As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
The practice of respiratory care may be performed in an inpatient or outpatient setting, clinic, hospital, nursing home facility, private dwelling, or other place deemed appropriate or necessary;
Registered respiratory therapists, certified respiratory therapists, and respiratory assistants who have been issued a license or certificate by the board, pursuant to the authority of § 63-27-104(a)(1), shall be exempt from any licensing, certification or permit requirements of the Tennessee Medical Laboratory Act, compiled in title 68, chapter 29, as amended, for medical laboratory personnel or medical laboratory trainees insofar as they engage in performing blood gases and PH analyses;
“Registered respiratory therapist” means any person who has obtained the credential “registered respiratory therapist” (RRT) from the National Board for Respiratory Care;
“Respiratory assistant” or “assistant” means any person certified as such pursuant to this chapter, who has:
Received on-the-job training equivalent to at least one thousand (1,000) hours of clinical training in respiratory care, during an eighteen (18) consecutive month period; provided, that such training shall have been received under supervision of either a:
Registered respiratory therapist;
Certified respiratory therapist; or
Licensed physician experienced in respiratory care; and
Passed a board-approved examination for respiratory assistants. The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) entry level examination, as provided to the board by the NBRC, by contract, is the examination accepted by the board. This examination will not grant the respiratory assistant the NBRC credential. In addition, the board reserves the right to write its own state board examination or contract with other national testing organizations; and
“Respiratory care practitioner” means a registered respiratory therapist, a certified respiratory therapist, or a respiratory assistant licensed under this chapter.