(a) A legally licensed practitioner who has been issued a license to practice respiratory care in another state or territory whose requirements for licensure were equal at the time of his or her licensure to the requirements contained in this chapter may be licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board, provided that the state or territory from which the applicant comes accords a similar privilege of registration and licensure to persons licensed in the State of Arkansas by the board.
(b) The issuance of a license by reciprocity by the board shall be at the sole discretion of the board.