2004 Minnesota Statutes

     147C.10 Protected titles and restrictions on use. 

    Subdivision 1.    Protected titles.  No individual may 
 use the title "Minnesota registered respiratory care 
 practitioner," "registered respiratory care practitioner," 
 "respiratory care practitioner," "respiratory therapist," 
 "respiratory therapy (or care) technician," "inhalation 
 therapist," or "inhalation therapy technician," or use, in 
 connection with the individual's name, the letters "RCP," or any 
 other titles, words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia 
 indicating or implying that the individual is eligible for 
 registration by the state as a respiratory care practitioner 
 unless the individual has been registered as a respiratory care 
 practitioner according to this chapter. 

    Subd. 2.    Other health care practitioners.  (a) 
 Nonphysician individuals practicing in a health care occupation 
 or profession are not restricted in the provision of services 
 included in section 147C.05, as long as they do not hold 
 themselves out as respiratory care practitioners by or through 
 the use of the titles provided in subdivision 1 in association 
 with provision of these services. 

    (b) Physician practitioners are exempt from this chapter. 

    (c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require 
 registration of: 

    (1) a respiratory care practitioner student enrolled in a 
 respiratory therapy education program accredited by the 
 Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 
 or another accrediting organization approved by the board; and 

    (2) a respiratory care practitioner employed in the service 
 of the federal government while performing duties incident to 
 that employment. 

    Subd. 3.    Penalty.  A person who violates subdivision 
 1 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. 

    Subd. 4.    Identification of registered practitioners.  
 Respiratory care practitioners registered in Minnesota shall 
 wear name tags that identify them as respiratory care 
 practitioners while in a professional setting.  If not written 
 in full, this must be designated as RCP.  A student attending a 
 respiratory therapy training program or a tutorial intern 
 program must be identified as a student respiratory care 
 practitioner.  This abbreviated designation is Student RCP.  
 Unregulated individuals who work in an assisting respiratory 
 role under the supervision of respiratory care practitioners 
 must be identified as respiratory care assistants or aides. 

    HIST: 1997 c 120 s 4