Primary Care Respiratory Training Centre Spirometry

The ARTP and the National Spirometry Register

We often get asked about the ARTP and the National Spirometry Register.

Here is a brief overview of how it all works:
The Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology (ARTP) is a collective of healthcare scientists dedicated to developing position papers, national guidelines, and standards for best practices in the physiological measurement and interpretation of lung function testing in
the United Kingdom.

The National Spirometry Register is a list of practitioners and operators who are certified and demonstrate ongoing competence in the performance and/or clinical reporting of spirometry.

The register is hosted by the Academy for Healthcare Science.

The AHCS was established as a joint initiative of the UK Health Departments and the professional bodies across Healthcare Science.

The AHCS was commissioned to undertake and support key projects including:

  • Developing consistent regulation for the Healthcare Science workforce e.g. by establishing accredited voluntary registers where none exist

The ARTP no longer provides spirometry training.

Instead, they act as examiners, offering a certification process. They compare this to taking a driving test:

  • Individuals receive driving lessons from an instructor
  • They then take the driving test conducted by an examiner
  • Upon passing, they are registered with the DVLA.

Similarly, for spirometry, candidates receive training from a separate training provider, undergo examination by the ARTP, and, if successful, are placed on an official register hosted by the Academy for Healthcare Science.

IT IS NOT MANDATORY FOR A NURSE TO BE ON THE NATIONAL SPIROMETRY REGISTER

For detailed information about the ARTP Certification Process please click here.