State Licensure requirements for PFT Testing

There has been a fair amount of confusion about PFT lab staff licensure requirements. This information is not available on the AARC website, nor on any of the AARC state society websites. A month or so ago I reached out to all of the AARC state societies but received responses from only a handful of them. I was recently able to complete this research however, by visiting the websites of the remaining state licensing boards and state legislatures.

It turns out that the majority of states require licensure of PFT Lab staff, most often by requiring CRT or RRT credentials, occasionally by allowing CPFT and RPFT credentials and in a couple of cases, a state licensure exam. There were also a couple of cases where the regulations were so vaguely written that it wasn’t clear whether pulmonary function testing fell under the Respiratory Care practitioner scope of practice or not.

Anyway, based on state society feedback and my best interpretation of the relevant laws and regulations, the following list should be a reasonably accurate look at the licensure requirements for each state.

State: Requires Licensure: Credentials: Source:
Alabama Yes CRT, RRT Link
Alaska No
Arizona Yes CPFT, RPFT, CRT, RRT Link
Arkansas No Link
California Yes State licensure exam Link
Colorado Yes CPFT, RPFT, CRT, RRT Link
Connecticut Yes CRT, RRT Link
Delaware Yes CRT, RRT Link
Florida Yes CRT, RRT Link
Georgia Yes CPFT, RPFT Link
Hawaii Yes CRT, RRT Link
Idaho No Email
Illinois Yes CPFT, RPFT, CRT, RRT Link
Indiana Yes CRT, RRT Email
Iowa Yes CPFT, RPFT, CRT, RRT Link
Kansas No Link
Kentucky No Link
Louisiana Yes CRT, RRT Link
Maine No Email
Massachusetts No Link
Maryland/DC Maybe Link, Link
Michigan Yes CPFT, RPFT Link
Minnesota No Email
Mississippi Yes CRT, RTT Email
Missouri Yes CRT, RRT Link
Montana Yes CPFT, RPFT, CRT, RRT Link
Nebraska Yes CRT, RRT Link
New Hampshire Yes CRT, RRT Link
New Jersey Yes CRT, RRT Link
New Mexico Yes CRT, RRT Link
New York Yes CRT, RRT Email
Nevada Yes CRT, RRT Link
North Carolina Yes CRT, RRT Email
North Dakota Yes CRT, RRT Email
Ohio Yes CRT, RRT Link
Oklahoma Yes CRT, RRT Link
Oregon No Link
Pennsylvania Yes CRT, RRT Link
Rhode Island Probably Not Link
South Carolina Yes CRT, RRT Link
South Dakota Yes CRT, RRT Link
Tennessee Yes CRT, RRT Link
Texas Yes CRT, RRT Link
Utah Yes CRT, RRT Link
Vermont Yes CRT, RRT Link
Virginia Maybe Link
Washington Yes State licensure exam Link
West Virginia Yes CRT, RRT Link
Wisconsin Yes Up to hospital Email
Wyoming Yes CRT, RRT Link

I have mixed feelings on the subject of licensure. On the one hand my concerns about the level of professionalism in pulmonary function testing (discussed previously) has caused my views to evolve substantially over the last couple of years. I now believe that licensure can and should be a step towards improving the quality of PFT lab staff and testing. Having said that I am extremely disappointed by how few states recognize CPFT and RPFT certification as the most appropriate requirement.

I noticed that the respiratory therapist scope of practice from many different states had mostly the same statements. The AARC has been the state (and national) level advocate for the profession and is likely responsible for this. I’m not necessarily going to blame the AARC, instead I am going to say that it appears that pulmonary function lab staff are remarkably poor advocates for our field.

There’s a lot that needs to fixed in the field of pulmonary function testing if it is going to in any way remain relevant. Going forward I’d like to suggest that even though it isn’t a requirement, all PFT labs should require their staff to obtain, at a minimum, CPFT certification. I’d also like to suggest that we all need to contact our AARC state-level political advocates and lobby for language in the respiratory therapy scope of practice statements that acknowledges the need for CPFT and RPFT certification for performing pulmonary function testing. The reality is that we can’t expect others to fix this for us. We need to advocate for ourselves.

Finally, kudos to the AARC state societies that responded to my questions and knew whether or not licensure was required (or at least acknowledged that they didn’t know). Dingbats to those that didn’t.

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29 thoughts on “State Licensure requirements for PFT Testing

  1. I work for a pediatric pulmonigist in the state of Florida and do PFTs I’m not a CMA or even a RMA I was trained by another non CMA to do the PFTs and honestly have never felt comfortable with the amount of responsibility it in tails So should I be doing this or not ?I feel your current blog is telling me NO

    • Carmen –

      It depends on what tests you are performing. If you are just performing peak flows or spirometry you are probably okay since these tests usually completely unregulated and almost anybody is allowed to perform them (no state will force a doctor’s office or clinic to hire a respiratory therapist just to perform peak flows or spirometry). If you are doing more than that (lung volumes, DLCO, oscillometry, exaled NO), particularly if you are performing pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry and most particularly if you are administering the bronchodilator, then you are probably within your state’s respiratory therapist’s scope of practice and shouldn’t be doing it.

      If you like performing tests on children however, and are any good at it then consider this an opportunity for you to seek more advanced education (many community colleges have respiratory therapy courses), and get your CRT or RRT certification (CPFT or RPFT too). There is always a demand for good pediatric pulmonary function technicians.

      – Richard

      • Yes Richard I am doing lung volumes and dlco and pre and post bronchodilator spriometry and administering the bronchodilator What should I do now that I know this I know about the certification I’ve mentioned it to the doctor I work with but was told it’s really not necessary. This is a large practice with multiple offices and all the MAs are doing it.

        • Carmen –

          Tough call because your decision is putting your job on the line. I think that the scope of practice for respiratory therapists in Florida is fairly clear but I am not not an expert. If you want to be sure you could try reaching out to the Florida Society for Respiratory Care in some anonymous fashion and get their opinion.

          It is possible that the pediatric physicians you work for may honestly not be aware of the requirements and to be realistic even if this situation came to the attention of the medical authorities in Florida any legal or regulatory action would most likely to be focused on the physicians responsible for the pulmonary lab and not you. You might still be out of a job, but it is unlikely that any legal action would be taken against you personally. I am more concerned however, that you have already stated that you are uncomfortable with the amount of responsibility you’ve been given, particularly since you the only training you received was from another medical assistant. Maybe I am reading too much between the lines, but I am concerned that your training isn’t sufficient to be doing accurate testing and I think you are too. If this is the case then I would be concerned about the ethics of the practice group you are working for.

          At a conference about ten years or so ago I met a pulmonary technician that worked for a pulmonary practice group. He was constantly being given very unrealistic times to perform testing and if there was any difficulty getting the patient to perform the tests and the appointment time was up then it was tough luck for the patient. All the physicians cared about was whether there were results, not whether they were accurate. In this case the practice group was ordering and billing for tests they knew were of marginal accuracy but this continued (at least according to what he said) because the tests and their interpretation brought in revenue. In his case, he also had limited training and had been unable to find a job at a hospital-based PFT lab. He needed his job so he didn’t feel he could walk away from the situation, but he was nevertheless quite unhappy and dreaded going to work each day. I’d like to say that I’d walk away from a situation like this (and since I am semi-retired and only work on things that interest me right now I can) but there have been times in the past when for any number of reasons (although not because the people I worked for were ethically challenged in any way) I’d like to have left the job I had at the time but I also had responsibilities and couldn’t easily walk away.

          You’ve brought this issue to the attention of the physicians you work for and it is clear they aren’t interested in your questioning the job requirements. You probably have a good idea whether your situation is ethically challenged or not. If it is and your work is leaving a bad taste in your mouth and you don’t look forward to going to work then it’s time to look for a new job. Life is too short to be that unhappy with what you’re doing. If it isn’t this way however, and you like what you’re doing then dig into the job and learn how to be the best pediatric pulmonary technician you can be. There are a number of good textbooks on pediatric pulmonary function testing (get them used on AbeBooks.com) and study them. Regardless of which course you choose you should also think about going back to school to get the proper certifications so that you don’t end up trapped in a job you don’t like.

          Best wishes, Richard

        • The ultimate reference for all things PFT is the American Thoracic Society. The standards for labs and personnel are quite clearly designated in their publications. I was the Supervisor of a lab in a very large healthcare facility for over twenty years. We required Registered Therapists and preferably a CPFT. However, legally, it was not required. As the CPFT/RPFT is a combined test now, I imagine there will be an increased number of RPFT’s. That will be good for the field but, the pay scale for that job remains lower than for Therapists. The flexibility with having a Therapist makes them more valuable to hospitals.

          • Kathy –

            When the most recent ATS Pulmonary Function manual (Third Edition, Copyright 2016, chapter 2, page 11) discusses personnel requirements for the PFT lab it starts by stating “While there are no data specifying the education level necessary to train in the laboratory, the ATS and ERS recommend that completion of secondary education and at least 2 years of college education would be required to understand and fulfill the complete range of tasks undertaken by a pulmonary function technologist.” It then goes on to say that “Technologists should be encouraged to minimally obtain the NBRC pulmonary function testing credential (referring to CPFT or RPFT) as soon as they meet the examination criteria.” but this language falls a bit short of being a recommendation and even shorter of being a requirement.

            I have to point out that qualifying for the CPFT/RPFT exam is not all that simple (from the ATS manual):

            In order to take the examination, an applicant must meet one of the following criteria:
            1.Be at least 18 years of age
            2.Satisfy one of the following:
            • Have a minimum of an associate degree from a respiratory therapy education program supported or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and graduated on or before November 11, 2009.
            OR
            •Be a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentialed by the NBRC.
            OR
            •Complete 62 semester hours of college credit from a college or university accredited by its regional association or its equivalent, including college credit level courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics. A minimum of 6 months of clinical experience in the field of pulmonary function technology is also required prior to applying for the examination. Clinical experience is defined as a minimum of 8 hours per week for a calendar year in pulmonary technology under the supervision of a medical director of a pulmonary function laboratory or a special care area acceptable to the Board. Clinical experience must be completed before the candidate applies for the examination.

            Personally, I would agree that only individuals with a CPFT or RPFT should be performing PFTs but your observation that there is a lower pay grade for CPFT and RPFT is probably more or less universally correct and is at least one reason why why finding and retaining qualified personnel is an ongoing problem for PFT labs. It also means there is no particular incentive for acquiring CPFT or RPFT certification if you’ve already gotten your CRT or RRT certification.

            Using CRTs and RRTs in the PFT Lab can give more flexibility, but this usually requires that both the Respiratory Therapy and Pulmonary Function Lab are part of the same department or division. In addition the education that most CRTs and RRTs receive about PFT testing is often minimal at best and having an RRT or CRT does not necessarily qualify an individual to perform PFTs. Unfortunately, I’ve seen a couple PFT labs where RTs were regularly rotated through the lab without any specific prior training and where there were several months spent in RT before rotating for a couple of weeks in PFT. Probably looked good on paper but in practice PFT quality suffered greatly.

            Regards, Richard

  2. Hello.

    The information for Pennsylvania on this website stating that one must be a CRT or RRT to work in a PFT lab in the state is incorrect. The link provided on the site for the state takes you to the Pennsylvania Code for RT licensure.

    Read through the code and you won’t see ANYTHING that states one must hold the CRT or RRT credential to work in a PFT lab. What it says is that in order for you to call yourself a respiratory therapist and be licensed as one, you need to meet the requirements in the code.

    Pennsylvania licensure of RTs is not exclusive – meaning that another license that has a scope of practice that includes traditional RT activities is able to perform them. For example, an RN can legally perform nearly all of the responsibilities that are in the RT scope of practice because their scope of practice includes those responsibilities. They do not need to hold the CRT or RRT credential in order to do so – their RN covers it. Right or wrong, that’s what the law states.

    There is absolutely nothing in the PA Code that refers to individuals working in a pulmonary function lab. It only addresses those who are licensed as an RT, their requirements, and the legality of calling yourself an RT.

    In reality, there is no legislation that specifically addresses who can and who cannot work in a PFT lab. For this reason, I know of a physician office where the office SECRETARY performs spirometry and other tests. She has no education other then what was provided by the sales rep (which, fortunately, was VERY good and she does a good job!).

    Thanks

    Thomas Lamphere BS, RRT-ACCS, RPFT, FAARC
    PSRC Executive Director

    • Thomas –

      In the PA RT scope of practice it states that functions of a respiratory therapist includes:

      (11) Measurement of ventilatory flows, volumes and pressures.
      (12) Analysis of ventilatory gases and blood gases.

      This language is similar to the RT scope of practice in other states and I took it to mean that pulmonary function testing was limited to RT’s. Usually when pulmonary function testing can be performed by CPFTs, RPFTs or those without any particular qualifications then that is often included in the legislative statement. Nice to hear that I was wrong.

      There’s no reason that RN’s (and physicians) couldn’t perform pulmonary function testing anywhere but it probably isn’t terribly cost-effective. Scopes of practice are almost always directed at hospitals and do not cover private physician offices or clinics. Please note that the PA RT scope of practice includes the statement “(b) Under section 13.1(d) of the act, a respiratory therapist may perform the activities listed in subsection (a) only upon prescription or referral by a physician, certified registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant, or while under medical direction consistent with standing orders or protocols in an institution or health care facility.” There are secretaries and medical assistants performing spirometry (often quite poorly) as well as many other tests (also often quite poorly) across the country without any oversight.

      Regards, Richard

      • Believe me when I tell you that the law SHOULD regulate who performs pulmonary function testing. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania lawmakers do not like to restrict practice….even when it makes sense to do so!

        The fact that these tests often help in determining a patient’s diagnosis AND treatment underlines the importance of the tests being done correctly. The same could be said for the quality control in PFT labs which is severely lacking in many labs across the country! I was just discussing this very topic at the AARC Congress in Indianapolis last week.

        Thanks!

        Tom Lamphere BS, RRT-ACCS, RPFT, FAARC
        PSRC Executive Director

        • Tom –

          You’re preaching to the choir. We also need to think about lab licensure as well, not just the staff. I speak to technologists workings in PFT labs all over the country and I think that most of us try to do our jobs well but we are often undercut by a lack of support from the hospital administration and indifference by medical staff. Lab licensure (with documentation and inspections) would set minimum standards for PFT lab operations that would in turn mandate a higher level of support (and perhaps respect) than we currently receive.

          Regards, Richard

  3. If I am reading all the comments correctly, it would seem that a Registered Nurse could administer a PFT. Does that also apply to a Paramedic? In a First Aid clinic on a construction site attended by a RN or LPN or Paramedic – which of these individuals would be allowed to administer a PFT?

    • Carolyn –

      In most state regulations pulmonary function testing is considered part of the Respiratory Therapy scope of practice. Occasionally there is additional language allowing CPFTs and RPFTs to perform pulmonary function tests. In a few states there are no restrictions whatsoever about who can perform PFT’s. In all states however, it is common practice for medical assistants and even clerical staff to perform spirometry in clinics and physician offices. Moreover, I know of some group pulmonary physician practices that have their own PFT lab in states where RT or PFT credentials are required but because they are a private practice they don’t consider that state regulations apply to them (and this is because the regulations for the RT scope of practice usually includes some language that implies that they only apply to hospitals and medical centers). So, depending on which state you’re in, what test you’re performing and where you’re performing it there’s no question that RNs, LPNs and EMTs can perform pulmonary function testing.

      I’d also say that it’s somewhat universally accepted that RNs, LPNs and EMTs are “higher” up the totem pole than Respiratory Therapists (and CPFTs and RPFTs) and for this reason it is probably legally permissible for RNs, LPNs and EMTs to perform PFTs anywhere, regardless of whether or not PFT testing is mentioned in the RN, LPN or EMT scopes of practice. However, whether it is economically feasible to have RNs, LPNs or EMTs perform PFTs is another matter. The pay scale for these professions is usually noticeably above those for CRTs, RRTs, CPFTs and RPFTs, and this being the case, why would you hire an RN, LPN or EMT for this kind of work?

      In addition, simply because you have RN, LPN or EMT credentials doesn’t mean you have the knowledge to perform PFTs. There is a common perception among physicians, nurses and allied professionals who have never worked in a PFT lab that it is simple, easy work that anyone can do. This is far from the case since quality pulmonary function testing requires both experience and a knowledge of physiology, pathophysiology, physics, technology and psychology. True, almost anybody can go through the motions and get a computerized test system to get some kind of test results from a patient, but they probably won’t be meaningful and clinically useful results.

      Regards, Richard

  4. Hello,
    It was good to read your BLOG.
    I have been doing PFT’s for over 20 years. I was frustrated to see clerical persons at pulmonary offices being trained to do complete PFT’s.
    After being a CRTT for years I became a CPFT then
    RPFT and love this job. No regrets, but I want all labs to put out ATS acceptable data. I guess that is expecting too much.
    Keep up the good work,
    Patricia Clark
    Coordinator Pulmonary Function Lab
    Trios Hospital
    Kennewick Wa

  5. I am an LPN, Occupational Health Nurse, at a foundry in Indiana. We are required to have annual PFT’s performed on our associates. I am currently looking into the cost of portable PFT equipment and what I need to accurately read and decipher the results. I am finding it difficult to obtain what I need to do to become certified to perform this task. Any suggestions?
    Thanks!

  6. I am a Certified Medical Assistant ( NCCT ) in New Jersey. I work for a Pulmonology Practice, I have been performing PFT testing in the office for 6 years. Am I doing something I should not be doing? There is a Doctor in the office and we only preform the test. The Doctor reads the results and examines the patient, We also perform Simple Spirometry and administer Albuterol under the supervision of the Doctor in the office. HELP me understand what the law for New Jersey states about this. Thank You, Debra

    • Debra –

      If all you are doing is spirometry and post-BD spirometry under the supervision of a physician for an office practice then the NJ regulations really don’t apply. The NJ regulations, like most states, are taken only to apply to a hospital setting. Office spirometry, regardless of the state, is not covered by regulations and I’ve never heard of anybody ever being cited for it, regardless of their lack of qualification. If you are doing more complex testing (lung volumes, DLCO) then it is still a gray area because it’s being done outside of a hospital and again I’ve never heard of anybody in an office practice being cited for performing PFTs, again regardless of the lack of qualification.

      Having said all of that I certainly believe that anybody doing any type of pulmonary function testing should have some kind of education and certification. The AARC has an office spirometry certificate program. NIOSH runs a variety of occupational spirometry program across the country. Although the education for the full range of pulmonary function testing is somewhat spotty (there are textbooks and on-line courses) the NBRC has certification exams around the country for CPFT and RPFT.

      Regards, Richard

  7. GEORGE
    I am working in pulmonary lab more than 20 years I have RRT,RPFT credentials-WITHOUT this credentials i couldn’t working. About a few month ago i was visited privet sleep and pulmonary center .I was surprise – pulmonary lab running unlicensed personal . How doctor can make interpretation for pulmonary tests?There is a clear FRAUD.

    • George –

      If you look at the language in the regulations for many of the states that require CRT, RRT, CPFT or RPFT credentialing you’ll find that it applies fairly specifically to public hospitals. Although not specifically exempted, privately-owned PFT labs aren’t specifically included either, so legally speaking it probably isn’t fraud. It may be unethical, but it probably isn’t illegal.

      In addition, there are no regulatory agencies that oversee private PFT labs. In hospitals the only agency I’ve ever seen inspect PFT Labs is the Joint Commission and I’ve never once had any of the JC’s surveyors ever ask about staff credentials. Realistically, it’s up to each hospital to determine the level of credentials needed for PFT Lab staffing. State regulations, at least as they apply to PFT Labs, are rarely if ever enforced and I’ve never heard of any hospital (let alone a private center) ever being cited for lack of staff credentials.

      Regards, Richard

      • The personal who provide medical care MUST have a medical license.Issue number one-infections control. Issue number two-patient safety during bronchoprovocational test.Issue number three-did unlicensed personal have a right to delivering medications,like bronchodilator during the test study.
        Requirements by medical law not only ethical issue.
        Best regards George*

        • George –

          Yes, but that also implies that licensure shows competency in PFTs. Most states that have licensure requirements only require RRT or CRT licensure. Not to knock RRT’s and CRT’s, and they at least have shown they have background knowledge in pulmonary anatomy and physiology, but they also often don’t know a lot about pulmonary function testing. I’ve seen the course syllabus for about a dozen or so two and three year respiratory therapy courses and the most training about PFTs I’ve ever seen included was a 1 semester lecture class. RPFT and CPFT licensure is far more relevant but there are only a handful of states that allow an individual with only RPFT or CPFT licensure to perform PFTs.

          No state, however, and I believe this more or less applies worldwide, requires any kind of licensure whatsoever for office spirometry nor is there any movement towards any kind of licensure for this. I think it’s unrealistic to expect this and I’d just be happy if the MA’s and NA’s that usually perform office spirometry had some kind of training.

          Regards, Richard

          • HI RICHARD*
            I am never saw in pulmonary or sleep laboratory MA’s or NA’s – they are probably afraid to do something or even touch medical equipment,because they are not train to do this.I am taking about people without any medical training-this “personal” doesn’t afraid anything.
            Also a lawyers waiting cases like that-“unlicensed personal can’t treat,provide medical test and make interpretations”.
            Best regards,GEORGE

          • George –

            But there are plenty of MA’s and NA’s in clinics and doctors offices performing spiromety and other point-of-care testing. I’d also point out that there are more than half a dozen states that do not require any licensure whatsoever in order to perform PFTs in a hospital setting. Also, legally I would suspect that a PFT lab’s medical director and the physician that interprets and signs reports are far more liable than the person that performed the PFTs in the first place. I don’t disagree that education and licensure in order to perform PFT testing is desirable and should be a requirement but the sad truth is that these things are not terribly important to the decision makers which are the hospital administrators and pulmonary physicians. I also would like to point out that there is an extremely limited ability to get educated in the first place. There are no college level programs anywhere other than for Respiratory Therapy that teaches the physics, chemistry, technology and pulmonary physiology and anatomy needed to become a pulmonary function technician. Most PFT education is acquired on the job which is why so many individuals that are poorly equipped to perform the job are hired into it so frequently.

            Regards, Richard

  8. Richard
    According yours understanding we doesn’t need CPFT and RPFT credentials
    for provide professional pulmonary/respiratory service for patients.Its interesting
    for share yours opinion on any AARC meetings.Probably NBRC will “enjoy” also.
    Did ATS can agree with you? Of course pulmonologist who will make interpretations for ” not terribly important ” test will “agree” with you too.
    Pulmonary diagnostics-only small part for complete patient evaluations and doesn’t
    matter where in the hospital or in privet practice.
    This evaluations need provide RIGHT PERSON with medical license and training.
    Regards GEORGE

    • George –

      I agree it would be preferable for everybody that works in a PFT lab to have CPFT or RPFT licensure, and you seem to have missed that I’ve said that more than once. The reality is that the majority of states that require licensure only require CRT or RRT certification. Only a relatively small handful of states will accept CPFT or RPFT certification instead of CRT or RRT and in addition there are a handful of states that do not require any licensure at all. What this means is that in the majority of PFT labs, CPFT and RPFT licensure is only required on a voluntarily basis. Unfortunately, unless it’s a regulatory requirement there are all too many hospitals, clinics, private PFT labs and physicians that do not feel they need to hire CPFTs and RPFTs. Ignoring these facts won’t make them go away.

      It’s easy to say that the current situation is wrong but frankly when it comes to realistic solutions we’re our own worse enemy. PFT technologists aren’t very good at organizing or advocating for themselves. In fact, we’re pretty horrible at it. Yes, the AARC is the organization that should have our interests at heart, but there are less than a thousand AARC members who belong to the diagnostics (PFT) subgroup (BTW, I belong, and have for years). That’s a small fraction of the total number of PFT technologists in the USA. The only way that state regulations will be changed to require CPFT or RPFT licensure will be by organizing and lobbying, not by complaining and wishing it’ll happen all on its own. A real first step would be to have a couple thousand people join the diagnostics subgroup of the AARC, because only by doing that can we get the attention of the AARC leadership and only then do we have a chance to lobby the states for change.

      Regards, Richard

      • I feel like if you are an RT who has the PFT credential work in a hospital, that extra credential is often times worth an $ 1.00 or so an hour. However, if you are an RT with a PFT credential then somehow your RT experience is no longer a factor and they then try to pay you a lot less. I have noticed that because they have hired an MA the perception of what an RT with the CPFT/RPFT is around $15 off from the RT across the street doing the PFTs as a part of the hospital makes.

        • Nichole –

          You will find no disagreement from me that PFT technologists are underpaid. I will also not disagree that having CRT or RRT credentials on top of CPFT or RPFT credentials may bring something extra to the job and should be considered as additional experience (although not necessarily relevant to PFT testing). The real issue is that no state requires CPFT or RPFT credentials to perform PFT testing. There are a handful of states that will accept CPFT or RPFT credentials in lieu of CRT or RRT credentials but that’s not the same as requiring them. Until such time as CPFT or RPFT credentials are required they will always be undervalued since they are considered optional.

          Yes, it’s unfair but I’ve said this before and that is that the situation we’re in did not happen overnight; it’s taken decades of neglect to get here. PFT technologists are absolutely horrible at organizing themselves and this is at least part of the reason that we’re a very minor (and mostly ignored) niche in the AARC. In order to change our situation we need some political muscle but last I heard there were less than 900 AARC members who had signed up for the Diagnostics (PFT) subsection. I believe (my numbers are suspect since they are well out of date) that there are over 50,000 AARC members, so you can imagine that with less than 2% of the AARC membership with interests in PFT our concerns don’t get much attention. I don’t necessarily blame the AARC since it seems we can’t be bothered to advocate even minimally for ourselves. Given the number of hospitals and PFT labs there’s got to be at least 15,000 PFT technologists (a BOE guesstimate) in the USA so why have only ~5% joined the AARC? More of us need to join the Diagnostics subsection of the AARC because until that happens and we get some say in the AARC lobbying efforts the most we can do is to whine and bitch.

          Regards, Richard

  9. I work in a pulmonary clinic that is part of a very large organization. I myself if am a RT, with the CPFT credential. The other person here doing complete studies is an MA who was someone able to take and pass the CPFT exam. How is this even possible? I would think that this is out of the MA scope of practice and also that the NBRC should have not allowed this to happen.

    • Nichole –

      As well as being a CRT or RRT the possible prerequisites for taking the CPFT/RPFT exam include (from the ATS Function Laboratory Management & Procedure Manual Third Edition, last paragraph, page 11):

      “Complete 62 semester hours of college credit from a college or university accredited by its regional association or its equivalent, including college credit level courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics. A minimum of 6 months of clinical experience in the field of pulmonary function technology is also required prior to applying for the examination. Clinical experience is defined as a minimum of 8 hours per week for a calendar year in pulmonary technology under the supervision of a medical director of a pulmonary function laboratory or a special care area acceptable to the Board. Clinical experience must be completed before the candidate applies for the examination.”

      As long as the MA met these requirements then there is no reason why they shouldn’t be able to take the CPFT/RPFT exam. Frankly, even if somebody didn’t meet the precise letter of these requirements as long as they are able to pass the CPFT/RPFT exam then why shouldn’t they be able to perform PFTs? There are over a half dozen states where there are no educational or licensure requirements needed in order to perform PFTs, so isn’t being able to pass the CPFT/RPFT exam a step up from that?

      The majority of states require some form of licensure but the number that accept just a CPFT or RPFT credential is a distinct minority and this makes no particular sense. In most states you only need to have CRT or RRT certification in order to work in a PFT lab. Realistically though, the amount of education that CRTs and RRTs receive about PFTs is minimal at best so having a CRT or RRT perform PFTs doesn’t mean they know what they’re doing. I’d rather have somebody with a CPFT (or RPFT), regardless of their background, performing PFTs than somebody without.

      Regards, Richard

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