National Board For Respiratory Care

The National Board for Respiratory Care, also known as NBRC, is a voluntary health certifying board. It was created in 1960 to evaluate the professional competence of respiratory therapists. The agency was formed with the merger of the American Registry of Inhalation Therapists (ARIT) and Technician Certification Board of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). NBRC has issued over 318,000 professional credentials to more than 193,000 individuals, and currently tests nearly 18,000 candidates annually. It offers voluntary credentialing examinations for practitioners of respiratory therapy and pulmonary function technology. The agency establishes standards for credential practitioners to work under medical direction. NBRC cooperates with accrediting agencies to support respiratory care education. It is a member of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). The agency s examination programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).