(a) The board shall issue a respiratory therapist license to any person who meets the qualifications required by this chapter and who pays the license fee established herein.

(b) Any person who is issued a license as a respiratory therapist under this chapter may use the words "licensed respiratory therapist" or the letters "LRT" in connection with his or her name to denote his or her license.

(c) A license issued under this chapter shall be subject to biennial renewal.

(d)(1) The board may issue a six-month temporary license as a respiratory therapist to persons who have graduated from a respiratory therapy educational program accredited by the Council on Allied Health Education Programs (CAHEP) in collaboration with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), or their successor organizations, and who have applied for and are awaiting competency examination. The temporary license shall be renewable only once for an additional six-month period if the applicant fails the examination. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the board based upon an appeal identifying extenuating circumstances. The holder of a temporary license may only provide respiratory therapy or care activities, services, and procedures as defined in Section 34-27B-2 under the direct clinical supervision of a licensed respiratory therapist or physician.

(2) The board shall grant a license as a respiratory therapist to other persons who do not meet the qualifications for licensure pursuant to Section 34-27B-3, but who, on the effective date of the adoption of the rules and regulations of the board, are currently employed in the administration of respiratory therapy under the direction of a physician in the State of Alabama. The opportunity to apply for a respiratory therapy license issued under this subdivision shall expire 365 days after implementation of the rules of the board. Holders of these licenses shall be eligible to renew their licenses as are any other licensed respiratory therapists under this chapter.