HLO News Details

​On November 15, 2022, Governor Brown signed Executive Order 22-24 declaring a state of emergency due to a surge in respiratory infections, including but not limited to RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 in Oregon. Since then, the Health Licensing Office (Office) has received inquiries regarding how respiratory therapists who are currently inactive or expired can be authorized to practice during the emergency to assist with the outbreak. 

In accordance with OAR 331-710-0023 (see entire rule text on the following page), the Office will issue provisional authorizations to practice respiratory therapy to individuals who: 

• Have had an active license with the Office as a respiratory therapist within the past five years.
• Were in good standing at the time the respiratory therapist's license became inactive or expired. 

The easiest way to do this is to send an email to hlo.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov with the following information: 

1. In the subject line of all emails: RT Inactive or Expired– Name of Respiratory Therapist.
2. A completed Authorization Holder Information Update Form.
3. A copy (front and back) of current photographic federal or state identification. Do not cut out the photos, leave them on a full-size piece of paper.
4. Documentation demonstrating a request to provide services by an Office-recognized public health organization, an Emergency Medical Service agency, a county, state or federal entity as the result of the declared state of emergency. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, a letter or email from a hospital or county health department.
5. Provide payment information for a $50 authorization fee. 

Once the Office receives and verifies all required documentation, an email response will be sent directly to the respiratory therapist from an Office representative approving them to practice until the termination date of the declared disaster or emergency. 

If you have any questions, or if you do not have email and need an alternative way to provide HLO with the required information for state of emergency licensure, contact: 

(1) In the event of an emergency declared by the Governor of Oregon, the Office may allow respiratory therapists holding an inactive or expired authorization to practice in Oregon under special provisions during the period of the declared emergency, subject to such limitations and conditions as the Governor may prescribe.

(2) To qualify, the respiratory therapist must:

(a) Have had an active license with the Office as a respiratory therapist within the past five years;

(b) Have been in good standing at the time the respiratory therapist's license became inactive or expired;

(c) Current photographic federal or state identification; and

(d) Documentation demonstrating a request to provide services by an Office-recognized hospital, public health organization, Emergency Medical Service agency, county, state or federal entity as the result of the declaration of a disaster or emergency.

(3) Provisional authorization, renewal of dormant authorization, activation of inactive authorization, and verification of authorization fees are required pursuant to ORS 676.576. Notwithstanding OAR 331-740-0000, the entire fee for the authorization is $50.00.

(4) The authorization holder may not practice in Oregon under the emergency provisions beyond the termination date of the declared emergency as prescribed by the Governor. The license may be returned to its previous status or to an inactive status prior to the license expiration date if the licensee is no longer providing care in response to the declared emergency.

(5) Any restrictions or requirements imposed against a licensee by the Respiratory Therapist and Polysomnographic Technologist Licensing Board, or its predecessor board, Order or Agreement remain in effect during the period of the declared emergency.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 676.568(1)(o), ORS 676.568(2), ORS 676.576, ORS 688.830(1)(a) & ORS 676.615(1) and (2) Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 676.568(1)(o), ORS 688.830(1)(a), ORS 676.615(1) and (2) & ORS 688.860(1)(b) History: HLO 9-2020, adopt filed 10/29/2020, effective 10/29/2020 Temporary Rule