Respiratory Therapists

Certification or Licensing

The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) offers the voluntary certified respiratory therapist (CRT) and registered respiratory therapist (RRT) designations to graduates of Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care-accredited and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs-accredited programs. You must have at least an associate's degree to be eligible to take the Therapist Multiple-Choice CRT exam. "There are two cut scores for the TMC Examination," according to the NBRC. "If a candidate achieves the low-cut score, they will earn the CRT credential. If a candidate achieves the high cut score, they will earn the CRT credential AND become eligible for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE). The RRT credential is awarded to candidates who pass the TMC and CSE." Certification is highly recommended because most employers require this credential. Employers usually require respiratory therapists and those with supervisory responsibilities or those in intensive care specialties to have the RRT (or RRT eligibility).

The NBRC also offers specialty certification exams in adult critical care, neonatal/pediatric respiratory care, pulmonary function technology, sleep disorders, and asthma education specialist.

A license is required by all states, except Alaska, to practice as a respiratory therapist. Also, most employers require therapists to maintain a cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification. Requirements vary, so you will need to check with your state's regulatory board for specific information. The NBRC Web site provides helpful contact information for state licensure agencies at https://practitionerportal.nbrc.org/licensure/list.