is prohibited to practice or represent oneself as a respiratory therapist without a valid certificate of registration or temporary/special permit, allow use of one's registration card by others, or use someone else's registration and professional identification.
Violators may be punished with a fine of not less than P20,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months, at the court's discretion.
Foreign respiratory therapists may be issued special/temporary permits for consultation, teaching, or specialized services essential for profession advancement, subject to specific conditions and approval by the Board and Commission. Reciprocity is required for foreigners taking licensure examinations or receiving certification.
They must indicate their registration number including their professional tax receipt number on documents they sign, use or issue in connection with respiratory therapy practice.