Practice acts and respiratory therapy licensure laws contain exemption or exception sections. Be aware that different state laws may exempt different individuals, entities or services. Most licensure board websites have both the statute and regulations. It is important to know exactly what the law or regulations permit in each state. Also be aware that most licensure boards have the authority to make changes to the respiratory practice act through rules, regulations and advisory opinions, and they frequently do. To assure you have the most accurate respiratory therapist state licensure information, refer to the respiratory therapy licensure boards’ sites. A list of state licensure board and committee contacts is available.
| Affiliate | # of Licenses | Renewal Period | C.E. Hours | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Licensure |
2,900 | Biannual | 24 (Max 12 hrs self study) | $100—Initial $75—Renewal |
| Alaska No Act Licensure under review |
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| Arizona Licensure |
4,000 | Biennial | 20 – 2 hours ethics. Minimum 5 Live | $120—Initial + $100—App fee $50—Fingerprint fee $150—Renewal |
| Arkansas Licensure |
2,080 | Annual | 12 (Annually) | $75—Initial $40—Renewal Temp—$35 (temps are not issued unless an emergency and at the discretion of the Exec. Dir. Per A.C.A. 17-99-305) Late Fee—$10 State/Fed Criminal Background Checks —$36.25 |
| California Licensure |
23,490 | Biennial | 30- 3 hours board approved California Law and Professional Ethics every other renewal | $300—Application fee $300—Renewal fee $49—Fingerprint out of state applicants |
| Colorado Licensure |
3,218 | Biannual on 8/31 (even # yrs) | None for renewal | $85—Initial $24—Renewal |
| Connecticut Licensure |
1,795 | Annual | 10 Annually. Maximum of 5 hours self study | $190—Initial $105—Renewal |
| Delaware Licensure |
762 | Biennial | 20, Max 10 hours self study (plus additional mandatory training in recognizing abuse and domestic violence. See website) | $101—Initial $101—Renewal |
| District of Columbia Licensure |
698 | Biennial (Jan 31 of each odd numbered yr) | 16 , including 3 hrs ethics. Max 8hrs self study | $254—Initial $169—Renewal $Variable Fee—Criminal Background Check (CBC) Fed/State by L-1 Enrollment Services/Morpho Trust USA (CBC Fee is based on where the applicant/licensee resides) |
| Florida Licensure |
RRTs: 8,891 CRTs: 3,031 |
Biennial | 24 (Biennially). 2 hrs prevention of medical errors AND 2 hrs Florida Laws & Rules Max 12 hours self study courses |
$165—Initial ($110 lic/$50 app) $120—Renewal |
| Georgia Licensure |
5,610 | Biennial | 30 | $150—Initial $105—Renewal $205 Late Renewal $400 Reinstatement |
| Hawaii | 706 | Triennial | None | $340—3 yrs |
| Idaho Licensure |
974 | Annual or Biennial | 12 | $100—Initial $65—Renewal |
| Illinois Licensure |
6,446 | Biennial | 24 (biennially) | $100—Initial $120—Renewal |
| Indiana Licensure |
4,619 | Biennial | 15 (of which 7.5 must be “live”) | $50—Initial $50—Renewal |
| Iowa Licensure |
1,704 | Biennial | 24 (Max 12 hrs self study) | $75 (plus cost of background check and fingerprint packet)—Initial $75—Renewal |
| Kansas Licensure |
1,959 | Annual | 12 (Max 6 hrs self study) | $80—Initial $75—Renewal $72—Online Renewal |
| Kentucky Licensure |
3,656 | Biennial | 24 | $150—Initial $90—Renewal |
| Louisiana Licensure |
3,495 | Annual | 10 | $125—Initial $38—Background Check $85—Renewal |
| Maine Licensure |
677 RRTs & CRTs (combined) | Annual | None | $86 (initial includes background ck. fee) $65—Renewal |
| Maryland Licensure |
2,902 | Biennial (May 30 every even yr) | 16 | $200—Initial $186—Renewal |
| Massachusetts Licensure |
3,130 | Biennial | 20 (Max 6 hrs self study) | $260—Full $150—Limited $110—Renewal |
| Michigan | 5,219 | Biennial | None | $95—Initial $150—Renewal (2 years) |
| Minnesota Licensure |
2,014 | Annual | 24 (Biennially) | $223.35—Initial $90—Renewal |
| Mississippi Licensure |
2,644 | Biennial | 20 | $75—Initial $100—Renewal (2 years) |
| Missouri Licensure |
4,246 | Biennial | 24 (Max 12 hrs self study) | $40—Initial $20—Renewal |
| Montana Licensure |
621 | Annual | 24 (Biennially) | $100—Initial ($50 app $50 license) $75—Renewal (annually) $50—Inactive renewal |
| Nebraska Licensure |
1,422 | Biennial (on 6/1 even yrs) | 20 | $118—Initial $118—Renewal |
| Nevada Licensure |
1,550 | Biennial | 20 including 2 hrs in ethics | $100—Application $185—Initial Reg fee 1st yr.fi $92.50—Initial Reg fee in 2ed yr $185—Renewal $75 Criminal background check |
| New Hampshire Licensure |
609 | Biennial | 12 (Biennially) | $110 + $60 application fee—Initial $110—Renewal |
| New Jersey Licensure |
3,802 | Biennial | 30- must include at least- 1 hr infection control, 1 hr patient safety/medical errors, 1 hr ethics. (Max 20 hrs self study) | $125—Application $160—Initial $160—Renewal |
| New Mexico Licensure |
1,170 | Biennial | 20 | $150—Initial $150—Renewal $50—Temp permit |
| New York Licensure |
RRTs: 6,657 CRTs: 889 |
Triennial | RRT—30 hrs (max 15 self study) CRT—24 hrs (max 12 self study) | $294—Initial RRT $154—Initial CRT $207—Renewal RRT $130—Renewal CRT |
| North Carolina Licensure |
4,719 | Annual | 12 (Max of 6 self study) | $50—Application $38—Criminal Background Check $125—Initial License Fee $75—Renewal Fee |
| North Dakota Licensure |
632 | Annual | 10 | $80—RRT $80—CRT |
| Ohio Licensure |
RCPs: 8,458 Limited Permit Holders: 306 |
Annual—limited permits; Biennial—license holders |
Limited Permit – Employment Based 10 CE/yr RCPs 20 CE/2yr 1 hr ethics or OH RC law review required |
$75—Initial RCP $100—License Renewal $20—Limited Permit $10—Permit Renewal |
| Oklahoma Licensure |
2,238 | Biennial | 12 | $100—Initial $50—Renewal $33.49—Background Check |
| Oregon Licensure |
1,872 | Annual | 7/yr | $50—Application fee $50—Exam Fee $50—Licensing fee $52—Renewal ($47 online) Includes renewal and annual required survey |
| Pennsylvania Licensure |
549 (Bd of Osteo Med) 6,830 (Bd of Med) |
Biennial | 30 hrs At least 10 hrs Traditional (live) 1 hr medical ethics 1 hr patient safety 2 hrs (for renewal), 3 hrs (for initial) in child abuse recognition & reporting. |
$30—Initial $25—Renewal |
| Puerto Rico Licensure |
2,727 | Triennial | 30 | $110—Initial $60—Application $25—Renewal |
| Rhode Island Licensure |
661 | Biennial | 12 | $60—Initial $60—Renewal |
| South Carolina Licensure |
2,917 | Biennial | 30 | $120—Initial $75—Renewal |
| South Dakota Licensure |
477 | Biennial | 20 | $75—Initial $60—Renewal |
| Tennessee Licensure |
3,565 RRTs 1,350 CRTs 8 Resp Care Assistants |
Biennial | 12 (Annually). Must include at least 1 hr patient safety AND 1 hr ethics. (Max 7 hrs self study) | $150—Initial & App. $100—Renewal $32.65—Background check |
| Texas Licensure |
14,568 | Biennial | 24- must include at least 2 hrs ethics. (Max 12 hours self study) | $125—Initial $117—Renewal $55—Temp $38.50—Fingerprint |
| Utah Licensure |
1,419 | Biennial | None | $60—Initial $52—Renewal |
| Vermont Licensure |
380 | Biennial | 12 hours in a 2-year period | $100—Initial $240—Renewal |
| Virginia Licensure |
3,930 | Biennial | 20 | $130—Initial $108—Renewal |
| Washington Licensure |
3,046 | Biennial | 30 (2 years) | $140—Initial $110—Renewal $50—Temp |
| West Virginia Licensure |
1,746 | Annual | 20 (Biennially) | $200—Initial/Reinstatement $55—Nov. Renewal $65—Dec. Renewal |
| Wisconsin Licensure |
2,940 | Biennial June 30 on even years | None | $150—Initial $141—Renewal $170—A/O |
| Wyoming Licensure |
448 | Annual | 8 (annually) | $100—Application $40—Temp. permit/lic. $100—Renewal (paper) $50—Renewal (online) |
