National Board for Respiratory Care - Essay Example

            Members who undertake continuing education take the credentialing examinations and then get certificates that indicate their competence (Examinations, 2013). This certification is important because it is a mark of competence after being tested by an outside and independent body (Sills, 2009). The exams are administered on a voluntary basis to healthcare professionals who have met the basic qualifications.

The body offers seven different types of examinations that lead to certification in different areas of respiratory care. The specialties are in the following areas:

• Adult critical care specialty
• Certified Pulmonary function technologist
• Certified Respiratory therapist
• Pediatric care specialist
• Registered Pulmonary function technologist
• Reregistered Respiratory therapist
• Sleep disorders testing

            Members can gain continuing education requirements and earn CEUs by registering in any of the above specialties. After registration, the members take an examination that leads to certification. In order to enroll for Adult Critical Care Specialty Examination, for example, the candidate is required to be a registered respiratory therapist with at least a year of clinical experience. The other specialties have the same requirements. As long as a member has attained a basic qualification in a healthcare-related field including a degree, he or she is eligible to enroll in any of those specialties.

            The examination towards attaining certification tests acquired skill in specific specialty for which the exam is taken (William, 2011). Members pay for these examinations but there are free examinations designed to simulate the actual exam.