Respiratory Care Seminar

1. Respiratory Care Seminar Test Taking Tips & Licensure

2. Study Skills • Space study sessions • Review material several times per week • Utilize notes, books, and study guides • Learn general concepts and then smaller details • Take short, frequent breaks • Learn a little each day—Don’t cram! • Understand the material

3. Study Skills • Don’t simply read and re-read • Don’t try to memorize everything • Only study in groups with serious study partners • Utilize review tests and questions • Study at YOUR peak times • Morning person—study in the morning • Evening person—study in the evening

4. Test Anxiety • Extreme worry can hinder your test performance • Causes memory loss • Extreme nervousness

5. Reducing Test Anxiety • Be well prepared for the test • Keep a positive attitude • Get a good night’s sleep before the test • Arrive at the testing center early—avoids rushing • Stay relaxed—Deep breathe • Read the directions slowly • Skip anything that you don’t know—return later

6. Multiple Choice Tests • Read the question before looking at the answer • Come up with an answer in your head before looking at the answers • Eliminate answers that you know are wrong • Read all choices before answering • If you do not know—take an educated guess

7. Multiple Choice Tests • Do not keep changing your answers, unless you misread the question • In “all of the above” and “none of the above” choices: if you are certain one answer is true, do not choose “none of the above”; if you are certain one of the answers is false, do not choose “all of the above” • Usually the correct answer is the choice with the most information

8. Multiple Choice Tests • In a question with an “all of the above” choice, if you see at least two correct answers than “all of the above” is probably the answer

9. Cramming • Cramming for exams should be avoided • It is hard to take in and retain large amounts of information in a short period of time • This would only be a last resort!

10. Test Taking • Repetition is key • Small amounts of information over a longer period of time • Take breaks • Eat and rest properly

11. NBRC Examinations Exams offered: www.nbrc.org • CRT • RRT • CPFT • RPFT • NPS • SDS

12. CRT Exam • Measures essential knowledge, skills and abilities required of entry-level respiratory therapists. • The examination consists of 160 multiple-choice questions (140 scored items and 20 pretest items) • Clinical data, equipment and therapeutic procedures. • Candidates will be given three hours to complete the Entry-Level CRT Examination.

13. Taking the Exam • The NBRC Board of Trustees reinstated the “expected graduation” provision of the entrance requirements for the CRT Examination. • Individuals enrolled in accredited respiratory care education programs may now apply for and attempt the CRT Examination 30 days before actual graduation. • No examination results will be released to the candidate or any other party until graduation is confirmed, either electronically by the education program director or by submission of an official transcript or certificate of completion by the candidate. • Upon proof of graduation, examination results will be sent to the candidate.

14. Taking the Exam • Candidates must provide official proof of graduation within 60 days following the date of successful completion of the examination. • If a candidate does not graduate as expected or fails to supply the required proof of eligibility, examination results will be invalidated, all application materials discarded and the examination fee forfeited.

15. RRT Exam • The Registry Examination System was developed to objectively measure essential knowledge, skills and abilities required of advanced respiratory therapists and to set uniform standards for measuring such knowledge. • CRT is a pre-requisite to the exam

16. RRT Exam • Written Registry Examination for Advanced Respiratory Therapists • 115 multiple-choice questions (100 scored and 15 pretest items) covering the recall, application and analysis of clinical data, equipment and therapeutic procedures. • Two hours to complete the examination. • Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) • 10 separate patient management problems. The clinical setting and patient situation for each problem are designed to simulate reality and be relevant to the clinical practice of respiratory care. • Four hours to complete the CSE.

17. Three Year Limit • There is a three year limit to ensure that “registry eligible” therapists take and pass the RRT exam to demonstrate their competence • What happens if I don’t earn the RRT credential by my three-year deadline? • While the NBRC is dedicated to supporting respiratory therapists, there will be no  extension of this deadline. • Individuals whose three year time limit has expired must retake and pass the CRT Examination to reinstate their eligibility for the RRT Examination.  Upon successful completion of the CRT Examination, candidates are then required to submit an application and fee for the RRT Examination. 

18. Licensure • If you are planning to move to another area you should refer to the state’s board of respiratory care to view specific requirements • Available via link on the NBRC web site • Internet search

19. Licensure Local Area Web Sites • WEST VIRGINIA • OHIO • PENNSYLVANIA • http://www.wvborc.org • http://respiratorycare.ohio.gov/ • http://www.dos.state.pa.us/med

20. Licensure for West Virginia • WV License

21. Licensure for Ohio • OH License

22. Licensure for Pennsylvania • PA License