54-4304A. POLYSOMNOGRAPHY RELATED RESPIRATORY CARE. (1) Only persons who are licensed as respiratory care practitioners or who are exempt from licensure pursuant to section 54-4308, Idaho Code, or who hold a permit issued by the board as registered polysomnographic technologists, polysomnographic technicians or polysomnographic trainees may provide polysomnography related respiratory care services.

(2) Qualification for permit. An applicant for a permit to provide polysomnography related respiratory care services as a registered polysomnographic technologist or polysomnographic technician or for a temporary permit as a polysomnographic trainee under the provisions of this section who is not otherwise licensed to provide respiratory care services or exempt from the requirements of this chapter pursuant to section 54-4308, Idaho Code, must:

(a) Submit an application to the licensure board on forms prescribed by the board and in accordance with the rules adopted by the board pay the permit fee required under this chapter;

(b) Be, on or before the date of issuance of the permit, eighteen (18) years of age or older;

(c) Not have been convicted of an offense or disciplined by a licensing body in a manner that bears, in the judgment of the board, a demonstrable relationship to the provision of polysomnography related respiratory care services;

(d) Be a high school graduate or have passed a general educational development (GED) examination and earned a GED certificate; and

(e) Be currently certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

(3) Registered polysomnographic technologist. An applicant must possess the following qualifications: successful completion of the certification examination as a registered polysomnographic technologist administered by the board of registered polysomnographic technologists (BRPT) or an equivalent examination, approved by the board as recommended by the licensure board, and any additional reasonable minimal requirements as may be adopted by rule of the board.

(4) Polysomnographic technician. An applicant must possess the following qualifications:

(a) Successful completion of a polysomnography program of not less than one (1) year duration, associated with a state licensed or a nationally accredited educational facility; or

(b) Successful completion of a minimum of seven hundred twenty (720) hours of experience as a polysomnographic trainee with documented proficiency in polysomnography related respiratory care services, as approved by the board, as recommended by the licensure board and adopted by board rule.

(5) Polysomnographic trainee. An applicant must provide written documentation that an Idaho permitted registered polysomnographic technologist, an Idaho permitted polysomnographic technician, an Idaho licensed respiratory care provider, or an Idaho licensed physician will directly supervise the applicant’s performance of basic polysomnography related respiratory care services and provide documentation of at least one (1) of the following:

(a) That the applicant has at least seven hundred twenty (720) hours of experience as a paid employee or contractor in a health care related field;

(b) That the applicant is currently enrolled in a polysomnography program associated with a state licensed or a nationally accredited education facility; or

(c) That the applicant has successfully completed twenty-four (24) semester credit hours (or a quarter hour system equivalent of the same) of postsecondary education at a state licensed or nationally accredited facility.

(6) Permits.

(a) Permits for registered polysomnographic technologists and permits for polysomnographic technicians shall be issued after applicants have met the requirements of this chapter and submitted an application and payment of a fee in an amount to be fixed by the board. Permits, including renewals, for registered polysomnographic technologists shall be issued for a period of not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, the exact period to be fixed by the board. Permits, including renewals, for polysomnographic technicians shall be issued for a period of one (1) year, and shall be renewed for successive one (1) year periods, not to exceed three (3) renewals for a total period of four (4) years. Such permits shall be renewed on their expiration date upon completion of a renewal application and upon payment of a renewal fee in an amount to be fixed by the board.

(b) Temporary permits for polysomnographic trainees shall be issued after applicants have met the requirements of this chapter and submitted an application and payment of a fee in an amount to be fixed by the board. Such permits shall be issued for a period of not more than one (1) year, the exact period to be fixed by the board. Such permits may be renewed on their expiration date upon completion of a renewal application and upon payment of a renewal fee in an amount to be fixed by the board, for a period of one (1) year, with renewal limited to one (1) such renewal, provided however, such permits for polysomnographic trainees shall be limited to a total period of two (2) years.

(c) Each individual applicant for renewal of an active permit shall, on or before the expiration date of the permit, submit satisfactory proof to the licensure board of successful completion of not less than twelve (12) hours of approved continuing education per year in addition to any other requirements for renewal as adopted by board rule. The board, as recommended by the licensure board, may substitute all or a portion of the coursework required in this section when a permittee shows evidence of passing an approved challenge exam or of completing equivalent education as determined by the board, as recommended by the licensure board, to be in full compliance with the education requirements of this section.

(7) The provisions of this chapter governing procedures for suspension and revocation of licenses, payment and assessment of fees and governing misrepresentation, penalties and severability and other administrative procedures shall apply equally to permits for the practice of polysomnography related respiratory care services as to licenses for the practice of respiratory care.

(8) Conditional permit. Any individual who desires to provide polysomnography related respiratory care services as described in this chapter and who meets the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, as well as the necessary requirements as outlined below, may make application for a conditional permit as follows:

(a) An applicant for a conditional polysomnographic technologist permit must provide evidence satisfactory to the board of the successful completion of the certification examination as a registered polysomnographic technologist administered by the board of registered polysomnographic technologists (BRPT) or an equivalent examination, approved by the board, as recommended by the licensure board.

(b) An applicant for a conditional polysomnographic technician permit must provide evidence satisfactory to the board of the successful completion of a minimum of seven hundred twenty (720) hours of experience providing polysomnography services as a paid employee or contractor.

(c) An applicant for a conditional polysomnographic trainee permit must provide evidence satisfactory to the board of the successful completion of a minimum of three hundred sixty (360) hours of experience providing polysomnography services as a paid employee or contractor.

(d) Conditional permits referred shall be issued on or after January 1, 2004, and shall be issued until such time as the board may adopt rules as may be required for the issuance of regular permits as provided in subsections (3) through (7) of this section.

History:

[54-4304A, added 2003, ch. 254, sec. 2, p. 658.]