Any person currently licensed as a registered respiratory therapist who has not obtained the credential “registered respiratory therapist (RRT)” from the National Board for Respiratory Care shall have until January 1, 2004, to obtain such credential in order to continue being licensed as a registered respiratory therapist in this state. If such person has not obtained such credential by January 1, 2004, such person's license shall be renewed as a certified respiratory therapist license when it is next renewed.