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 | $100—Initial $75—Renewal |
| Alaska No Act |
||||
| Arizona Licensure |
4,000 | Biennial | 20 | $120—Initial + $100—App fee $50—Fingerprint fee $150—Renewal |
| Arkansas Licensure |
2,035 | Annual | 12 (Annually) | $75—Initial $40—Renewal Temp—$35 x(1) Late Fee—$10 State/Fed Criminal Background Checks —$35 |
| California Licensure |
23,599 | Biennial | 30 | $300—Application fee $230—Renewal fee $49—Fingerprint out of state applicants |
| Colorado Licensure |
2,859 | Biannual on 8/31 (even # yrs) | none required | $85—Initial TBD—Renewal (2018) |
| Connecticut Licensure |
1,795 | Annual | 6 (Annually) | $190—Initial $105—Renewal |
| Delaware Licensure |
762 | Biennial | 20 (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 CEs, including 3 ethics, 8 must be live | $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 prevention of med. errors 2 hours Laws & Rules Up to twelve hours from home study/online courses |
$165—Initial ($110 lic/$50 app) $120—Renewal |
| Georgia Licensure |
5,574 | Biennial | 30 | $150—Initial $105—Renewal |
| Hawaii | 754 | Triennial | None | $340—3 yrs |
| Idaho Licensure |
916 | Annual or Biennial | 12 | $100—Initial $65—Renewal |
| Illinois Licensure |
6,093 | 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 |
1,891 | Biennial | 24 max 10 independent study | $75 (plus cost of background check and fingerprint packet)—Initial $75—Renewal |
| Kansas Licensure |
2,017 | Annual | 12 | $80—Initial $75—Renewal $72—Online Renewal |
| Kentucky Licensure |
3,475 | Biennial | 24 | $150—Initial $90—Renewal |
| Louisiana Licensure |
3,495 | Annual | 10 | $120—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 | 15 | $260—Full $150—Limited $110—Renewal |
| Michigan | 5,219 | Biennial | NA | $95—Initial $150—Renewal (2 years) |
| Minnesota Licensure |
2,019 | Annual | 24 (Biennially) | $190—Initial $90—Renewal |
| Mississippi Licensure |
2,398 | Biennial | 20 | $75—Initial $100—Renewal (2 years) |
| Missouri Licensure |
4,246 | Biennial | 24 | $40—Initial $20—Renewal |
| Montana Licensure |
602 | Annual | 24 (Biennially) | $100—Initial ($50 app $50 lic) $75—Renewal (annually) |
| Nebraska Licensure |
1,402 | Biennial (on 6/1 even yrs) | 20 | $118—Initial $118—Renewal |
| Nevada Licensure |
1,702 | Biennial | 20 including 2 hr 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 | $125—Application $160—Initial $160—Renewal |
| New Mexico Licensure |
1170 | Biennial | 20 | $150—Initial $150—Renewal $50—Temp permit |
| New York Licensure |
RRTs: 6,272 CRTs: 1,031 |
Triennial | RRT—30 max 15 self studyCRT—24 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 |
600 | Annual | 10 | $60—RRT $60—CRT |
| Ohio Licensure |
RCPs: 8,458 Limited Permit Holders: 337 |
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 $46—BCI&I and FBI background check |
| Oklahoma Licensure |
2,238 | Biennial | 12 | $100—Initial $50—Renewal $33.49—Background Check |
| Oregon Licensure |
1,822 | Annual | 7/yr | $50—Initial $50—Application $50—Renewal ($45 online) |
| Pennsylvania Licensure |
530 (Bd of Osteo Med) 6,728 (Bd of Med) |
Biennial | 30 hrs 10 as Traditional (live) courses 1 hr medical ethics 1hr 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 |
529 | Biennial | CE (12 Biennial) | $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)
1 pat. Safety, 1 Ethics |
$150—Initial & App. $100—Renewal $32.65—Background check |
| Texas Licensure |
14,568 Temp |
Biennial | 24 | $125—Initial $117—Renewal $55—Temp $38.50—Fingerprint |
| Utah Licensure |
1,419 | Biennial | None | $60—Initial $52—Renewal |
| Vermont Licensure |
338 | Biennial | 12 hours in a 2-year period | $100—Initial $200—Renewal |
| Virginia Licensure |
3,833 | Biennial | 20 | $130—Initial $135—Renewal |
| Washington Licensure |
2,885 | 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 |
378 | Annual | 8 (annually) | $100—Application $40—Temp. permit/lic. $100—Renewal (paper) $50—Renewal (online) |
