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Board adopts strategic plan and approves regulatory changes on exams, fees and emergency extensions
Summary
The board adopted its 2025–2028 strategic plan and approved several regulatory actions: aligning exam rules with NCARB guidance, adopting a $40 certification fee, and creating a process to extend application deadlines during declared emergencies.
The Respiratory Care Board of California adopted a draft strategic plan for 2025–2028 and approved three regulatory actions related to examinations, verification fees and emergency extensions during its public meeting.
The board voted to adopt the strategic plan, which sets four priorities for 2025–2028: licensing and professional qualifications; regulation and enforcement; public and professional outreach; and administration and customer service. Board members also approved proposed regulatory language to reference the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) ARE guidelines rather than duplicating board-specific testing rules, approved a new $40 fee for license certification letters, and authorized a regulation to allow staff to extend candidate application expiration dates when a gubernatorial or comparable emergency is declared.
The strategic plan vote followed discussion of a staff-prepared draft compiled from the board’s earlier strategic planning assessment. Board members debated a small wording change to combine objectives 2.3 and 2.4 and then moved to adopt the document. A motion to adopt the plan was seconded and the secretary called the roll. The motion carried.
On examination rules, staff proposed deleting the board’s specific retake/testing requirements and instead referring to NCARB’s ARE guidelines so the board’s regulations do not conflict with national exam policy. A motion directing staff to provide a proposed response to written public comment, complete the rulemaking steps and delegate the executive officer authority to make technical or non‑substantive edits passed on the board’s vote.
The board also approved a proposed regulatory text to establish a $40 charge for certification letters that the board is authorized to issue at a candidate's request. Staff said preparing and sending verification letters requires staff time and the fee is intended to cover those costs; a motion to submit the text to the Department of Consumer Affairs and proceed with the rulemaking process passed.
Finally, the board approved proposed regulations that would permit staff to grant extensions to candidate application expiration periods when a state or localized emergency is declared by the governor and that emergency order covers the affected area. Staff clarified that the regulation is tied to a formal emergency declaration and that the rulemaking process would need to be completed before it becomes effective.
Votes at a glance - Adopt strategic plan (2025–2028): motion carried (roll-call recorded as affirmative). - Direct staff to respond to written comments and adopt exam-related regulatory changes referencing NCARB ARE guidelines: motion carried. - Approve $40 certification fee and submit regulation for review: motion carried. - Approve regulatory text to permit application-period extensions during declared emergencies: motion carried.
The board scheduled future meeting locations and dates and closed the public agenda before moving into closed session.
